Safety gates

What's behind our safety gate Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 11 models in safety gates to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score is based primarily on Security.
Security
Security indicates how well the gate resisted being dislodged.
Design safety
Design safety reflects the gate's adherence to the ASTM standard for gates.
Convenience
Convenience reflects features and versatility.

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Child safety gates are intended for children between 6 months and 24 months. All the safety gates we tested can be opened and closed by an adult but have various designs to prevent children from opening them. If you're looking for information about safety gates, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ safety gate reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our safety gate buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and safety gate reviews to help you choose the best safety gate for your needs.

Safety gate buying guide

Once your baby starts crawling, strategically placed gates can make your life a little easier--and your child a lot safer by keeping him away from potential dangers, such as stairs. You can also use a gate to keep your child and pet separated.

Child safety gates are intended for children between 6 months and 2 years of age. Once a child learns how to open a gate, or can climb over it, it should no longer be relied upon as a safety device.

Gates we have tested have various designs to prevent children from opening them while ... Read more

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