Whichever style you choose, it should have a flat top edge, to prevent injury when a child tries to climb over it and falls on the edge. If it is a pressure bar gate, it must be placed so that the bar is on the side away from the child, because they often try to use it as a foothold to climb over top. While a pressure bar exerts considerable force against the surfaces it is placed between, it is not a guarantee that precocious children can't find a way to release the bar.
In the event that you have an extra-wide space that needs to be blocked off, many models of baby gates offer an extension kit. However, if you find that the surfaces against which you had planned to mount the gate are insecure, such as a drywall without studs, you may also need a gate mounting kit to get a snug, and sturdy fit. In the case of banisters, you can find mounting kits that don't need to be screwed into the wood, which will avoid marring the surface.
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Jackie G. Maxwell Visit http://www.MalcolmsWeb.com and sign up for free weekly tips that will take the mystery and fear out of parenting your precious little one.
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