Baby doors are the first line of defense against babies and toddlers entering areas that are not completely safe.
If you live in a multi-storey dwelling, you’ll need a gate once your child starts crawling (or skateboarding) – usually around 7-8 months. Carpeted stairs are more forgiving, but wooden stairs can be quite dangerous, especially for babies in socks.
Concrete stairs (located on porches and some basements) are the most dangerous: falling from these stairs can cause serious head trauma, or even worse. Cordon off those bastards like a crime scene.
Essentially, there are two types of indoor baby doors: hardware-mounted and pressure-mounted.
Hardware Mounting Doors
Hardware-mounted doors screw securely into walls, door frames, or railings/railings and are the safest of the two types. These doors should be used where the stake is highest (i.e., where there is no risk of tipping over), such as at the top of stairs.
Advantages of a hardware-mounted baby door:
- Can support the baby’s weight without slipping; Unlikely to be bumped/pushed over by larger dogs
- There is no bottom threshold (usually) to trip up
- The only safe option at the top of the stairs
Disadvantages of hardware-mounted baby doors:
- Can’t be removed in a hurry (unless they have a quick-release feature)
- Installation is more time-consuming than pressure mounting gates
- Removal will leave holes in the walls/woodwork
Pressure Installation Gates
The vast majority of baby doors on the market are pressure (or tension) mounted. Just like the levers of the shower curtain, they are very easy to install.
Advantages of pressure-mounted baby doors:
- Easy to set up and move from one place to another
- It doesn’t have to be screwed into a wall/railing (the bottom of the stairs is fine)
- Cheaper (usually)
- More options
Disadvantages of pressure-mounted baby doors:
- If it is not installed correctly, it may slip due to the baby’s weight
- Large dogs can break through them
- It should not be used to divide areas with height/ground differences, such as the top of stairs
Pet
A few things to note about pets… If you have a small pet and don’t want to keep it out, you can buy a gate with a pet gate that allows small pets to pass through while keeping small humans out. I wish I could say the same for bigger dogs, but sadly, if your big dog can pass, then so can your baby.
On the other hand, if you want to keep your pet out, make sure the door you choose is sturdy enough so that your dog doesn’t break in like a drink-loving person. Keep in mind that many cats and dogs can jump very high, so if you need to deal with jumpers, look for extra-high doors.
Buy a Used Baby Door
There are many used baby doors on Craigslist, local consignment stores, etc. If the door is working properly, the biggest risk is that you won’t be able to get all the parts and components that go with it (which is more of a problem for a hardware-mounted door that comes with a bag of hardware and other gear).
However, if you’re sure you have all the parts and the door looks in good condition, there’s no reason not to buy a second-hand one.
Measure the Opening
Most standard-sized baby doors fit securely in a “normal” sized doorway or hallway opening, typically 32″-36″ wide.
Extra-wide gates are needed in many cases, especially in modern homes with open floor plans. To do this, see the section below on extra-wide doors, which can be up to 60 inches-72 inches wide.
For very large openings, consider using an open accordion folding door, such as the one from MidWest Pet.
Pressure-Mounted Walk-In Baby Door (Standard Width)
1. Toddleroo by North States Bright Choice Auto-Close Baby Gate
Height: 30 inches, Width Range: 29 inches to 40 inches (expandable to 62.25 inches, extensions sold separately)
All things being equal, the number one baby gate was Toddleroo at Easy-Close in North States. This self-closing, one-handed steel door swings in both directions and has a keep-open function that eliminates the need for assembly.
The built-in door stop is a great design, and it allows you to choose whether you can turn the door in two directions or just one. There is also a glow-in-the-dark function on the handle, which can come in handy at night.
2. Carlson Wide Door with Pet Door
Height: 30.5 inches, width range: 29 inches – 36.5 inches
Whether you own a pet or not, the Carlson Extra Wide Door is a mom’s favorite baby door with a pet door. The pet gate allows cats and puppies to pass through while keeping larger dogs and small humans out. This is a great solution for the doorway to the room, where you can place cat food and litter boxes and other disgusting items that you don’t want babies/toddlers to enter.
Pressure-mounted doors are quick and easy to set up, and the one-touch release handle is very convenient (you often see this kind of door in places like daycare). A 4-inch expansion kit is included as standard for extra-wide openings.
3. Dreambaby Chelsea Super High Self-Closing Door
Height: 39.4 inches, Width Range: 28-32 inches (available in multiple sizes, extendable up to 88 inches)
A mom’s favorite, this extra-high baby door is 39.4 inches (about 1 meter) tall and perfect for anyone with tenacious climbers, older toddlers, and crafty pets at home. Parents can open this door with one hand, and best of all, it will automatically close and lock. Therefore, it is a good gate for high-risk areas (but not for the top of the stairs as it has thresholds). Perfect for the bottom of stairs.
4. Regalo Easy Step Extra Tall Walk-Through Gate
Height: 36 inches, width range: 29 inches-36.5 inches
The Regalo Deluxe Easy Step extra-high gate is another of the most popular extra-high gate options. Like the Dreambaby door, it has a one-handed opening and locking feature, but it’s also easy to operate for older kids (so it’s a good option if you want a slightly older child to be able to get through). Larger dogs can also be accommodated, especially the notorious door-hopping dogs.
Walk-In Baby Door with Hardware (Standard Width)
1. Cardinal Auto-Lock Gate
Height: 29.5 inches, width range: 26.5 inches-40.5 inches
Cardinal auto-lock doors are popular with parents. Specifically, people love the auto-lock feature, where they can actually “hear” the feature when it’s engaged. The door swings in either direction and is perfect for the bottom or top of stairs. Installation is quick and easy.
2. Retract-A-Gate
Height: 34 inches, width range: 52 inches-72 inches
Made in the USA and winner of multiple parenting awards, Retract-A-Gate is quite expensive, but very cool. When not in use, the door automatically rolls back into the small roll, leaving your doorway fully open. It is JPMA certified for use at the top or bottom of stairs and can be mounted on stair posts or spindles without drilling when used with the Stair Railing Adapter Kit ($52).
Staircase Baby Door (Especially at the Top of the Staircase)
At the top of the stairs is a special area. Ideally, you’ll need a hardware-mounted door with no thresholds. The door installed here should open towards the upstairs (rather than rotating outward from the staircase) and should have a mechanism to prevent it from doing so. Ideally, your stair top sector should also have an auto-close/auto-lock feature in case you forget, but not all doors offer this.
Note that stairs can be extra tricky due to the odd shape of the railings (although this most often happens at the bottom of the stairs, where you’ll find radius railings, etc.). If you have a radius railing (or if you don’t want to drill holes in the railing), you will need to do some “imagination” to properly install your gate. There are a few options for using curved railings: you can use railing clamps, or opt for an off-the-shelf kit such as KidCo’s Stair Door Mounting Kit.
1. Regalo Heritage and Home Wooden Safety Gate
Height: 30 inches, width range: 23 inches-42 inches
This Regalo wooden safety device is simple and stylish, but more importantly safe and reliable. It is easy to install, swings smoothly and opens smoothly, making it ideal for flat railings and woodwork.
2. KidCo Top of Stairs Gate
Height: 30.5 inches (when installing the door), Mounting Height: 33.5 inches (height required to install hardware), Width Range:-24.75inches-43.5 inches
For metal options (white or black), the KidCo Safeway stair top department is another sturdy but affordable option. For people with funky railing situations, this door is your best bet because you can buy a door mounting kit ($49) and it will work with almost any railing.
The directional stop prevents the door from swinging on the stairs, and the quick-release function allows it to be removed in a pinch (to move furniture, etc.). Please note that the screws in the package can easily come off, so don’t be afraid to use your own.
Extra-Wide Baby Door (60 Inches or More)
1. Safety 1st Wide Doorways Fabric Gate
Height: 27 inches, width range: 38 inches-60 inches
This fabric door is an economical choice for wooden or metal doors, is lightweight and easy to carry – it even comes with a storage bag. Parents love the durability of the door and the ability to inspect the baby or pet on the other side through the fabric. Perfect for traveling!
2.Summer Infant Decorative Wood & Metal Gate
Height: 32 inches, width range: 36 inches-60 inches
Summer baby décor wooden and metal doors win in terms of appearance, looking great and easy to use. Its wide (26 inches) hinged revolving door can be opened in either direction. Users appreciate this smooth, one-handed opening and closing mechanism, although some have complained that the latch is a bit loud when it opens and closes. The kit includes three extensions that can be up to 5 feet wide.