Keeping Your Home Safe with Safety Gates
Consult the manufacturer's installation instructions to ensure safe installment of your gate. If you're not completely comfortable installing the gate, ask someone for help. Here are some important tips to make sure your baby is safe and secure with the gates you select for your home:- Always use Permanent Hardware Mounted Gates for the top of stairs.
- Gates at the top of the stairs should always swing away from the stairs.
- Always install Pressure Mounted Gates with pressure bar side away from baby. This could potentially be used as a step-up to climb over the gate.
- Always keep gates closed and remember to close the gate behind you.
- Keep items away from the gate. Small things like stuffed animals and toys could be potentially used as a step-up for baby to try to climb over the gate.
- Gates with vertical slats should have 2 3/8" space between the slats.
- Periodically check pressure mounted gates to make sure they are still secure. They can come loose over time.
- Periodically check hardware mounted gates to ensure they are properly fixed in place and hardware is still sturdy.
Look for gates with a seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). This ensures that it has met the minimum safety requirements for gate height, space between floor and bottom of gate, distance between slats, latching mechanism safety and strength of the gate... overall, it has been certified as safe for your baby.
Remember Safety Gates are only effective with adult supervision. Children should never be left unattended.
|
 |
| |
|
|
