Wyatt’s moving more and more every day. Yesterday, he figured out how to back crawl or maybe it was shimmy – either way he’s progressively moving his way around the room.
I need to find baby gates before he’s crawing!
We live in a 4-level split home with 3 staircases. Our main hallway features side-by-side staircases with an older railing. There isn’t much to hold a tension-style gate, nor is there much to fascine a permanent style gate to. A new railing has been on my wish list for a few years now, but is highly unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Yes, that’s a cat toy hanging from the railing. We opted for self-serve play time once Wyatt arrived.
Our lower level may be an easier solution as it has a fairly standard railing on one side.
We may need gates with a pet door. Our chihuahuas will go outside, but they are also pee pad trained. Their pads are in the basement, same with the cat’s litter box. I’ve put up a tension style gate at the bottom of the 3rd level stairs to keep the dogs contained a few times. Oliver the cat can jump over it to go to his litter box, but sometimes he gets lazy and meows for me to lift him back over. Anyway, the pet gate isn’t a MUST have feature. I’m willing to adjust our routine and/or pet bathroom location if necessary.
I’d prefer tension style. My husband will cringe if I have to put holes in the walls, BUT if that is the best solution we will go for it.
What are your suggestions?
Awaiting Autumn 
Eeepp that’s a lot of stairs! Do NOT put tension style gates for the tops of stairs, my Sister found out the hard way 😦
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We have one of the giant play pen gates that folds into a bunch if shapes. I just use it totally block off entire parts of the room. They also make the ones that swing open and shut.
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I’ve contemplated that. Could either block him in the living room or put it straight across to block off both sets of stairs.
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Blocking the stairs was what I was thinking, but the nice thing is how versatile it is. It’s been a lifesaver since she started crawling.
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At our old house, my husband built a set of brackets that bolted around the metal railings, and at our new house we recreated them because we didn’t want to drill into anything. It allows us to screws the brackets into one side, and the latches on the other, but it’s all completely removable. I can email you pictures if you want, just let me know!
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It’s sort of like this, only we used wood all around and bolts instead of cable ties:
http://foxfamilyincary.blogspot.ca/2011/07/installing-baby-gate-without-drilling.html?m=1
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Omg. That is genius! Thank you for sharing
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Although on second glance I dunno how it would work for us but I’m sure we could alter it somehow.
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Ours attach around the sides, not the front like theirs. We drilled holes, and bolted them together with the banisters sandwiched in-between.
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Sure email me awaitingautumn14@gmail.com
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Just sent them!
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Tension ones are fine for going up stairs(in the sense that they can’t fall up) but when they’re at the top of a staircase. If it was to falls that could cause issues. We zip tied a piece of wood to our banister and screwed it into that. Then the other part is screwed into the wall.
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We use this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY?tag=blvisitor-20, which I’m guessing you’ve seen. I like everything except that it’s metal so it’s a bit heavier than the plastic ones. One nice feature is that you can take off panels to make it pretty close to the width you want it for mounting. That staircase is definitely a trouble-causer!
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What about mesh gates?
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Can you link me an example?
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Summer Infant Retractable Gate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TI62Z9Q/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_9swexbKN1E7XY
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We have a super $$$ version from the baby place that shall not be named due to its atrocious customer service. 😉 It’s white, see through, stylish/modern and will resist up to 300 lbs but the mounting problem remains. Aesthetically it’s the boss but not great given your limitations.
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Since our railing isn’t overly aesthetically appealing, not sure aesthetic matter. Haha but I will check out the website of that baby place you didn’t directly mention. 🙂
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Holes in walls are easy peasy to patch, and I’ve seen a lot of people use a bunch of strong tie-wraps to fasten to railings.
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I use the cheap one (evenflo, $10 on amazon) at the bottom of the stairs, it’s tension.
I use one that we had to install with a swinging door at the top. It’s the safest option at the top I think. My husband hated having to put holes in our wall and rail. And we hate the gate, it’s annoying, but necessary.
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We are currently using our dog x-pen as a gate. Our house doesn’t have the stairs yours does, but we are very aware of dog and baby interactions so we are blocking off some large openings with a very portable and easy to manipulate and use dog gate.
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We have almost an exact floor plan and I’ve completely given up on baby gates, we mostly play in his room now and i do use a tension gate to block off the hallway to the stairs. If we’re in any other room we’re in a jumper, or high chair, or something else. Frustrating- but, I’ve yet to find a solution. Good luck momma!
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Well it’s reassuring to know we should best ourselves up over a gate solution. I’ll post if we do find something that works longterm.
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