(HealthDay News) - Safety gates are an important way to prevent injuries among children in the home.
Here are guidelines for how to choose a safety gate, courtesy of the Nemours Foundation:
- Choose a gate that is securely mounted to the door frame with hardware, and that doesn't leave any openings to pinch little fingers.
- Be careful with gates that use pressure or tension to keep them secured in a doorway. Never place this type of gate in front of stairs, as it may be more easily removed by children.
- Make sure that the bar on pressure gates is on the side away from the child's access.
- Leave no more than 2 inches at the bottom of the gate to prevent a child from trying to slide underneath.
- Choose a gate that is difficult to climb on or over.
- Only use gates that are safety approved and certified, and have no sharp or dangerous parts that could hurt a child.
