Assembly: How easy was the gate to install? Were the instructions clear? Were any additional tools or fixings required? Although the BabyDan Guard Me is safe for use anywhere in your home, the best stair gate for use at the top of the stairs is the Safety 1st Wall Fix Extending Metal Gate, which is also the best screw-fit stair gate we tested. Retractable stair gates: formed from a flexible material like mesh that rolls or folds up when not in use. We have a pressure fit gate at the top of the stairs with the minimum bottom bar, think it's called the flat step. We also bought rubber cups for the wall and the gate is totally solid, you could never shake it loose. The flat step is great too, not totally flat but flat enough you wouldn't trip on it." (Recommended by Mumsnet user GD12) Our verdict

Lindam Safety gates | Argos

We think the BabyDan Guard Me Auto Retractable Satefy Guard gate is the best stair gate available to buy right now. It scored the highest in our product testing and has received many a glowing recommendation from the Mumsnet Talk forums. The retractable feature offers a neat option for leaving the gate folded away when not in use and it has a simple opening mechanism. About the authorPressure-fit stair gates are great for use in rented accommodation as installation requires absolutely no drilling. This type of stair gate comprises a U-shaped metal frame, which squeezes against your wall or bannister, holding the gate in place through pressure alone. It often requires a small cup to be applied to your wall with an adhesive, which the bolts of the gate then sit in. Babies don’t always know their own limitations and are often more than happy to attempt stairs on their own, with no idea of the potential consequences. If your baby likes to explore, then a stair gate will be a childproofing necessity. Stair gates can be used at the top of the stairs (to prevent your baby from falling down) and at the bottom (to stop them from climbing up). They can also be used to close off unsafe rooms and to temporarily add additional barriers to your home, whether that’s across a doorway or another narrow opening.

Lindam Wall Fix Extending Wooden Safety Gate review - Which?

Cleanliness: Does the gate show grubby fingerprints? Is it easy to clean? Is there a bar that gets in the way when vacuuming? The most popular recommendations were pulled together to include in a longlist of approximately 30 stair gates, then whittled down to form our final shortlist. How we tested the stair gates

5. Best pressure-fit stair gate: Lindam Sure Shut Axis Safety Gate

The Safety 1st Wall Fix Extending Metal Gate is easy to adjust to fit securely at the top of any staircase, and because you don’t need to use any additional extenders, the full width of the gate will open, leaving no obstruction that could cause you to trip. Which is the best safety gate to buy? As soon as babies start crawling and/or walking, a handy stair gate is a must to help prevent calamity. But when it comes to something as important as your child’s safety, how do you know which is the best stair gate to buy? We also collated expert opinions and scoured the Mumsnet forums - the biggest online network of parents in the UK - to find the best stair gates UK according to the families who use them every day. You can read more about how we selected and tested the best stair gates below. How we chose which stair gates to test

Lindam Flexi Gate - Safety gates - Home | MadeForMums Lindam Flexi Gate - Safety gates - Home | MadeForMums

The Cuggl Wall Fix Safety Gate is a fuss-free, wall-mounted gate, so it’s suitable for use at the top and bottom of a staircase as well as in doorways. While it may not have the handy features of a retractable or pressure-fit stair gate, it’s a good, sturdy option with a price tag to match its simplicity. Gates at the top of a staircase should always open towards the landing, not out across the staircase The bottom bar of the frame can pose a trip hazard, so pressure-fit gates are generally not suitable for use at the top of a staircase. But, all pressure-fit gates can be used at the bottom of a staircase, or in a doorway or other narrow opening. Type: Pressure-fit | Width: 73 – 80cm, with additional extensions available to fit up to 101cm What we loveType: Pressure-fit | Width: 76 – 82cm, with additional extensions available to fit up to 117cm What we love If you’re only planning to have a stair gate in position for a short time, or if you're unable to drill into your walls or bannister, a pressure-fit gate will be the better option. Is it better to put a stair gate at the top or the bottom of the stairs?