Baby Safety Gates Aren’t Always Safe!
Improperly installed baby gates or using the incorrect baby gate is something I see far too often as a professional babyproofer. Most parents, with the best of intentions, go online and read reviews about gates and purchase products based on how others have rated the product. The problem is, none of the people that have rated the gates are safety professionals. Also, most people rate baby gates shortly after purchasing them. If those same people would rate that same baby gate two-three months later, I guarantee the ratings would be much different. MANY parents end up choosing the wrong gate and worse, do not install it properly creating more of a safety hazard than to help prevent an accident from happening.
You can click on the image below to take you to our Photo Gallery of examples of baby gates that are used correctly and baby gates used incorrectly:
Here is a portion of the article from the Chicago (AP) concerning improperly used baby gates and increase in injuries surrounding improperly used baby gates:
“CHICAGO (AP) — Baby gates meant to protect young children aren’t always as safe as parents think. A new study says nearly 2,000 U.S. kids get emergency room treatment each year from injuries resulting from falling through or climbing on these gates.
Most injuries weren’t serious. But the researchers say parents should know about precautions. That includes using bolted gates, not pressure-mounted ones, at the top of the stairs.
Researcher Lara McKenzie and colleagues at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, examined data on kids up to age 6.
The number injured on gates more than tripled over 20 years. These cases climbed from about 4 per 100,000 children in 1990 to almost 13 per 100,000 in 2010.
The study was published online Monday in the journal Academic Pediatrics.”
Please click here to read the full article and watch a video regarding improperly installed baby gates.
If you need help with baby proofing your home or have questions about your baby gate or need a custom baby safety gate installed on your home, please contact your local Baby Safe Homes safety specialist. We are here to help, advise and install.