Playpens and Baby Gates

1. No, a baby gate isn't some political scandal you haven't heard of yet. It's simply the barrier you use to keep your little wanderer away from danger.

2. Primarily, baby gates are best employed at the tops of stairs to prevent an unfortunate fall. If you have a climber, though, it may make sense to put them at the bottom, too.

3. Often, the baby gate is overlooked by even the most fastidious baby-safe households. If you're going to baby-proof the outlets, sharp corners, and whatnot, a baby gate is the next logical step.

4. Gone are the days when gates had to actually be removed to be traversed by adults. Now it's literally a gate, with a latch and a hinge. Common sense - you wonder why it didn't happen sooner?

5. One option for mounting baby gates is the pressure mount gate, which is ideal for moving from one place to another. This gate is typically operated with a spring or threaded device to fit any opening.

6. Another option is the hardware mounted gate, which is a more permanent solution. This gate most frequently swings or slides open with ease, making it nothing of an impediment to normal traffic.

7. Purchase your baby gates prior to the baby becoming mobile, simply because you don't know when you'll need those gates.

8. Baby gates that are held in place with pressure should be installed in such a way that the pressure mechanism is opposite the baby's area. This is a simple concept, but can often be overlooked.

9. Not only an indoor thing, baby gates can be reasonably employed at the top of porches, decks, pools, and any other entries. And they're not just for use with babies, as many will stop toddlers or even pets in their tracks, too.

10. If you use a baby gate for an older child, but you simply climb over the gate, you run the risk of encouraging your child to attempt the same thing. This could result in injury. It's best, if not always most convenient, to unlatch or unfasten the gate and walk through.