Best baby gates for stairs

Cardinal Gates’ device is special, all right, with everything parents need for a safe and easy-to-operate stairway gate, and practically no downsides. Parents love that everything on this gate is made of metal, even the latch; there’s nothing that feels rickety, or that can suddenly break off in use. They also appreciate that there’s no bar across the part of the gate that you step through, which makes it less likely you’ll trip when going back and forth. 

Installation is much easier for the Stairway Special than for similar gates: there are only four screws to put in your walls, and the gate comes with long screws that are suitable for penetrating drywall and reaching the studs underneath. It also comes with a bracket that you can install to allow the gate to swing only one way. This is an important quality for top-of-stairs gates, which should swing away from, not towards, the top of stairs, as it makes falls less likely.

There is also a bracket on one side of the gate that rotates up to 30 degrees, allowing you to install the gate on an angle to accommodate for oddly shaped spaces. 

The Stairway Special’s latch is easy to operate one-handed, too: press down on the release button with your thumb, then use the rest of your hand to lift the body of the gate up and out from the latch to swing open. 

Heads up
This gate must be lifted up and closed to latch; it doesn’t swing shut automatically. 

Parents say
“I can open mine with one hand, but I doubt a kid could until they are much older – my dad can’t seem to figure them out.”

“We have 4 of these, including one on the deck stairs and they are amazing.”

“We have 2 of these. One on banisters, and one on a wall/banister. No complaints!”

Specs

• Width: 27-42 1/2 inches (42 ¼-53 inches or 48 3/4 -64 inches with extensions)
• Height: 29 ½ inches
• Mount style: Hardware
• Color options: 3