Quiet screw-in baby gate

flogen

We recently added a baby gate to the top of our stairs as the toddler has moved to a bed, but the one we got (Safety 1st) is very hard to open/close quietly.

It's one of the ones that you have to kind of lift onto the latch, and no matter how careful you are it tends to rattle or bang at some point... it's even harder to do when we're holding the four month old!

Our toddler is a really light sleeper so this is a major problem - I'm wondering if anyone can recommend an alternative gate that could be operated with less noise?

From what I've seen most of the screw-in ones have the same problem. The pressure mount ones seem to have better mechanisms but they're apparently not safe enough for the top of the stairs.

The only promising one I've come across is one by BabyDan - not sure if anyone has any experience using it?

bee06

We have this Baby Dan one. You do have to lift it up to close it and open it but it can be done quietly (with 2 free hands). I still hate it because it because it is annoying to close and open easily.

https://www.inhealth.ie/babydan-flexi-fit-wooden-stair-gate-69-106-5-cm/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAm4TyBRDgARIsAOU75soGd7rULoiAwQ4msXWinCO6cblMFyJGLJJgfBGLEvd1OVCd9rYZVioaAnM6EALw_wcB

flogen

bee06 wrote: »

We have this Baby Dan one. You do have to lift it up to close it and open it but it can be done quietly (with 2 free hands). I still hate it because it because it is annoying to close and open easily.

https://www.inhealth.ie/babydan-flexi-fit-wooden-stair-gate-69-106-5-cm/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAm4TyBRDgARIsAOU75soGd7rULoiAwQ4msXWinCO6cblMFyJGLJJgfBGLEvd1OVCd9rYZVioaAnM6EALw_wcB

Thanks - that looks like the one I've seen... seems to be the best option out there at the moment.

Is it hard to operate (or operate quietly) with one hand?

bee06

flogen wrote: »

Thanks - that looks like the one I've seen... seems to be the best option out there at the moment.

Is it hard to operate (or operate quietly) with one hand?

I find it hard for closing especially. On the “hinge” side you have to slot the bottom hinge into the slot which I find really awkward. Not so much noisy unless you count my cursing. Opening is ok but it’s the re-slotting it back in so the gate hangs properly is the tricky bit. We don’t really lock it anyway at the moment so maybe I just don’t have enough practice. We put it up in the hope our 2 year old would sleep in his toddler bed but still hoping on that one!

flogen

bee06 wrote: »

I find it hard for closing especially. On the “hinge” side you have to slot the bottom hinge into the slot which I find really awkward. Not so much noisy unless you count my cursing. Opening is ok but it’s the re-slotting it back in so the gate hangs properly is the tricky bit. We don’t really lock it anyway at the moment so maybe I just don’t have enough practice. We put it up in the hope our 2 year old would sleep in his toddler bed but still hoping on that one!

Thanks - sounds a bit fiddly but if it's quiet it's an improvement on my own!

I'd have always assumed 'quiet' and 'easy to operate with one hand' were basic requirements of a baby gate - turns out to be a rare trait!

listermint

Loud is better. If the child is trying to climb or open it you'll want to know...

flogen

listermint wrote: »

Loud is better. If the child is trying to climb or open it you'll want to know...

Fair point - though the pressure-mounted one I have at the bottom of the stairs seems to have the right balance. It's noisy enough when you open it but it can be done quietly (and with one hand) if you're careful.

I'm not sure why the mechanisms used on the pressure gates can't be used on the screw-in ones; I imagine there's a reason.

bee06

One other option if you know a good carpenter is to get a “bespoke” gate made. I know someone who did this and they were much better than the bought ones (and very quiet).