Baby Gates being torn down

[midaycare]

I have 2 baby gates that I use, both made of different materials. I have one at the bottom of the daycare steps (daycare is in basement) and another is on the steps going to our third floor upstairs.

If I have to run upstairs to use the restroom - literally for 2 minutes - they shake the gate until it comes down and run up the stairs to find me.

So we have daycare in the basement, eat on the middle floor, and after lunch when getting everyone down from their boosters, I have a few that like to shake the gate to try to go upstairs. I have good kids, but this is just to tempting for them. Help!

[Leigh]

I use this one: http://www.evenflo.com/Products/Even...e_Decor_Stair/

No one can operate it, and no one has been able to destroy it. It is hardware mounted.

[Baby Beluga]

I like that one ^

I think Aunt Tami built one with 2x4's....perhaps that is an idea? Also, there are a lot of instructions on how to make gates with PVC pipe. I think you just have to make sure it is furniture grade.

[Blackcat31]

I have taught my little ones that there is a buffer zone by the gate.

Think hockey and the goalie with their blue lines The kids know there is a certain amount of space just before the gate that they are not allowed to enter. If they do, they get a penalty.

My kids don't touch the gates or doors for that matter.

It's pretty easy to teach them with a little consistency and patience.

I think Nan has a video on You tube that explains how to teach boundaries to little ones...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGa9BURyIw0

[daycare]

I have taught my little ones that there is a buffer zone by the gate.

Think hockey and the goalie with their blue lines The kids know there is a certain amount of space just before the gate that they are not allowed to enter. If they do, they get a penalty.

My kids don't touch the gates or doors for that matter.

It's pretty easy to teach them with a little consistency and patience.

I think Nan has a video on You tube that explains how to teach boundaries to little ones...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGa9BURyIw0

all up in your taco salad.......................I think I pee my pants.....................Nan that is beyond funny.

[daycarediva]

I have taught my little ones that there is a buffer zone by the gate.

Think hockey and the goalie with their blue lines The kids know there is a certain amount of space just before the gate that they are not allowed to enter. If they do, they get a penalty.

My kids don't touch the gates or doors for that matter.

It's pretty easy to teach them with a little consistency and patience.

I think Nan has a video on You tube that explains how to teach boundaries to little ones...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGa9BURyIw0

I agree with this. Regardless of age, (and I am assuming these aren't infants since they can shake a gate down!) they can learn that you can't touch this. I would get colored tape, and tape off a red area around the gates. I wouldn't even allow them IN the red taped area unless you are there with them.

If they did that here, it would damage my walls! EEK!

[daycare]

this is what I have, but mine are mounted into the walls.

we also have a do not touch the gate rule.

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1096175/munchkin-auto-close-metal-gate-set.jsp?ci_mcc=ci&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=92916639&CID=shopping15&gclid=CPbtqNDMoMMCFdcXgQodw7IAkw

[AuntTami]

I like that one ^

I think Aunt Tami built one with 2x4's....perhaps that is an idea? Also, there are a lot of instructions on how to make gates with PVC pipe. I think you just have to make sure it is furniture grade.

AuntTami did indeed build one with 2x4's. Actually aunttami built three of them. We have a "don't touch the gate" rule too but I didn't feel they were safe enough for the top of our stairs(where our playroom is) so we built one and screwed it into the studs in the wall. I added a picture of the one at the top of our stairs. There's a picture of one of the other ones in the "other topics" section. Honestly I love them. It's so much easier to open the gate than step over it and they didn't cost much at all to build(hubby's handy though) and I feel MUCH safer with these than regular gate- even ones that are secured to the wall. I've stood on this gate(and I'm pretty plump) when it's open and it doesn't move!

Edited to add: there's a lock on the top on the other side. You just can't see it. But it's there and it's too tall for kids to reach it to unlock and it's a tight fit so even if they could reach it, they qouldnt have the strength to open it.

[Blackcat31]

AuntTami did indeed build one with 2x4's. Actually aunttami built three of them. We have a "don't touch the gate" rule too but I didn't feel they were safe enough for the top of our stairs(where our playroom is) so we built one and screwed it into the studs in the wall. I added a picture of the one at the top of our stairs. There's a picture of one of the other ones in the "other topics" section. Honestly I love them. It's so much easier to open the gate than step over it and they didn't cost much at all to build(hubby's handy though) and I feel MUCH safer with these than regular gate- even ones that are secured to the wall. I've stood on this gate(and I'm pretty plump) when it's open and it doesn't move!

While I admire your construction skills, I would never get away having that type of a gate as that is just an invitation to climb. We are also not allowed to have anything that a child could get their arms or legs caught in.

My gates are half doors that have the option of closing entirely or just the bottom half. My DH is a furniture/cabinet maker so he built my dutch doors out of regular doors.

The one baby gate I do have, attaches to the wall and has a walk-through door so that the adult does not have to risk trying to step over.

[jenboo]

I have taught my little ones that there is a buffer zone by the gate.

Think hockey and the goalie with their blue lines The kids know there is a certain amount of space just before the gate that they are not allowed to enter. If they do, they get a penalty.

My kids don't touch the gates or doors for that matter.

It's pretty easy to teach them with a little consistency and patience.

I think Nan has a video on You tube that explains how to teach boundaries to little ones...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGa9BURyIw0

I tried this and just couldn't get it to work. And once I left the room, they definitely didn't listen/follow the rules. I suggest the hardware mounted kind and then just keep redirecting when they touch the gate. Took 6 months for my kids to finally leave the gate alone.

[midaycare]

I'm not sure how you get your dck's to listen about the gate. They are so good with everything else, but they panic when I am out of sight and that overcomes anything else they know and think.

They don't touch the gate unless I run upstairs to use the bathroom quickly - it only happens once or twice a day - but I do not want them on the stairs. Way too dangerous!

[AuntTami]

While I admire your construction skills, I would never get away having that type of a gate as that is just an invitation to climb. We are also not allowed to have anything that a child could get their arms or legs caught in.

My gates are half doors that have the option of closing entirely or just the bottom half. My DH is a furniture/cabinet maker so he built my dutch doors out of regular doors.

I wanted Dutch doors too but this was our compromise. After this gate was installed I realized the climbing hazard of it and the other two gates were modified to fix that issue. We just haven't gotten to this one yet but no one is ever unattended upstairs- even for bathroom breaks(I have a second floor restroom) so there's no chance to climb it but we will be modifying it soon to make it unclimbable and arm and leg safe as well. My littles are all under 2 so no one has "figured it out" and like I said, we do have a "don't touch the gate" rule too.
Could you put in a Dutch door like BC suggested? Or even just the bottom half of the door?

[midaycare]

The issue I have is the gates have to go on the first step of a staircase, one side on a wall, the other side is a log staircase railing (we live in a log home). It's difficult to get something sturdy in, which is partly why the dck's who are 1.5 can shake it lose.

The ones that bolt in might work ... If DH let's me do that to the railing.

[Blackcat31]

The issue I have is the gates have to go on the first step of a staircase, one side on a wall, the other side is a log staircase railing (we live in a log home). It's difficult to get something sturdy in, which is partly why the dck's who are 1.5 can shake it lose.

The ones that bolt in might work ... If DH let's me do that to the railing.

My DH build log stuff. His specialty is log railings. If you want to post a picture (you could PM it if you don't want to share openly) and my DH might have some really good ideas for you.

Here is an example of some of his work:

http://blue-pine-creations.webs.com/apps/photos/

[daycare]

My DH build log stuff. His specialty is log railings. If you want to post a picture (you could PM it if you don't want to share openly) and my DH might have some really good ideas for you.

Here is an example of some of his work:
http://blue-pine-creations.webs.com/apps/photos/

OMG BC that is beautiful work he does.....interested in a husband swap.....