Stair gates before crawling starts
What it is
Fit gates at the top and bottom of stairs before the baby is mobile — the top gate must be screwed to the wall.
Always on
- Pressure-fit gates are fine at the bottom of stairs but never at the top.
- Check the gap under and beside the gate, and that it latches one-handed while holding a baby.
- Once a child can climb the gate — usually around 2 years — it becomes the hazard; teach stairs instead.
Related
Sources
- Tipat Halav visit programme — Israel Ministry of Health
- Bright Futures periodicity schedule — American Academy of Pediatrics
Compiled with AI assistance from the public sources listed above. Not yet reviewed by a clinician — check anything important against the source, with Tipat Halav or with your doctor.