let's talk about security gates. What we like, what we don't like...

Jen
SAHM to
Spencer 4yrs
Seville, Olivia, Noah 6-29-01

Jen
Mom to Spencer 7yo
Seville, Olivia, Noah 4yo
Check out our family at http://www.raisingmultiples.com/DavisFamily.html

I have the pressure mounted swinging door gate from First Years, I LOVE it. Actually I have two. I like the foot pedal that opens the gate if my hands are full... it requires too much force for the kiddos to operate it though so they cant breach my barriers.. hee hee hee. I like that pressure mounted gates don't mar the walls, the only down side is that I have to tighten up the mounts every month or so...

Jen
SAHM to
Spencer 4yrs
Seville, Olivia, Noah 6-29-01

Jen
Mom to Spencer 7yo
Seville, Olivia, Noah 4yo
Check out our family at http://www.raisingmultiples.com/DavisFamily.html

The foot pedal gate is worth every penny. We have one on the doorway to our children's room and have used it for about 2 1/2 years now. We scrimped when we bought another gate recently (it has a handle that you have to lift to swing the gate open) and we both absolutely hate it! I highly recommend the foot pedal gate!!!

Our house was a challenge to gate, because it is a split level with a lot of open areas.

We have the Elongate for the big opening to the living room---it is great---it is mounted to the wall, and has a "door" on one side. The whole thing can be swung against the wall if need be so it is completely out of the way (like for all the adults only get togethers we have-LOL)

In our family room we had a problem finding a gate because there are open stairs, without a wall on one side, and garage, basement and laundry room entrances. We used the Configurgate diagonally accross one side and with it blocked off all these areas. The gate can be configured to fit non-straight areas and you can add extensions. It too has a "door" and this gate has kept our sanity.

We have a couple of permenantly mounted gates in other areas which work well.

We had a Graco (I think) pressure mounted gate into the kitchen and it didn't work well for us. It was very difficult to use and was more trouble than it was worth.

LOVE the configure gate. We use it to gate off the kitchen. We also have the Evenflo stair gates that are attached to the wall...love those for the stairs!

Laura M. - Chicagoland
mommy to miracles
Hannah, Sarah and Emma
4/21/00 --- 28w5d
http://thetripletmom.blogspot.com/

"Many children, many cares; no children, no felicity." -Christian Nevell
Bovee

We also love the elongate & configure gate. My kids just turned three & I still have the gates up. We call it our "various levels of security."

Shell
Jacob, Daniel & Rebecca 1/7/00

I have 3 Evenflo Simple Touch gates and LOVE them! They have a "remote" control mounted about the gate that the boys can't reach. You simply press the button and the gate is released. I have one at the entrance to the hall, kitchen and at the basement steps.


I also have a manual gate at the boy's bedroom to keep them in (we're in toddler beds)


Katiebug

Mom to Cuddlebugs: Colum, Jamie and Ian
33w 4d

Katie

I decided for the wooden Kidco gates (they have extension pieces so you can make them very long). They are very sturdy and I hope they can withhold the trio. I bought them through baby catalog. So far I am very pleased.

Kim

We used the configure and elongate gates to divide our formal living room making a "corral" for the babies. It has been a sanity saver. When awake and not in highchairs they are in the corral and we have so much fun!! These gates are expensive but well worth it to have one child proofed area that you can leave babies in while you put laundry in, answer phone etc. We really like these gates. I had posted about what kind of enclosure/play yard the TC parents recommended and many wrote that you just have to commit a room to the kids. I was ready to gate off the entire living room but dh wanted to divide room in half and I must say he was right. The area is the size of a small play room and it is plenty big enough for them right now. I'm trying to attach picture--hope it goes through.

Colleen
Mom to MaryKate (7)
and Bridget, Dylan and Christopher 2 1/2