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Baby Safety Gates: Ratings of Sources
Total of 15 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
April 2007
Safety Gates
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentConsumerReports.org's latest coverage of safety gates includes five hardware-mounted and six pressure-mounted baby gates. The report also includes useful general buying advice and considerations for different types of safety gates, as well as a section describing what not to buy.
2. Baby Bargains
Eighth edition, 2009
Baby Bargains
by Denise and Alan Fields
Credibility Rating
Our Assessment"Baby Bargains" is written by parents and consumer advocates Denise and Alan Fields. The latest edition of their popular baby gear book includes a section with recommendations on baby safety gates, based on their own experience buying and using at least six gates, as well as recommendations from their readers. The authors discuss nine gates of various styles.
3. Good Housekeeping
Not Dated
How to Childproof Your Home
by Caroline Sorgen
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe Good Housekeeping Institute puts several safety gates to the test for ease of installation, ease of use and safety, in a roundup that includes a variety of child safety products. Recommended are the Evenflo Home Décor Stair Gate and KidCo Safeway. It's not clear whether these three models are the only safety gates tested, however.
4. Amazon.com
As of Dec. 2009
Baby Gates
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAmazon.com offers consumers the opportunity to rate and review products they've purchased. Several baby gates have received hundreds of reviews. Among those are The First Years Hands Free Gate, with almost 600 reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Also having an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five are the North States Superyard XT Gate Play Yard, which has accumulated over 250 owner-written reviews, and the KidCo Configure Gate, with just under 100 reviews. The First Years Simple & Secure Stair Gate gets more mixed reviews, with over 175 reviews and an average rating of three stars out of five.
5. ToysRUs.com
As of Dec. 2009
Gates
by Contributors to ToysRUs.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentToysRUs.com has a wide selection of baby gates available, many of which have received dozens of owner-written reviews. More than 30 gates are favorably reviewed, with an average rating of at least four stars based on 30 or more reviews. Among those that are rated at least four stars (on average) with 70 or more reviews are the North State Superyard XT Portable Playard & Gate, Regalo Extra Wide Walk Through Metal Gate, Evenflo Top of Stair Wood Gate and Supergate V. The Metal 3-in-1 Superyard has a perfect five-star average rating, although it has only accumulated about 40 reviews at the time of our visit.
6. Walmart.com
As of Dec. 2009
Baby Gates
by Contributors to Walmart.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWalmart.com has several baby gates that have received dozens of reviews; a few have several hundred. The Dream Baby Extra Tall Swing Close Gate and Summer Infant Decorative Extra Tall Gate each have well over 100 reviews and both have a perfect average rating of five stars out of five. The North States Superyard XT Portable Playard & Gate has an impressive 1,100 reviews and still maintains an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five.
7. Which? magazine
Not Dated
Safety Gate Reviews
by Editors of Which?
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis British magazine puts 11 safety gates through rigorous testing by swinging an inflated basketball at each to simulate the force of a toddler. Gates are subjected to repeated flexing in a motorized rig to be sure they won't break under pressure. They are also tested for ease and safety of installation. Of the 11 models tested, only three are available in the U.S.
8. GaltTech.com
Not Dated
Baby Gate Reviews and Buying Guide
by Editors of GaltTech.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentGaltTech.com offers buying guides and product reviews in a number of categories, including health, travel, entertainment, sports and others. This buying guide for baby gates includes information about the various styles of baby gates and provides recommendations for each. The author is a parent, although it's not clear whether he has personally used each of the gates he recommends.
9. Child-Safety-Gates.com
As of Dec. 2009
Best Baby Gates
by Editors of Child-Safety-Gates.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis retailer website puts baby gates through "exhaustive testing" in order to recommend the best buys. Much general buying information and advice can be found on this site, and the editors provide specific recommendations for various household areas, such as irregular openings and hallways. A selection tool is also available that allows visitors to input the type of gate needed, area it will be used in, material and approximate opening size to narrow recommendations to products that meet specific needs.
10. Epinions.com
As of Dec. 2009
Baby Gates
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThere are dozens of baby gates on Epinions.com. It's not possible to sort by rating in this category, so it's necessary to navigate through several pages in order to find products that have received a fair number of reviews. The First Years Hands Free Gate and Evenflo Extra Wide Soft Gate both have an average rating of four stars out of five, based on over 40 and nearly 70 reviews, respectively. The KidCo Safeway has accumulated 30 combined reviews between two separate listings, and maintains an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five.
11. Target.com
As of Dec. 2009
Baby Gates
by Contributors to Target.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentMost of the safety gates available on Target.com have been reviewed a few dozen times, making it worthwhile to check here for reviews before buying. The Evenflo Top of Stair Gate gets the best reviews, with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five, based on over 65 reviews. Several other models also do well, including the Dream Baby Swinging Security Gate with Extensions, Dream Baby Hallway Safety Gate with Extensions, North State Superyard XT Portable Playard & Gate, and The First Years Hands Free Gate.
12. ExpoTV.com
As of Dec. 2009
Baby Gates
by Contributors to ExpoTV.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentOver a dozen baby safety gates have been reviewed on the video review site ExpoTV.com, although none have been reviewed more than six times. Video reviews are often more helpful than written reviews, because reviewers can visually demonstrate features rather than relying on the written word to convey information. This site might be worth checking after you've narrowed your search to one or two baby gates.
13. Diapers.com
As of Dec. 2009
Baby Gates
by Contributors to Diapers.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThe official store for the popular parenting site BabyCenter.com, Diapers.com allows consumers to provide ratings and reviews for products they've used. Of the 23 safety gates available on this site, only a few have been reviewed. The First Years Hands Free Gate has an average rating of four stars out of five, based on over 90 reviews, and the KidCo HearthGate has an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five, based on a dozen reviews.
14. Viewpoints.com
As of Dec. 2009
Safety Gates
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentViewpoints.com is a newer review site; therefore, it doesn't have the volume of reviews available at other popular sites such as Amazon.com. It does offer easy navigation and useful review snapshots on individual product pages, consisting of bulleted lists of pros and cons and a summary paragraph. More than two dozen safety gates are reviewed here, but most have received only one or two reviews.
15. Berkeley Parents Network
As of Dec. 2009
Baby Safety Gates
by Contributors to Berkeley Parents Network
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis parenting forum includes a thread regarding baby safety gates. Most of the discussion surrounds baby gates for stairs, addressing challenges such as how to avoid drilling into a banister. Parents offer feedback and suggestions, although most of the recommendations are for brands in general rather than specific models.
     
 

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