We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

Looking for a stair gate that does not screw into walls

My son and his wife are coming to stay for a few weeks with their baby daughter who has just started walking. They will be staying on the top floor of our Victorian house and asked us to put a stair gate up on the landing at the top of the stairs to their room.

We expected to find one like we used - ie held in place by pressure screws against the walls - but the only ones we can find l seem to have complex mounting mechanisms which require screwing into the wall.

This is tricky for us as the top floor bedroom is accessed via a short landing and the walls outside are plaster with wall paper over and a bit crumbly. Screwing in a stair gate would be tricky and leave conspicuous holes. Also the stair gate needs to be quite wide to fit the gap at the landing.

The baby shop tells us that they can no longer sell the pressure type gates due to EU regulations. Is this true? Can anyone recommend a pressure type gate for an older house?

Comments

  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 34,344 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 13 May 2013 at 8:26AM
    There's a boots one on the grabbit forum at the moment which I think may be pressure mounted. And it says you can get extenders for it. I was just contemating it for the dog. (Victorian house as well.)
    Also check out amazon and Argos.
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • willow29
    willow29 Posts: 40 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    We have this model
    http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3763478.htm
    It's pressure mounted and very easy to fit. Argos have sale on baby products at the minute, if you type it baby gate in their site you'll see the fully range.
  • mummyroysof3
    mummyroysof3 Posts: 4,566 Forumite
    I think they don't recommend the pressure mounted ones for top of stair alas if enough force is lent on them they can be dangerous. We have one in our kitchen doorway and I tripped and fell into it once and landed in a heap on the floor on top of the gate...not good
    Have a Bsc Hons open degree from the Open University 2015 :j:D:eek::T
  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 34,344 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Just checked the lindam site and they're definitely still selling them. I was thinking though, the gate might be safer across the bedroom door as opposed to at the top of the stairs. Mine is pressure mounted to the wooden stair post and has been known to slide if a lot of pressure is applied.
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • dizziblonde
    dizziblonde Posts: 4,276 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I think they don't recommend the pressure mounted ones for top of stair alas if enough force is lent on them they can be dangerous. We have one in our kitchen doorway and I tripped and fell into it once and landed in a heap on the floor on top of the gate...not good

    Think it's more the fact the outer frame of the pressure fit ones is like a square bottomed U shape and that bottom bit is a trip hazard at the top of stairs.

    You can get travel type ones if they're any help since it doesn't need to be a permanent fixture in your house?

    This type of thing (tried to find it on Kiddicare but their site's not working for me at the moment)
    http://www.mothercare.com/Lindam-Flexiguard/487336,default,pd.html

    And another with crumbly plaster who empathises on that particular front! (Have to get our stairgates sorted soon and I'm dreading it with the state of our walls and how awful they are to fix stuff to)
    Little miracle born April 2012, 33 weeks gestation and a little toughie!
  • mummyroysof3
    mummyroysof3 Posts: 4,566 Forumite
    Ironically in 7 years I've not tripped on bar but quite often walk into it and have a bruise on my thigh. Hubby built on at top of the stairs like a garden gate.
    Have a Bsc Hons open degree from the Open University 2015 :j:D:eek::T
  • peachyprice
    peachyprice Posts: 22,346 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Would it be practical to put a pressure one across their bedroom door?

    I have one at the kitchen for the dog and I have to say I wouldn't be very happy with it at the top of the stairs, if baby were to lean on it it could fall. I think we've all walked into it at one time and pushed it over, they are not that secure.

    At least if it's at the door and she pushes it, it will only fall on the floor.
    Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear
  • sooty&sweep
    sooty&sweep Posts: 1,316 Forumite
    Hi

    I was also advised against putting pressured mounted stairgates across the top of the stairs in case someone fell or pushed against them and it gave way.

    Jen
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 346.5K Banking & Borrowing
  • 251.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 451.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 238.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 614.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 174.7K Life & Family
  • 251.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.