Here is what a parent’s mantra should be when seeking a safety gate: Easy for me, difficult for child. Because really, what else do you need? A good-looking gate is nice, sure, and it’s important to have the right size for various entryways. But it all comes down to safety for the kid and ease-of-use for the parent. The Evenflo Top of Stair Gate meets and exceeds these stipulations. And it’s not bad looking, either!

 

Perfect for High Traffic Areas
Designed to secure that most dangerous of crawler/toddler attractions, the stairs, the Top of Stair Gate features key safety elements, including four-point hardware mount, one-direction swing setting, and kidproof latch. Four-Point Hardware Mount
This is an extremely secure mounting when used with the one-direction swing setting for the gate. A Phillips screwdriver and electric drill with 1/8-inch bit are required (not included). A mounting template is included for quick installation—this is a very useful benefit, as most parents spend far more time than they had originally planned or hoped, installing gates. The gate is easy to remove (leaving the hardware in the walls) for those times when you don’t need it and do want easier grownup access to the stairs.

Swing Mount
Correctly installed, the gate can swing both ways or be used with the one-direction swing setting for top of stairs use. The usefulness of this setting becomes obvious when you consider the danger of the accidentally unlatched gate swinging open over the stairs…

Childproof Latch
To open the gate, press in and slide out. You’ll hear an audible click. Once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s a quick, one-handed operation that will allow you to pass through the gate even while carrying a child—but foil even the most dexterous toddler’s attempts to break out.

Vertical Bars: Not Just for Prison Anymore
Vertical bars are crucial to any gate’s effectiveness. Amazingly, some gate manufacturers have not figured this out yet. A horizontal bar across a gate is an open invitation to climb. Evenflo, fortunately, has a firm grasp on this concept. The Top of Stair vertical bars’ smooth, non-toxic, splinter-resistant finish thwarts little climbers. A Good, Basic Gate
Standing 30 inches tall and extending from 28 to 42 inches wide, the gate fits standard doorways and keeps children (up to 24 months) appropriately frustrated in their efforts to topple down stairs. --Emilie Coulter