Baby Gates and Fences You didn’t know you Needed
Preparing for when your baby starts to move around takes a lot of work. They are curious, clumsy, and will get into just about anything. So, finding the right safety equipment, like baby gates for your home, is essential to keep your baby safe during these early exploration days. There are some areas that you can save money by purchasing used safety equipment, while others should be purchased new to provide the best safety possible.
Baby Gates: Stairs
Baby fences for stairs are common and come in a couple different varieties. They can either attach to the wall by a permanent fixture or be secured to the wall with pressure. This isn’t a good place to use a used baby gate, especially if it is for the top of stairs where a fall could cause a lot of injury to your child. It’s worth the investment to purchase a brand new one, that you know is fully functioning.
Baby Gates: Banisters
Baby fences for banisters aren’t as common when looking at safety precautions for children. If your home is older the spindles on these banisters may be too far apart which can allow your child to stick his head through; possibly getting stuck. There are baby gates especially made for banisters to prevent this from happening. This is a place where a used baby gate could be acceptable. The only purpose is to prevent your child from getting stuck rather than to prevent a fall and major injury, so the consequences are less severe if the used baby gate fails.
Baby Gates: Fireplaces
Baby fences for fireplaces are also an important investment especially if you’re going to be lighting any fires this season. Again, used baby gates are not be appropriate in this setting; considering the possible outcome if they have been damaged. Fireplaces can burn a child in seconds and the flames draw babies’ attention and curiosity. Make sure that you get a baby fence that is specifically designed for fireplaces that can withstand the heat while not transferring that heat to your child.
Baby Gates: Fences
You may also be interested in a baby fence; something you can set up in the backyard or in your living room to give your child a safe space to play where you can see them but they can’t get into anything they aren’t supposed to. These are one of the most useful safety features for new parents and this can be a place where a used baby gate is acceptable. Again, the safety aspect is not as high; it’s mostly containing rather than preventing injury. If they manage to push this over or it breaks you will hear it and be able to get to them before they get into anything that can hurt them.
Baby Gates: Pools
Another area that is often overlooked is the pool. This is unusual in that the implications of your child finding their way into the pool are catastrophic. Even if you keep your doors to the backyard closed installing a mesh pool safety fence is essential in keeping your child safe. This is another area that a used baby gate is not a good option. The implications of a failure are too high to risk used equipment. Baby fences around pools are one of the longest used investments as far as baby safety equipment goes. This will be used for a long time throughout their childhood to prevent accidental drowning; meaning the upfront investment is worth it in the long run.
Having a baby is expensive and knowing where you can save money and where the additional security is worth a higher investment is important. Deciding this comes down to can the equipment you’re purchasing have been damaged and what are the implications if it fails. Spending the money to ensure your child is safe is money well spent, and cutting corners can result in lasting regret. The safety of your child comes first so make sure you set up all the necessary precautions before you think you’ll need it.
