the best baby gates of 2017

Munchkin Easy Close Metal Gate. Usually about $50. The Munchkin Easy Close baby gate is well-reviewed, but not quite as well as the North States or DreamBaby models. It is also a tension gate with a 2" threshold along the bottom edge. The locking mechanism is well-reviewed as highly child-proof. The gate does not have an auto-close feature, and some parents report that it can be annoyingly difficult to push closed sometimes, particularly when you only have one hand available. Even if you swing is closed forcefully, it requires you to open the latch mechanism to get it to latch shut. We also found that this particular tension-fit gate requires quite a bit of outward pressure for mounting, so it is very restricted to solid doorway frames on the sides. Fits doorways as narrow as 29.5" wide, and up to 35" wide when using the one included extension. If you're trying to fit a wider opening, you'll need to purchase some more extensions, which you can find here.

 

5. Regalo Easy Step Walk-thru Gate. Usually about $35. The Regalo Easy Step baby gate is a great option, and one of the best-selling baby gates on the market. Because it is not for use near stairs, it uses a pressure-mounting system that pushes out against two walls. It fits openings from about 29-39" wide, and in our testing we needed to add an extension to get it to fit one of our larger openings of about 42". Or you can just purchase the wider version that includes extensions for up to 50" applications. The gate uses a unique lever-locking mechanism, which we found logical to use, but some of our reviewers said they needed to use two hands to open it (to pull back and lift up simultaneously),

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 which was a pain. Personally, my husband and I could do it with one hand after getting the hang of it. We also found the opening pretty narrow, especially for wider thighs and hips, or if you're carrying something. Note that the gate only swings one way, it cannot be reversed. Also, when you close it, you need to latch it yourself using the same (difficult for some) locking mechanism. Overall, we thought the build quality was quite good, and when mounted correctly it felt very secure and not possible for little fingers to figure out (with older kids about 5+ able to figure out with both hands). Note that while this gate suggests it can be used at the top of stairs, we do not suggest this type of application: it has a step-over rail at the bottom of the gate, which is a tripping hazard for that type of application.