Baby Safety Gates

These twins are 9 months old, at the just about to start walking stage (if they hadnt already). Regardless, there would have been child-safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs (since its already been reported that the children were sleeping UPSTAIRS).

Now you may argue that they left both of these gates open because the children were asleep, however I know that just out of habit, for my own peace of mind, even if my kid was asleep, I would close the gates behind me. Why? Because it takes all of two seconds, and in the unlikely event they did get out of the cot, at the very least they would only be on one level, not crawl/walk to the top of the stairs and then fall down. Plus its just a force of habit, you just get in the habit of always closing the gates, so that you dont accidentally ‘forget’ to do it one day with disasterous consequences.

So one of two things happened here:

The child gates were locked and somehow this fox managed to jump over both sets of gates (at the top and the bottom) without making a single sound (and how determined is that fox to get to some soiled nappies to be able to do that).

or the gates were open, which might be fine, but still seems to me to be playing a little fast and loose with their safety considering there is a 5 or 6 metre drop awaiting them ….
La Volpe – I totally agree with you on the count of all these neighbours all declaring it to be some epidemic, yet if that was the case why did the parents leave the door wide open and then leave both child safety gates open to allow the fox to get upstairs.

This would make them negligent. They can’t have it both ways. Either they were negligent because they knew there was a problem but did nothing to prevent the attack, or there was no problem in the first place which is why they never forsaw it.

But they can’t have it both ways.
Nice guy ………. babies don’t have to be at walking age to need babygates. Having one of your own, you should know how fast they can crawl along the ground at 9 months. Wouldnt take them long to get from one end of a room to the edge of the staircase.

A fox can jump very lightly. A gate would present very little obstacle. Foxes come over our six foot fences all the time. They’re very nimble and stealthy with it. The mistake people are making is thinking that foxes are nice – they’re not. They are renowned for causing terrible problems with lambs and chickens. They are vermin but some people think they’re cute, feed them and allow them to breed in their gardens. I wouldn’t breed rats but that’s what people do with foxes. There is no difference rat=vermin fox=vermin.

My daughter is 3 years old and stays with her grandparents one night a month. They have a very tall staircase that has wood, no carpeting, and her room is upstairs, while they sleep downstairs. My mother thinks our daughter is old enough to not use the gate at the top of the stairs any longer, but my husband and I are concerned that she’s still a little wobbly (especially after just having woken up) and there is a danger there. I’ve looked online for any info but would like some feedback from others who might have a similar situation. The thought of her falling scares me to death. How do you know when a child is old enough not to need safety gates?

When she can go up and down the stairs consistently by herself without falling, she’s old enough to not use the gates. My niece is 3 and every time my sister thinks she no longer needs the gates, she ends up falling down the stairs.

Hi All

I’d love your advice please! I have two, 1yr old cats, a male Ragdoll, and a female Tabby (both spayed/ neutered)
I love them both dearly, but some nights I want to break their necks!

They are both indoor only cats, and recently they have started misbehaving during the night.
I’m finding this incredibly stressful as I’m 8.5 months pregnant, and really need the sleep….

What happens is that at about 3 – 4 a.m, I can hear them carrying on like lunatics throughout the house, jumping up on counters, knocking things over, scratching, etc…..
I know this sounds like boredom, but they have PLENTY of stimulating toys, a climbing frame, etc.
Both are in excellent health, eating well, etc.

The only thing I can think of that has changed is that we have put up a pet/child safety gate in our bedroom, preventing them from coming into our room. They previously were allowed in and used to sleep, quite soundly, with us. Obviously, this is now non negotiable, as when our baby comes, I don’t want them in the room with us for health and safety reasons (hair, and the risk of suffocation)

Perhaps this has stressed them out? How can I help them, and also, can I get them to stop jumping up on counters….especially the kitchen counter (not very hygienic)

Thanks so much, and I look forward to your replies…… xxx

Cats are creatures of habit and don’t always cope well with change, no matter how minor those changes might seem to us. Not only has their night-time routine of sleeping with you come to an abrupt end, but there are probably lots of other changes taking place around the home in readiness for your baby. Their night time antics may be designed to get your attention, especially if you have less time for them during the day than previously. Do you react in any way when they start messing about? Even calling out to tell them off, is giving them attention and will only reinforce the behaviour because they’ll be getting the pay-off they were hoping for. If this is the case, the best thing to do is ignore their antics – even if you have to resort to wearing ear-plugs to get some sleep. It may take a couple weeks, but they will eventually realise that messing about is no longer an effective way of getting your attention. Be sure to set aside some quality time for them in the evening. If they like being groomed, spend time doing that. Not only do cats find it comforting, but it helps to reinforce the bond between you which will help reassure them if they are feeling any insecurity over the changes taking place.

They’re both young cats with a lot of energy to burn, especially as they are indoor only. Is there another family member who could spend 30 minutes or so playing with them in the evenings? All cats enjoy practising their hunting skills, and if the games involve them chasing after things it will burn off some of their excess energy. If they’re kept active in the evenings, they should be more inclined to sleep longer at night.

You can try placing aluminium foil on the work tops at night, as many cats dislike walking on it. The work surfaces can be wiped down with an anti-bacterial spray prior to use to minimise any potential health risks.

This article has lots of information and advice on raising your baby with cats which you might find helpful.

http://www.messybeast.com/cat_baby.htm

Hope all goes well with your baby.

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Keep your pet in (or out of) areas of your home with our attractive, solid pine pet gates. These freestanding dog gates work well in modern, open-floor-plan homes and require no wall attachment. You can even customize your dog gate by adding as many additional two-panel sections as you need (each twopanel section covers a 3′ span). Old-world attention to detail, including hand-sanded rounded edges and nail-free construction. Urethane coating protects finish for years. Dog gates fold for easy storage. In black. Distance between spindles is 2 3,4″. This item is NOT for use as a child safety gate.

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I need a pool fence that is strong and I’m looking for a pool gate that will swing shut. I would like to use a big company, preferably a national chain, instead of a small company. When it comes to my child’s safety I only want to go with the best. Thank you.

Yes, there is a national chain of pool fence installers in the United States. The company is called Baby Guard Pool Fence Company and they are the best around. I have relatives from Florida to California who have used this company for a pool fence and they absolutely love it.

Their products have a lifetime warranty and they are very professional. They also have what they call a self-closing gate like you were asking about that will swing shut and you can lock it with a key.

It’s definitely worth it to give them a call, they will come to your house and give you a free estimate and then let you decide from there.
(888) 919-2229 is their corporate number and they will direct you to your local office from there.

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Keep your child safe from potentially dangerous situations around the home by installing these Child Safety Latches by Dream Baby®. Sold in a pack of 12, these latches are easy to install using the included screws. The latches mount to the inside of the cabinet. The push down catch is easy for adults to use, but is difficult for little fingers. Children learn by watching and mimicking. Using a variety of different catches and latches throughout the home will help prolong the deterrent effect of child safety products. Combine this catch with our wide selection of Door and Cabinet Latches also by Dream Baby®. Provide even more protection by installing Security Gates throughout the house. Features: Durable plastic construction Push down catch Self locking Mounts to inside of cabinet or door Easy to install with included screws Sold in a pack of 12 Color: White

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