We tested the 14 most popular stair gates on the market, scoring them on six key areas before whittling them down to a final list the nine best stair gates, all of which scored a minimum of 40 points out of a possible 48. We think the BabyDan Guard Me Auto Retractable Satefy Guard gate is the best stair gate available to buy right now. It scored the highest in our product testing and has received many glowing recommendations in the Mumsnet Talk forums. The retractable feature offers a neat option for leaving the gate folded away when not in use and it has a simple opening mechanism. About the author Screw-fit gates are the best type to use at the top of the stairs because they are the most secure and don’t cause a trip hazard. All stair gates fit one of two main categories: pressure-fit or screw-fit. Screw-fit (wall-mounted) stair gates

Once we’d selected the 14 best stair gates for our shortlist, our tester, Katja Lakha, installed them one at a time in her home. Katja is a busy mum with three children (girls aged one and four, and a seven-year-old boy), so each gate was put through its paces. The gates were tested for at least one to two weeks each in busy areas of Katja’s home.Cleanliness: Does the gate show grubby fingerprints? Is it easy to clean? Is there a bar that gets in the way when vacuuming? The most popular recommendations were pulled together to include in a longlist of approximately 30 stair gates, then whittled down to form our final shortlist. How we tested the stair gates

When testing and selecting the best stair gates we considered, safety, ease of installation, suitability, fit and value. Ideally, you want your stair gate to be at least 75cm (30 inches) in height. Extra-tall models are available, and range in sizes from 1m (39 inches) and beyond. Where to buy a stair gateWays to keep your family living costs down, and kids of all ages happy Get our Family newsletter – it's free monthly. Gates at the top of a staircase should always open towards the landing, not out across the staircase Ensure that the gate opens towards the landing, not outwards towards the stairs, or you could fall forward while opening it. We put all stair gates through an impact test where they are hit three times with a 25kg weight (that's roughly the same weight as a small female labrador or a large springer spaniel), to see if the gate comes loose or breaks. If you're planning on getting a dog (but a baby could also be on the horizon), you're best off choosing a baby stair gate that holds up in our tests so you can be assured that it will be suitable for protecting both children and animals.

Location Stair gates at the top of the stairs should open towards the landing, not towards the flight of stairs, to avoid falling forwards while opening the gate. You should only use screw-fit gates at the top of the stairs. You don't need to break the bank to get a reliable product either - one of our top models was among the cheapest we tested. To pass our testing, the stair gates we review must meet the requirements of the relevant safety standard. This ensures that they're sturdy, and can withstand the shakes and rattles of a determined child. While there's no statutory requirement to comply, most commercially sold stair gates will have been tested to meet safety standards BS EN1930:2011.Some stair gates also come with a small door inset into the gate, to let a smaller pet through while keeping large people and dogs out. The Safety 1st Wall Fix Extending Metal Gate is easy to adjust to fit securely at the top of any staircase, and because you don’t need to use any additional extenders, the full width of the gate will open, leaving no obstruction that could cause you to trip. Which is the best safety gate to buy? Material A wooden or metal side-opening stair gate will need plenty of room to swing open, so you need to think about potential obstructions and whether it will be awkward to navigate around. To bring you our list of the best stair gates you can buy today, we first tapped into the wealth of knowledge in the Mumsnet forums, seeking tried and tested recommendations on the stair gates they’ve used and would happily recommend to others. Where possible, our parent-test Katja and her three children then put each stair gate through its paces, learning more about the key features and benefits of each product via everyday use. Best stair gates: at a glance