I had to search for the best extra tall baby gates that would suit my children. Selecting one was quite tricky, but in the end, I did manage it.
I was highly suspicious about the feasibility of these gates, but lots of free time and my inquisitive nature spurred me on to test some out. And if I learned one thing, then it was the fact that each gate has its different offerings and deliverables. So each gate can suit a person in different ways.
After the comprehensive research, I settled in on YOOFOR Retractable Gates to be the tall child gate that I was looking for. The sheer flexibility (both in a physical and natural sense) and the economical pricing made it the ideal choice for me.
But how do you choose amongst the multitudes available out there? What factors should you even consider or look for before settling in on your favorite tall baby gate? As a rule of thumb, I researched the features of different gates, their shelf-life, and the price point. The best combination of these factors will usually lead you to your extra tall safety gate.
In this guide, I explain the various features of the different gates that stood out to me and the pros and cons of owning them all. Read on to meet with your favorite product.
Do you want a baby gate that is easy to use? DO you also want that same baby gate to act as a valve (i.e., keep children in and pets out) without making it too complicated? Then I would say that the YOOFOR Retractable Baby gates would be the best extra tall bay gates satisfying all your needs.
This retractable gate makes for a very useful addition to the door in general, as its design allows you to cover more area without actually increasing the size or weight of the gate. I usually have a hard time storing such objects, as they take up too much closet space. But this gate could be neatly packed away till the next phase of zoomies that hit my child.
I love the one-handed operation of this gate. Now, it might seem that all gates are one-handed (arguable). But this gate, in particular, is designed in such a way that operating it with one hand is like gulping down a piece of cake. However, it would still hold fast against all of your baby’s machinations to destroy or dismantle it.
All in all, this can be the tall baby gate that could satisfy all your needs and preferences.
If you are looking for a tall baby gate that keeps your child in and your (rather large)pets out, then the Dreambaby Chelsea Extra Tall and Wide Security Gate would probably be the extra tall baby gate that you would love to own.
I loved this gate immensely. The name of the product itself alludes to its relatively large dimensions. And they manage to play this card in their favor. Large gates can be cumbersome to deal with and navigate around. But by increasing the height and width, they ensure that you have more area to pass through when opened.
Additionally, the extra height increment ensures that even the most giant dogs cannot leap this gate, no matter how energetic they might be. The door itself is pretty durable and made up of high-quality materials. Finally, the complex lock arrangement ensures that your baby gates cannot be unlocked by anyone else except an adult.
In short, if you have rather large pets at home, this extra tall baby gate would be the best baby gate for you.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Single-Handed operation
Easy installation
Wider and higher than average gates
Durable
Made from high-quality materials
Complex locking mechanism
Cons
It can be challenging to install if the space available is less
If you want a baby gate that gives you some of the best features (like flexibility and durability) at the lowest prices, then, in my opinion, the Regalo Easy Step Extra Tall Walk-Thru Baby Gate would be the best extra tall baby gate, fitting all your budget needs.
This baby gate is quite good, given the price point at which it is advertised. Even though it is pretty cheap, the build and features of the door itself don’t lack in any manner whatsoever. The gate is also designed very well and fits all places relatively easily.
This gate can be assembled at home and also flaunts the one-handed lock operation. It can fit any doorframe, and the added height is a boon. All of its edges are smooth and curved to prevent unwanted injuries, and the material used to design this gate is durable and of high quality.
Investing in this gate can be an excellent choice, especially if you had to recently spend a lot of bucks on your child and their care.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Easy to assemble
Good locking mechanism
Fits all doorframes
Includes extensions and mounting hardware
Exceptional paint job
High-quality material
Cons
The bar structure might be a point of concern for some families.
Do you want an extra tall baby gate that does not require much knowledge of architecture? Are you also looking to spice up your aesthetic by installing a baby gate? In that case, the Summer Multi-Use Decorative Extra Tall Walk-Thru Baby gate might as well be the best extra tall baby gate fitting your bill.
This gate is exceptionally sturdy and made from high-quality materials. While this is a good thing, the material also adds a lot of weight to the door frame. This can make installing it a difficult task. The gate also features a child-safe locking mechanism, ensuring that no one else can open these gates.
This gate also comes with a horde of different extensions, allowing you to fit this frame in any door. This is a pressure-mounted door, which means that you won’t have to drill any holes to install this (it took away one of my headaches). And finally, this door has an auto-lock and unlock mechanism. So if you forget to close the door, it will close itself on its own after you leave it open.
All in all, this gate is an excellent investment for people looking to install pressure-mounted gates that are tall and sturdy yet light enough to be easily installed.
Suppose you are looking for an extra tall baby gate that is cheap yet durable and solid yet flexible. In that case, I think the Perma Child Safety Indoor Outdoor Retractable Baby Gate would probably be the best extra tall baby gate, fitting your budget and needs.
It is one of the cheapest brands on this list. This makes it an excellent investment with couples on a tight budget. In addition to this, the gate can stretch wider than 60 degrees (that is wider than most gates). I found it more than enough to cover all the angles and surfaces without the door itself stretching a lot.
The one-handed operation of this gate is just another cherry on the top. I could easily open the door with a hand (technically, two fingers) while juggling kids and groceries with the other. The operation of the door is smooth as well and ensures that your child stays inside, no matter what shenanigans (ahem) he might try.
In short, this is a child-tested (hated) and mom-approved retractable gate that will ensure that you get the peace of mind that you so desire (I can relate).
This is the kind of door that a family with pets and kids can opt for. If your pet and your child are best friends, then it makes sense to allow them to be together. So, if you are looking for an extra tall baby gate, then the Carlson Extra Tall Walk Through Pet and Baby Gate would be the best extra tall baby gate fitting the bill.
If you have a very energetic dog or child, you might have to use some out-of-the-box thinkingto ensure that they don’t find the chinks in the armor of this gate to escape towards freedom. But besides that, it is quite a good buy for a price range such as this. The stopper handle is simple yet effective, while the added extensions allow you to cover more area.
This door is excellent for young kids and small pets, as the bigger ones can apply enough kinetic energy to render it useless (i learned that the hard way). The pet gates ensure that your child can play with their best friends even while being confined (ahem, jailed) in their playroom. The durability and strength of this door are nothing to scoff at.
This door would be an excellent choice for recent parents looking to refrain their child from running amok in the house.
Pros & Cons
Pros
One-handed operation
Simple yet effective design
Durable and strong
Economical
Wider than usual gates
Flexible
Cons
Has some blind spots that older children and bigger pets can potentially exploit
The bar structure might be a safety concern for some people
What All Should I Keep In Mind Before Settling In On A Good Gate?
There are many things that should be kept in mind before you settle in on a good gate for your child. The truth is that many dynamics come into play while creating a suitable result. But some factors are inherently more important than others. So, while different features might make some doors better than the rest, some things need to be kept in mind before you make the final investment.
1. Height
A tall gate needs to be, well, for the lack of a better word, tall. But tallness is relative (according to Einstein), and getting the right kind of tallness can be disgruntling at first. So you need to look for a tall enough gate not to be an obstacle to anyone else in the house.
Additionally, it should not block your view of the inside and should provide ample space for you to swoop your kid right off. Getting the height right can be a little complicated, so it would be best to measure the surrounding areas and the age and general size of the children being put (confined) inside.
2. Pressure Mount
This is quite a technical term. I will try to put it into a way that can be easily understood. Suppose you have a rod that needs to be attached in between two walls. There would be two ways of doing that.
The first way would include drilling holes on both ends and putting the rod in these holes. This is an excellent analogy to non-pressure mounted gates. These gates can be attached by drilling holes in specific places and locking them in. They have a massive advantage of using the wall as a plane of resistance. So, they are pretty sturdy and immovable.
The other way would be to extend the rod so that it touches the ends of the walls – and then increase its length. This would allow the rod to stay between the two walls on the basis of its internal stress and pressure. This is the basic principle of a pressure-mounted gate. Instead of drilling holes (which can get on your nerves), they utilize the elasticity of the door itself and allow the door to stay in place, thanks to its internal pressure.
Non-pressure mounted gates are pretty sturdy and robust, but their installation is a huge hassle. Pressure-mounted gates, by contrast, are easy to install but lack the same level of strength of immovability.
3. Locking Features
This is a fundamental characteristic, both from the safety and comfort points of view. It is pretty apparent that the gate you would want to safeguard your child should be complex enough so that your child cannot break out, no matter the tools at their disposal.
Many gates are utilized for one-handed operation. While this makes it relatively easy to operate, this also opens up chinks in its armor to the children. A lock should be built so that it can be easily disarmed (ahem, unlocked) and locked again. But the same should not be possible for the children on the inside. It should also be durable enough to stand tall, on top of the physical tests that the environment (kid) would put on it without fail.
Such a mechanism might be a little pricier than the average ones, but it would be quite a good investment to spend more now and get a lock that is of admirable quality if you think of the long term.
4. Design
This is a purely cosmetic characteristic with few physical applications. A gate should function as a gate. So what happens once you have been lucky enough to find a gate that fits all your needs and preferences?
That’s right, you start judging it by its aesthetics, wouldn’t you?. Many people wouldn’t care for the aesthetics of the gate. For the people who have carefully designed their house, having a gate that matches the general theme can be a priority.
Some cosmetic functions might even have real-world applications (like making the gate curvier instead of sharp). So look for the gates that match the general aesthetic of your home without compromising on its deliverables.
5. Materials Used In Creation
This is a topic whose gravity depends on the age of children you are going to guard. Young children should be kept away from gates made of cheap plastics. The uncovered iron rods and cheap plastics can pose health risks for your kids.
PVC Gates, on the other hand, are of good quality and child safe. But iron, or any other metal-based door for that matter, are structurally more durable and longer-lasting.
In the end, it all comes down to how you want your gates to function. For safer and lighter gates, choose the plastic ones (not cheap ones, though), and for heavier and more durable doors, do give a thought to steel-based doors.
FAQs
Should I Clean My Gates? What Should I Clean Them With?
That is not even a question that should be asked. This gate is going to be around your kid for a long time. CLeaning the gate on time will ensure that the gate remains sanitary and does not become a medium for bacterias or viruses.
In short, terms, Clean the gate every day (if not possible, then every other day).
Avoid using chemical-based cleaners. They can have harmful dermatological and chemical effects. Go for water-based cleaners. Most of the time, you would be dealing with dirt and dust, so any water-based cleaner would be enough to take care of that.
Should I Use Different Gates For Pets And Children?
That is obvious. You should use different gates, towels, plates, bottles, everything, for your pets and children. If you have both pets and children in the same room, then having two different gates would be the ideal choice.
However, if you can’t afford two, it would be wise to buy at least one and position it so that it ensures your child gets the full room to play and grow in.
Do not, under any circumstances, use the same door for your child as that of your pet. They are both fundamentally different and might become carriers of bacteria and viruses.
Does A Gate Have Any Uses After A Child Has Outgrown It?
This question has many different answers. Depending on your skillset or requirements, the answer can vary a lot. A gate can be reused in a variety of different ways. It can be used as a smallholder in the garden. Or you can melt it (in case it is made of iron or steel) and use it as a base for some other project. Additionally, you can use it for new pets or even keep the stories out of your yard.
The ideas are endless, as are the results. The outcomes depend on your creativity and skill.
Final Thoughts on the Best Extra Tall Baby Gates
These are not the limited choices or characteristics that govern the type of gate that you should get. But these are some of the best gates on the market. The variety of gates ensure that you can choose from an extensive collection to fit all your needs and preferences.
You can also use this guide to do your research to invest in the best tall baby gates for your kid. Tall gates act as a precaution and are built upon the foundation of regular gates. And while it does seem like a daunting task at first, we hope that this guide helped make it a somewhat manageable job.
Carly Link, a 33-year old mother of two toddlers. She is a parent and goes through a lot of the usual parenting difficulties herself. Carly shares all her experiences and knowledge about the best baby products through this blog.
