If you’ve started looking for a baby gate, you’ve probably already discovered that choosing one isn’t quite as straightforward as you expected.

There are different widths, materials, opening mechanisms and finishes to consider. But one of the most important differences is also one of the easiest to overlook:

How does the gate actually attach to your home?

Most traditional baby gates fall into one of two categories: pressure-fit or screw-fit (wall-mounted).

They may look relatively similar on a product page, but the way they are installed makes a significant difference to where they can be used.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is a pressure-fit baby gate?

A pressure-fit gate is held in position by pressure against the surfaces on either side of an opening.

Rather than being screwed directly into a wall or door frame, adjustable pressure points are tightened until the gate is held firmly between the two surfaces.

One of the obvious attractions is installation. Because you generally don't need to drill into the wall to fit one, pressure-fit gates can be appealing if you’re reluctant to make holes in your home.

They can work well in appropriate locations around the home when installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

However, there's one particularly important feature to be aware of.

Most pressure-fit gates require a frame that runs around the entire gate — including a bar across the floor.

And that becomes particularly relevant when you're choosing a gate for your stairs.

What is a screw-fit baby gate?

A screw-fit baby gate (sometimes called a wall-mounted baby gate) is mechanically fixed to the surfaces on either side of the opening.

Rather than relying on pressure to stay in place, the gate's fittings are attached directly to the wall, door frame or other suitable structure using the appropriate fixings.

That means installation takes a little more effort and, yes, usually involves making holes.

But there are some significant advantages.

Because the gate doesn't need a complete pressure frame around it, a wall-mounted design can be created without a bar running across the floor.

This is particularly important at the top of the stairs.

Which type of baby gate should you use at the top of stairs?

This is where the distinction really matters.

Current UK child-safety guidance recommends using a screw-fixed safety gate without a bottom bar at the top of stairs.

Why?

A bottom bar introduces something you need to step over every time you pass through the gate. At the top of a staircase, avoiding an additional trip hazard is particularly important.

For that reason, if you're shopping specifically for a baby gate for the top of your stairs, check that the manufacturer states that the gate is suitable for that position rather than assuming that every stair gate can be used there.

The BirchBaby Scalloped Gate is screw-fit and wall-mounted, with no bottom bar, and is designed to be suitable for use at the top of stairs when correctly installed in accordance with its instructions.

It can also be configured to open in one direction where required, so the gate can be prevented from swinging out over the staircase.

What about the bottom of the stairs?

Safety gates are commonly used at both the top and bottom of a staircase to restrict a young child's unsupervised access to the stairs. Both the NHS and RoSPA recommend gates at the top and bottom as babies become mobile. nhs.uk

At the bottom of the stairs, you may have more choice over the style of gate you use, depending on the particular space and the manufacturer's instructions.

This is where it's worth thinking beyond simply “Will it fit?”

Consider how often you'll walk through it, whether there's a bottom bar to step over, which direction the gate opens and how naturally it will work with the way your family moves through the house.

After all, you're potentially going to open and close it several times a day.

Does screw-fit mean damaging your walls?

This is probably one of the biggest reservations people have about choosing a wall-mounted gate.

A screw-fit gate requires secure mechanical fixings, so there will ordinarily be fixing holes to make good once the gate is eventually removed.

We completely understand why that can initially feel less appealing than a no-drill solution.

But there is another way of looking at it.

Your baby gate is a safety product.

Choosing the appropriate type of gate for its intended location should come before avoiding a few small holes that can later be filled and redecorated.

It's also important to use fixings appropriate to the surface you're attaching the gate to. Different wall constructions require different fixing methods, so always follow the gate manufacturer's installation guidance and use suitable fixings for your particular wall or structure.

Is a screw-fit gate difficult to install?

Not necessarily, but it does require a little more preparation.

Before ordering any baby gate, measure your opening carefully and check the manufacturer's specified fitting range.

Then consider what you're actually fixing into on both sides.

A doorway with solid timber on either side is a very different installation from a staircase involving a newel post on one side and a wall on the other.

Don't improvise with unsuitable fixings simply because they happen to be in the toolbox.

If you're unsure about the construction of your wall or which fixing is appropriate, get advice from someone suitably experienced before installing the gate.

And once it's fitted, periodically check that it remains secure. NHS-backed guidance recommends regularly checking that a safety gate is still firmly fixed as your increasingly enthusiastic toddler begins interacting with it.

Should a baby gate meet a safety standard?

When you're comparing gates, look beyond colour, price and customer reviews.

UK NHS guidance advises choosing safety gates that comply with EN 1930:2011, the standard relating to child safety barriers. nhs.uk

The BirchBaby Scalloped Gate has been independently tested and passed EN 1930:2011.

For us, safety was the starting point of the design, not something we attempted to incorporate once we'd decided how we wanted the gate to look.

Because however beautiful a baby gate might be, it first needs to do its job.

So, is pressure-fit or screw-fit better?

Neither fitting method should be chosen purely because one sounds more convenient.

The more useful question is:

Which gate is appropriate for where I need to put it?

A pressure-fit gate may be suitable for certain locations around your home when the manufacturer approves its use there and it is installed correctly.

For the top of stairs, current UK safety guidance recommends a screw-fixed gate without a bottom bar.

Wherever you're installing a gate, check its intended use, measure your opening carefully and follow the manufacturer's instructions rather than adapting the product to make it fit a space it wasn't designed for.

Why we chose screw-fit for The Scalloped Gate

When we started designing The Scalloped Gate, we weren't interested in simply making an existing baby gate prettier.

We wanted to reconsider the whole object.

That meant thinking about how it fitted, how you walked through it, how it operated and, of course, how it looked within a home.

The result is a wall-mounted wooden safety gate with no bottom bar, designed for one-handed adult operation, with a stay-open function and the option for one-way opening when required.

And then came the part we felt had been neglected for far too long: making it something you might actually want in your home.

Solid beech. A softer scalloped silhouette. Considered finishes. No industrial-looking frame running around the opening.

Because choosing an appropriate safety gate shouldn't mean abandoning every decision you've made about your interiors.

Safety designed to belong.

Explore The Scalloped Gate and find the size and finish for your home.