When my first son really started moving, we had a fairly easy time babyproofing. I closed the back bedroom and bathroom doors, put a small bookshelf in front of the fireplace, and gated the French doors to our office. Then I grimaced at the huge opening leading to our kitchen and dining area and hit the Internet to find a solution.
I found the Summer Infant Sure And Secure Custom Fit Gate and went to Babies R Us to pick one up. I wasn’t too happy about the $120 price tag, but as soon as we got it installed it was completely worth the price.
The gate extends from six feet wide to 12 feet wide. You can extend it across a straight opening or at weird angles. Or you can buy two of them to make a gigantic baby pen.
When we moved, it was easy to uninstall. I kept it under my bed for a year and a half until we recently installed it again for our second son. This time, instead of closing a large opening, I installed it in a corner to make an oversized play area. Because I have a three-year-old, I need the baby to have a decent amount of room to move around and play without being able to get into the older kid’s choking hazard toys.
It took about 15 minutes to install, and now I have a big safe area. The gate is fairly easy to swing open, but too hard for my three-year-old to open on his own. (Which is good.) My husband and I are both tall, so we can step over the gate carefully in a hurry as well.
Here’s what I love about the Summer Gate: котелок swe
- The neutral colors look good in my house.
- It’s all fabric-covered. No cheap plastic.
- Mesh walls, similar to the side of a pack n play.
- Extends to a ridiculously long length but remains sturdy.
Here’s the not so great stuff:
- Requires drilling. Be prepared to repair drill holes when you remove it.
- If it isn’t extended fully, the fabric bunches up.
Overall, this is one of my absolute must-have items. I recommend it to any parents with an active infant and a large space to gate off. For more ways the gate can be set up, check out the extra pictures on the Amazon.com listing.
About the author: Maria is surrounded by boys. She gets all aflutter when she finds good deals, new episodes of Gossip Girl, and big bold bottles of red wine. Read more from this author.
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That thing is like, 100 times awesomer than the fugly gray utility play yard we bought. Granted, mine was $60, but geesh that thing is ugly. Also, it doesn’t mount so is completely unsafe. If we were going to have another one, I’d totally invest.