If you need to childproof your home, make sure you read through this ultimate list to choose the best extra wide baby gate for your needs.
If you’re a first time mom you’ll need need to learn everything there is to know about baby-proofing.
The crawling and walking stage comes faster than you think, so it’s best to get that taken care of as soon as you can.
There are several baby hazards in a home that a good baby gate can take care of, including the fireplace, decks, stairs, and access to the kitchen.
It’s important for new moms to invest in a good quality gate with adequate safety features to keep their children safe.
Now that most homes have an open floor plan, you may find that you need to purchase an extra wide baby gate to properly secure your home.
Luckily, we’re here to help!
Below, you’ll find the best baby gates for larger openings, including pressure mount gates and gates with doors.
The Importance of Baby Gates
Sometime between six and nine months old, your baby is likely to start mobilizing. And while this is an exciting and important milestone, it can also be mildly terrifying.
The crawling stage means your little one’s sense of curiosity now has the assistance of mobility, so you’ll want to prepare your home to keep everyone safe.
As mentioned above, there are several hazards in a home including fireplaces, decks, staircases, and the kitchen.
And it only takes a few seconds for a seemingly mundane item to become a dangerous instrument.
We’re talking cleaning supplies, appliance knobs, and even crumbs on the floor.
A baby gate can help safeguard your child by entirely blocking off rooms of your home that are more likely to pose a threat.
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Different Kinds of Gates
There are two main kinds of baby gates and several features and materials to consider when choosing a baby gate.
Take some time to review the benefits of each type of gate to select the best gate for your needs.
And always double-check the user instructions before using a gate at the top of the stairs!
Main Types of Gates
- Hardware-mounted gates require you to drill pieces into your existing infrastructure or build supports to drill into. Hardware-mounted gates are generally more stable and are the best options to use around stairs.
- Pressure-mounted gates use tension rods to stay in place, requiring no drills or screwing into existing structures. This means they leave no holes in walls or doorframes. These are more easily misaligned but can be more readily disassembled for travel.
Features/Mechanisms
Here are some of the features and mechanisms to consider when choosing a baby gate.
- One-handed operation: Gates with a one-handed operation allow you to open and close your gate with the use of only one hand. This is not only a convenience issue but also a safety one as parents will often have a baby in their arms.
- Self-locking: A self-locking gate doesn’t require the extra step of re-securing the gate once it’s opened. This is again, not only convenient but also safer for moms opening and closing a gate with a baby in their arms.
- Retractable: Rather than a swinging door, some gates retract to create an opening. Retractable gates are great for high-traffic areas because they’re less obtrusive than many walk-through gates.
- Climb-over: Some gates act more as a barrier and do not have a swinging hinge or door. To get to the other side of these gates, you need to climb over them. These gates are best for less-used areas. And they should never be used at the top of stairs as they pose a trip hazard.
Whatever type of gate you choose, look for JPMA certification, to ensure your gate has been through third-party checks for safety considerations like height and spacing safety requirements.
Watch out for gaps exceeding three inches to avoid any stuck limbs or escapees, and prepare to mount gates as low to the floor as possible, but never over three inches from the base.
Most importantly, regardless of the model you buy, make sure you assemble all gates correctly. If you’re not sure, have a certified baby expert help.
Materials
You should also consider the materials used to make your baby gate. As long as the gate is certified, the materials should be sturdy enough to be safe for your child.
But, you may not like the way a particular gate looks in your home. And some materials hold up better in certain conditions.
Here are some things to think about before choosing your baby gate:
- Wood models should have a smooth, even finish with rounded edges for safety.
- Metal gates are typically made of aluminum tubing or enameled-coated steel. These models may be suitable for outdoor use, but only as indicated by the manufacturer.
- Plastic is almost always combined with other materials like wood or metal. It can be sturdy and durable but may break down if exposed to continuous sunlight.
- Mesh gates are lightweight. There may be several panels with a gate and threshold or a single, long panel. The single-panel design may retract from one side or release from the pressure-mount mechanism.
The Best Extra Wide Baby Gates
Below are the best extra wide baby gates that you can purchase directly from the company website, Walmart, Target, or Amazon.
Keep in mind, a standard door frame is 34 inches wide in the U.S., but often the area we want to enclose has an entryway much wider than that. Extra wide baby gates have a max width starting at about 44 inches wide, with most having a max width of 60″ – 72″.
Pressure Mounted
With Door
1. Regalo Easy Step
This pressure-mounted baby gate extends to 49 inches and includes a 4-inch and 12-inch extension kit.
It can be pressure-mounted or wall-mounted and includes multiple safety-lock features and four rubber bumpers (wall cups) for added security.
It has an all-steel construction and also comes with mounting hardware.
The easy step gate is perfect for children 6-24 months.
2. Regalo 56-Inch Extra WideSpan Walk Through Baby Gate
The Regalo Extra Wide gate expands to 56 inches and you can use it in a doorway, hallway, and the bottom of the stairs.
It also has an all-steel construction and comes with pressure mounts and a wall mounting kit.
3. Carlson Extra-Wide Walk-Thru Gate with Pet Door
This baby gate is a top pick for families with pets.
It includes a convenient walk-through pet gate. And it expands to fit openings and stairways between 29-36.5 inches wide.
It has a durable all-steel design, includes a 4-inch wide extension kit, and a wall mount kit, and can quickly be removed for easy storage.
Parents will also appreciate the easy close-door feature.
4. Kinbor 58-inch Extra Wide Baby Gate for Doorways and Stairs
The Kinbor gate extends 58 inches wide and has a 180-degree rotation and auto-close feature for ease of use.
It has a durable steel construction available in a black or white finish. And it’s suitable for doorway, hallway, and bottom of stair use.
If you prefer a wall-mounted gate, it also comes with a wall-mount kit.
Without Door
5. Evenflo Soft and Wide Gate
This soft and wide gate has a width of 38-60 inches. And as the website states, it’s a good option “for an open floor plan”.
This pressure mount gate requires no tools for ease of installation and it’s great for traveling.
It’s also machine washable.
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6. Regalo Wooden Expandable Safety Gate
The Regalo Wooden Expandable gate extends to 42 inches, and it’s a great option for moving from room to room
The sturdy wood frame is designed to easily step over.
But, you shouldn’t use it at the top of the stairs.
7. Baby Delight Span Expandable Folding Gate
The Baby Delight folding gate is the best option for frequent travelers. It’s easy to move, sets up in less than a minute, and comes with a travel bag.
This gate features a sleek, neutral, and modern look with charcoal tweed mesh fabric.
It’s available in widths of 45 inches, 60 inches, and 72 inches.
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Hardware Mounted
With Door
8. Summer Infant Metal Expansion Gate
If you’re looking for a taller gate, the Summer Infant Metal Expansion Gate reaches 36 inches tall (most gates are 30 inches tall).
It’s great for older children and can expand to 6 ft wide.
It’s a hardware-mounted, one-handed walk-through door with a bronze metal finish.
9. Regalo Super Wide Gate and Play Yard
The Regalo super wide gate is sturdy and tall enough for older toddlers and big dogs and has numerous configurations.
You can use it as a stand-alone play yard or gate. And it’s perfect for large, angled, or uneven openings.
This gate extends 192 inches wide and has a one-touch safety lock release lever.
10. North States Deluxe Decor Metal Gate
This gate extends 72 inches wide and has a matte bronze finish.
The childproof latch offers easy one-hand operation, and the pivot points on the gate panels allow for mounting on angled walls.
It also has an available 6-Bar Bronze Extension that increases the width by 15 inches (a maximum of six extensions can be used).
11. North States Superyard 3 in 1 with Arched Gate
This six-panel enclosure can act as a portable play yard, a gate, or a barrier. As a play yard, it encloses up to 10 square feet and is 30 inches high.
The play yard is a stand-alone structure, and it’s hardware mounted when used as a gate or barrier.
It has a matt bronze finish, extends to over 12 feet, and has a two-panel extension available separately.
12. Qdos Extending Safegate
This extending safety gate is safe to use in a doorway, hallway, and the top or bottom of stairs.
It extends to 40.9 inches wide, and it’s available in white or slate.
It has a convenient one-handed operation, and it meets European, American, and Canadian safety standards.
13. SINGES 8 Panel 198″ Extra Wide 30″ Tall Baby Gate with Swing Door
This baby gate is suitable for indoor and outdoor use and it’s available in black and white.
You can use it as a play yard, gate, and barrier. And it’s foldable for condensed storage.
If you’re looking for an even wider gate than the typical extra-wide baby gate, this is a great option as it extends to a maximum length of 198 inches.
It also comes with a double-lock system and auto-close feature.
Without Door
14. Retract-a-Gate Retractable Wide Safety Gate
This gate extends to 72 inches, and you can use it between walls, banisters, a banister and wall, within a doorway, and around the corner of a walkway or doorway.
You can also place it at the top or bottom of stairs or steps and use it indoors or outdoors.
It fully retracts when not in use, making it a good choice for a high-traffic area.
15. Munchkin Wide Spaces Expanding Gate
This gate retracts and swings in both directions for easy walkthrough, and it extends to 65 inches wide.
It only takes 10 minutes to assemble, and the double-locking handle is easy for adult use but difficult for a child.
Other Baby Safety Tips
Now that we’ve covered the best extra-wide baby gates, here are some other important safety tips for babies.
Other Important Baby Proofing Steps
After you’ve selected the best baby gate(s) to use in your home, there’s still some work to do.
Make sure to:
- Cover sharp furniture edges and corners.
- Block open outlets with plugs.
- Latch closed any drawers, doors, or cupboards within baby’s reach.
- Tuck away or get rid of blind cords.
- Unplug and store appliances that aren’t in use.
- Remove any poisonous plants from your baby’s reach.
- Keep bags and purses out of your baby’s reach.
- Secure all furniture that may pose a tipping hazard (i.e. dressers and shelves).
- Never leave cleaning supplies, food, or harmful chemicals within your baby’s reach.
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Tips for Sleeping
The following are recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics for safe sleep and to help reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome):
- Back to sleep every time. To reduce the risk of SIDS, infants should be placed to sleep directly on their back for every sleep by every caregiver until the child reaches 1 year of age.
- Use a firm sleep surface. This means a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard where the surface does not indent while the baby is laying on it.
- Breastfeeding is recommended and has been associated with a reduced risk of SIDS
- Infants should sleep in the parents’ room, close to the parents’ bed, ideally for the first year of life, but at least for the first 6 months. There is evidence that sleeping in the parents’ room but on a separate surface decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%.
- Bedsharing and co-sleeping should be avoided. Sometimes the baby and mom will fall asleep if mom nurses in the bed. In that case, baby should be returned to their bed as soon as a parent wakes up and notices. However, certain circumstances substantially increase the risk of SIDS and should be avoided at all costs:
- The baby is younger than 4 months.The baby was born preterm and/or with low birth weight.Anyone in the bed is a current smoker. Anyone in the bed is using sedating medications (eg, certain antidepressants, pain medications) or substances (eg, alcohol, illicit drugs).Anyone in the bed is not the infant’s parent, including nonparental caregivers and other young children.You are sleeping on a soft surface, such as a waterbed, old mattress, sofa, couch, or armchair.
- Keep soft objects and loose bedding away from the infant’s sleep area to reduce the risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment, and strangulation. This means pillows and pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, bumper pads, and loose bedding, such as blankets and nonfitted sheets. These soft items are perfect to decorate baby’s room with, but after you take pictures, it’s time to remove them from the crib.
- Consider offering a pacifier at nap time and bedtime. Although it’s unclear why, studies have reported a protective effect of pacifiers on the incidence of SIDS. However, pacifiers should not be hung around the infant’s neck and pacifiers that attach to infant clothing should not be used with sleeping infants. Pacifiers that have soft animals or “loveys” attached to them should not be used during
- Avoid overheating and head covering in infants and use these tips for how to safely keep a baby warm at night.
- Do not use home cardiorespiratory monitors as a strategy to reduce the risk of SIDS. There is no data that other commercial devices that are designed to monitor infant vital signs reduce the risk of SIDS.
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Food Safety
When your baby is ready to start trying solid foods or wean from breast milk to whole milk, it’s important to keep an eye out for food allergies including foods that cause diaper rash, and to make sure you present foods to your baby in a safe way so they don’t choke.
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The biggest choking hazards for babies are:
- Grapes
- Popcorn
- Corn kernels
- Grape tomatoes
- Uncut raw vegetables and fruits
- Uncooked dried fruits and vegetables like raisins
Avoid small, sticky, or hard foods, and always stay close while your baby is eating.
- Have your child sit up while eating (no lying down, crawling, or walking).
- Have your child sit in a high chair or another other safe place.
- Avoid letting your child eat in the car or stroller.
- Keep mealtimes calm. Avoid distractions, disruptions, and rushing when eating.
You can learn more about how to properly prepare food for your baby according to their developmental age on the CDC’s website.
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FAQs
The widest gate on our list extends to 198 inches wide. However, most extra-wide baby gates have a maximum width of 60-72 inches.
Half doors or “Dutch doors” are a stylish way to secure certain areas of your home if you don’t want to use a baby gate.
You can also use fabric with wall-mounted hooks or multiple tension rods. However, these DIY solutions aren’t as sturdy as other options. And they may not be a good permanent solution.
And don’t use these at the top of the stairs.
The safest type of baby gate for the top of the stairs is a hardware-mounted gate with a door or swinging hinge.
Look for any hardware-mounted gate that is JPMA certified.
Want More?
If this post was helpful, be sure to check out:
- 3 First time mom books worth a read
- 15+ Genius newborn baby hacks
- The ultimate list of mom hacks
- 115 Unique first birthday party ideas and themes
Your Turn
We hope this list helps you find the best extra wide baby gate for your home. Let us know if you have any questions about the gates we chose or the other child-proofing tips we mentioned.
