Just How Common Are Child Stair Injuries?

Stair injuries are more common than many parents realize, especially among young toddlers and infants who are just learning to walk. In fact, according to WebMD, a 2012 study found that every six minutes, a child is treated in the emergency room for a stair-related injury. Children under 12 months, usually around eight months and walking with the assistance of a baby walker, have a high rate of accidents falling down stairs in the walker, making the fall even more dangerous. Children around twelve months old, walking on their own, are at a high risk as well. Staircase falls are the #1 source of non-fatal injuries for one-year-old children because this is often the time they begin to walk on their own and gain confidence in their newfound abilities.

It's Not Just Fabric

The study also found that many child stair injuries may have been prevented with child gates for stairs. When properly installed, baby gates for staircases can protect your child from climbing the stairs and accidentally tumbling down the stairs and, as a result, possibly suffering serious injuries. Although parents do their best to watch their child at all times, toddlers are unpredictable child gates for stairs can help keep accidents from happening and provide parents with peace of mind.

Baby gates for staircases are one of the best investments to make for a child's health and safety. They are an integral part of whole-house toddler-proofing, along with outlet plugs and cabinet locks. Baby gates can also be used to keep children out of workrooms, garages, storage areas or other places where they are likely to get hurt.

Upon first glance, a retractable stair gate might look like no match for your strong baby crawling around the house. However, looks can be deceiving because our fabric barriers have more to it than meets the eye. Within our gates are vertical struts that support the fabric in an upright position. Our gates will not droop, and the fabric cannot be manipulated by little hands.

Unlike many baby gates, our fabric stair gates are easy to install, effective and help keep the stairs toddler-proof. Installing indoor baby gates at the bottom of the stairs will help ease a parent’s mind when their toddler is exploring the surroundings or refining his/her walking techniques.

Climb No More

If you leave a child alone with a standard stair gate with bars, they will often use the bars to climb the gate to get to the other side. Our child gates for stairs are different. There are no footholds or areas to grab that make climbing a possibility. Children might pull and grab the material, but it will not budge from its tight design. As a result, children simply move on to another activity instead of focusing on the climb in front of them.

Additionally, parents who are concerned about going up and down the stairs themselves should also consider a retractable stair gate. Retractable gates are designed for adults to open and close frequently, so Mom and Dad aren’t tempted to try to climb over them.. The best rated baby gates of this type roll neatly to the side when they are not in use or parents need to use the stairs.

Making Your Home a Safer Place

A high-quality gate will help protect a child, as well as their home and parents, by prohibiting toddlers from climbing stairs or accessing rooms in the house that are off-limits.. Evaluate your home today, find the danger areas, and install appropriate gates at the top and bottom of stairways and in the doorways of any rooms that should be off-limits to small children. It is a small investment to make to protect your little one.

Photo Credit: Kari Hill, Raising Hill Blog