Photography courtesy of toysrus.ca

My little boy is on the move, and he is moving quicker and quicker with each day. At the moment he’s just crawling, but at the rate he walks around the furniture, I just know that soon he’ll be running around the house like a little wrecking ball. On top of that, I’ll soon be looking after the son of a friend of mine, who is the same age as my son, and I know that the two of them will be getting into everything. So, I am on the hunt for some baby barriers. These are my favorites so far.

(Clockwise from top left)

1. Summer Infant Sure and Secure Extra Tall Walk-Thru Gate
Features:
• Pressure-mounted
• Simple, one-handed operation
• Door swings and locks automatically
• 39″ (91 cm) tall and fits doorways 28″ to 47.5″ (71 cm to 121 cm)

What I like about this one is that once it is installed in a door frame or at the top of the stairs, it doesn’t have to be either scaled (I always trip when I try to do that) or reinstalled every time I want to walk through it. There is a little door on it that locks automatically—easy peasy! $45, available from toysrus.ca

2. Elfe Superyard XT
Features:
• 6 panel enclosure up to 18.5 sq. feet
• Height 26″
• Extensions available
• Portable with carrying strap
• Weather-resistant

I really like this gated-community idea, but I think I’d buy two of these, as the play area doesn’t look all that big and my boy likes space. This might even be great in my living room, to protect the DVDs from being pulled down every three seconds. $80, available from toysrus.ca

3. Evenflo Soft and Wide Crosstown Gate
Features:
• Expands from 38″–60” wide; 27” tall
• Fits uneven and extra-wide openings and baseboards
• Quick-folding and portable

I like this one because it is soft, portable, and can expand wider than most baby gates. I like that it’s great for spaces that aren’t a standard door frame (like the space in my living room between the couch and the wall, my son’s favourite escape hatch). $60, available from toysrus.ca

Which baby gate would you choose? Or is there another great gate option that should be added to the list?

Jen Wilson is a married mother of three super-awesome children—two girls and a boy—who range in age from 0-10. She enjoys photography, organizing, reading, TV, and sarcasm. She drinks her coffee black and dreams of one day owning a dishwasher. You can also find her on her blog, Hey Mrs. Wilson, where she has been writing about life in Saskatchewan since 2004.