Baby gates protect curious toddlers from unsafe areas
A baby gate is a moveable barrier that is mounted a doorway. It is used to keep babies (6 to 24 months) from entering unsafe areas, such as a stairwell or swimming pool. As with all baby products, there are federal government standards of safety for baby gates. An unsafe baby gate may be more dangerous than using none at all. With appropriate materials, you can easily construct your own safe and inexpensive baby gate.
Instructions
1. Measure the width of the opening of the door where the baby gate will be mounted. The height of the gate should be 28 to 32 inches tall. You may prefer to construct the gate so that your are able to step over it.
2. Cut the netting 1 inch wider than the width of the door opening and to the desired height of the baby gate. Trim the net so there are no sharp or scratchy edges.
3. Weave the top of the net through a spring-tension curtain rod. Repeat with the bottom of the net. Set the net and rods aside.
4. Place one cup bracket on either side of the doorway, 1/2 inch from the floor. Mark their positions with a pencil mark through the screw hole in the center of the cup. Remove the cup and predrill the hole. Put the cup bracket back in place and use a wood screw (often provided with nounting brackets) to secure the bracket in place. If the bracket is "U"- shaped with an opening, make sure that the open portion of the cup is facing the floor.
5. Extend the curtain rods so they will fit snugly in the doorway. Position the lower rod in the cup brackets near the floor. Hold the other rod up so the net is taught, then position it in the doorway with the extended rod holding the netting securely. Mark the position of the lower side of the ends of the upper rod with a pencil.
6. Mount the upper cup brackets, as previously described, on either side of the doorway, positioned so the bottom of the cups are at the marks. If the bracket is "U"- shaped with an opening, make sure that the open portion of the cup is facing upward.
7. Put the rods and netting in place, then spread the netting so it traverses the doorway. Use cable ties to secure the netting tightly at the ends and 3 inches apart on the rods. Trim the tag ends of the cable ties so they are short and rounded to prevent scratch injuries.
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