(NAPSA)—Safety gates are a must for any house with toddlers. Gates are used to block stairways, keep pets away, and prevent children from straying into dangerous or unsupervised areas. Although gates perform a variety of functions, manufacturers design them with safety features for specific uses around the house. That’s why it’s important to use the right gate for the job. “When choosing a gate for use at the top of the stairs, we recommend 4-point hardware-mounted gates that can be set to swing in one direction,” says Sarah Anti, Sr. Category Director at the Evenflo Company. Hardware-mounted gates securely attach to the wall and allow parents to open and close them as needed. Most hardware-mounted gates are made of wood and range in price from $20 to $100, depending on the type of wood and styling. Some models incorporate features that make them easier for parents to use. One such model is the Evenflo Simple Touch Gate, operated by a remote control mounted above the gate at a safe and convenient height. Just a push of the button unlocks the gate making it very convenient for parents who have their handsfull. Pressure-mounted gates are best to use in areas between rooms on the samelevel or at the bottom of stairs. Unlike hardware-mounted gates, pressuremounted gates simply use force and bumpers to keep the gate in place. Pressure-mounted gates are generally less expensive than hardware-mounted gates. They are often made of heavy-duty plastic, metal or wood. Some pressuremounted gates allow you to set a size with a “memory lock”feature, which allows you to simply open the gate then reuse it without readjusting the size setting. Gates without this feature have to be resized with each use. If you frequently go in and out of the room, a hardware-mounted gate or a pressure-mounted gate with a “memory lock” size setting is your best choice. When shopping for a gate, ask yourself the following questions: Where will the gate be used? Will I need to frequently open or remove the gate? What size opening does the gate need to fit? Answers to other questions about gates and a handy guideto selecting the perfect gate for you can be found by visiting www.evenflo.com or by calling 1-800-233-5921.
