Babyproofing · Months 7 to 12

Baby gates: one screwed in for the stairs, one for the doorways.

Which gate you need depends on where it goes. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to gate the top and bottom of the stairs with gates firmly mounted to the studs. A pressure gate is for doorways, never the top of the stairs.

BBy the Betteroo team · Updated October 13, 2026

2 picks, 3 skips
Recall-checked Oct 2026
Includes the $0 option

Independent picks. If you buy through our Amazon links we may earn a commission; as an Amazon Associate, Betteroo earns from qualifying purchases. It never decides what makes the list. How we choose

The short answer

Buy for where the gate goes, and that’s the decision. Stairs: the Cardinal Gates Stairway Special, which screws into the wall and is built for the top of a staircase. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to gate the top and bottom of the stairs with gates firmly mounted to the home’s studs (AAP). Doorways and between rooms: the Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide, a pressure gate with a walk-through door.

With stairs, that can mean a stair gate at the top and one at the bottom; a doorway gate only goes where you want one. On October 13, 2026 we checked both picks’ live US listings, price bands, the makers’ specs and instructions, and the CPSC recall database.

At a glance

Two gates, matched to where they go

The stairs, top and bottom

Cardinal Gates Stairway Special (SS-30), White

A gate that screws into the wall, built for the top of a staircase.

Price band: Mid-range Check price Why it made the list

Doorways and between rooms

Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide Safety Gate

A pressure-mounted walk-through gate for a doorway or a hallway, no drilling.

Price band: Mid-range Check price Why it made the list

Before you buy

What a baby gate has to do

A common mistake is buying one kind of gate for every opening. A pressure gate is held in by pressure against the walls, and Regalo’s instructions for our pressure pick say never to use it at the top of stairs.

We assess both picks on the same things: where the maker says it can go, how it mounts, the widths it fits, its height and bar spacing, the age range the maker gives, and the maker’s stated certification.

Mounted for the spot

Screwed into studs on stairs (AAP); pressure only where the maker allows.

Fits your opening

Measure first: gates fit width ranges, not every width.

Matched to the job

One stair gate and one doorway gate, not four of the most expensive.

The picks

Why each one made the list

The stairs, top and bottom

Cardinal Gates Stairway Special (SS-30), White

A gate that screws into the wall, built for the top of a staircase.

Price band: Mid-rangeCheck price on Amazon

Checked Oct 13, 2026: price, stock, specs, recalls

An aluminum gate that is wall-mounted with screws. It fits openings from 27 to 42 ½ in., stands 29 ½ in. tall with 2 ½ in. between the bars, and can be mounted at an angle of up to 30 degrees, which helps when the wall stud and the banister don’t line up. It opens both ways, with an optional one-way stop bracket that Cardinal recommends at the top of the stairs so the gate opens away from them. Cardinal says it’s JPMA certified (Cardinal Gates) and recommends it for children between 6 and 24 months (instructions).

Why it’s worth it

Screws into the wall, for the stairs
One-way stop bracket for the top of the stairs
Mounts at an angle of up to 30 degrees

Worth noting: It means drilling. Cardinal says not to screw into drywall alone: into a stud or wood, or with drywall anchors rated for 75 lbs or more, which aren’t included. At about $100 it’s twice the price of our doorway pick, and you may need one at each end of the stairs.

Key specs

Age range: 6 to 24 months
Fits: 27 to 42 ½ in.
Height: 29 ½ in.
Bar spacing: 2 ½ in.
Mount: Hardware, screwed to the wall
Top of stairs: Yes, with the stop bracket

From Cardinal Gates’ product page and instructions, then the amazon.com listing, checked October 13, 2026.

Safety check

No recalls found in the CPSC recall database (searched by product name, Oct 13, 2026). Cardinal Gates has no recalls in the database.
Cardinal says the SS-30 is JPMA certified (Cardinal Gates). Baby gates must meet 16 CFR part 1239, which incorporates ASTM F1004 (CPSC).
Cardinal’s instructions: at the top of the stairs, install it at least 3 in. from the end of the first step, and stop using it when a child can climb over or dislodge it (instructions).

Doorways and between rooms

Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide Safety Gate

A pressure-mounted walk-through gate for a doorway or a hallway, no drilling.

Price band: Mid-rangeCheck price on Amazon

Checked Oct 13, 2026: price, stock, specs, recalls

An all-metal pressure-mounted gate with a 16 in. walk-through door and a lever handle with a one-touch release lock. It stands 30 in. tall with 2 in. between the bars. With the 4 in. and 12 in. extensions in the box it fits four ranges: 29-32, 34-36.5, 41.5-44.5 and 46.5-49 in. Regalo says the wall cups must be installed, never to use it at the top of stairs, and that it’s for children from 6 through 24 months; it’s certified by the Baby Safety Alliance and meets ASTM standards (Regalo).

Why it’s worth it

No drilling except the wall cups
Walk-through door
Two extensions in the box

Worth noting: It doesn’t fit every width: the listing says it does not fit openings of 32-34 in. or 36.5-41.5 in., so measure first. It has a bar across the floor, and it’s never for the top of the stairs.

Key specs

Age range: 6 to 24 months
Fits: 29-32, 34-36.5, 41.5-44.5, 46.5-49 in.
Height: 30 in.
Bar spacing: 2 in.
Mount: Pressure, with wall cups
Top of stairs: Never

From Regalo’s product page, then the amazon.com listing, checked October 13, 2026.

Safety check

No recalls found in the CPSC recall database (searched by product name, Oct 13, 2026). Regalo has no recalls in the database.
Regalo says it’s certified by the Baby Safety Alliance and meets ASTM standards (Regalo). Baby gates must meet 16 CFR part 1239, which incorporates ASTM F1004 (CPSC).
Regalo’s warnings: you must install the wall cups, or a child can push the gate out; never use it at the top of stairs; stop using it when a child can climb over or dislodge it (Regalo).

Side by side

Two picks side by side

	Cardinal Gates Stairway Special (SS-30), White	Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide Safety Gate
Job	Stairs, top and bottom	Doorways and rooms
Price band	Price band: Mid-range	Price band: Mid-range
Mount	Screwed to the wall	Pressure, with wall cups
Top of stairs	Yes, with the stop bracket	Never
Fits	27 to 42 ½ in.	29-32, 34-36.5, 41.5-44.5, 46.5-49 in.
Height	29 ½ in.	30 in.
Bar spacing	2 ½ in.	2 in.
Age range	6 to 24 months	6 to 24 months
Certification	JPMA (maker)	Baby Safety Alliance (maker)

Which one is yours

Start with your situation

Top of the stairsThe Cardinal Gates Stairway Special, with the stop bracket.

Bottom of the stairsThe Cardinal again: the AAP says stair gates firmly mounted to the studs.

A doorway or a hallwayThe Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide. Measure the opening first.

Renting, and can't drillThe Regalo for doorways. For stairs, ask your landlord: we wouldn’t put a pressure gate at the top.

The $0 version

For a room, a door you keep closed does the same job as a doorway gate. For the stairs there’s no $0 version: the AAP says gates at the top and bottom, firmly mounted to the studs.

A closed door, for rooms only.

What we would skip

Three things we’d leave on the shelf

They’re common. Here’s why we’d pass.

Skip

Accordion-style gates

The AAP says to avoid accordion style gates, which can trap an arm or a neck (AAP).

Skip

A pressure gate at the top of the stairs

Regalo’s own warning for our doorway pick: “To prevent falls, never use at top of stairs” (Regalo). Use a gate that screws into the wall.

Skip

Screws straight into drywall

Cardinal’s instructions: drywall will not hold the installed gate. Install into a stud or wood, or use drywall anchors rated for 75 lbs or more (instructions).

Gates we passed on

Regalo Easy Step (29 to 38.5 in.). The top seller in Amazon’s search for baby gates on October 13, 2026. A narrower Easy Step, for openings of 29 to 38.5 in. per its listing, about $5 less than our pick. We picked the Extra Wide because it covers more widths.
Cideny auto-close baby gate. Second in the same search, but sold by a third-party seller (SUNTON INC).
Cumbor auto-close baby gate. Third in the same search, sold by Cumbor, not Amazon. Cumbor’s 2026 CPSC recall covered its retractable gates, not this model.

Questions parents ask

FAQ

When should I put up baby gates?

The AAP says to install gates at both the top and bottom of the stairs when your child is learning to crawl and walk (AAP).

Can I use a pressure-mounted gate at the top of the stairs?

Not our doorway pick: Regalo says never to use it at the top of stairs (Regalo). The AAP’s advice for stairs is gates firmly mounted to the home’s studs.

When do I stop using a baby gate?

Both makers give 6 to 24 months, and both say to stop when a child can climb over or dislodge the gate (Cardinal, Regalo).

What safety standard do baby gates meet?

Gates sold in the US must meet 16 CFR part 1239, which incorporates ASTM F1004 (CPSC). Cardinal says the SS-30 is JPMA certified; Regalo says the Easy Step Extra Wide is certified by the Baby Safety Alliance.

Have these been recalled?

We found no CPSC recalls for Cardinal Gates or Regalo on October 13, 2026.

Why trust Worth It

How we choose

Checked and sourcedEvery pick is checked against the maker's own age and weight limits and the CPSC recall database. Where safety guidance applies, we link the AAP, CPSC, FDA or NIH source right next to the advice.

The $0 option, alwaysMost problems have a $0 answer. It goes on the page, even when it costs us the sale.

A skip list with sourcesAdd-ons and traps we would leave on the shelf, with the guidance behind every safety call, plus the products we passed on and why.

Picked for an agePicks follow what babies actually do each month, not what is on sale this week.

We don’t run a product lab, and we won’t pretend we do. Worth It picks are researched from makers’ instructions, retailer listings and official safety guidance, not lab-tested. Each is chosen for a specific age and a specific job, the way a friend a couple of years ahead of you would choose: a few products, each with a reason, and an honest note on what could go wrong.

We check every listing on amazon.com for a live US offer and sort it into a price band: Budget (under $30), Mid-range ($30 to $100) or Premium (over $100). We don’t print exact prices because they change daily. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission. That pays for this, and it never decides what makes the list.

For safety, we search the CPSC recall database by product name, and we note the US safety standard the maker says a product meets. Where the maker doesn’t say, we tell you what the law requires for that kind of product. The JPMA’s certification list (now run by the Baby Safety Alliance) isn’t publicly searchable, so we only mention certification when the maker states it. Specs come from the maker first, and the Amazon listing second.

Sources for this page

Cardinal Gates: Stairway Special SS-30
Cardinal Gates: SS-30 instructions (PDF)
Regalo: Easy Step Extra Wide Safety Gate
AAP (HealthyChildren.org): Home safety
CPSC: gates and enclosures business guidance
CPSC: Cumbor retractable gate recall (2026)
CPSC recall database, searched by brand and product name on October 13, 2026
Product listings on amazon.com, checked October 13, 2026

Last checked October 13, 2026: prices, stock, specs and recalls

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