Safety 1st Lift And Lock Security Gate
by Dorel Juvenile Group
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List Price: Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Safety 1st Lift And Lock Security Gate
Customer Review: A step down from the previous model
Summary: 3 Stars
We used the previous model of this gate for several years until the release handle broke off. We were using it on a kitchen door to the outside to keep our dog outside while still being able to keep the door open for airflow, and to be able to see the dog. Now we need one to keep our toddler inside the house (when it's not time to be outside playing with the dog). I was very happy with the previous model, as it fit well in the door frame and the big, round pressure pads held the gate firmly in place. Also, the handle slid up and down easily and it was easy to get the gate in place, even with one hand.
The newer model requires two hands to put in place, the handle is very hard to push down, and the pressure pads are much smaller. Unless you hold the gate in place, one pressure pad will invariably get left out. Finally, even though the gate is adjusted for maximum pressure, it's still easy for a dog or a child to push the thing over completely. So it does not breed confidence. On the plus side, we're able to close the door with the gate in place. I'd really prefer having the old style, but this will have to do for now.
Update: I've been using this for about six months now, and the spring pressure has gotten weaker. I open and close it a few times a day (sometimes I just step over it), and at this point it's mostly just a visual barrier. The kid can push it over with little effort, and the dog will pull it down on occasion. If only my landlord would pay to install a screen door...
Customer Review: A sturdy and fairly priced baby gate
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased this gate from Babies R Us for my 10 month old daughter. We needed something sturdy, and not just to create a psychological barrier; something that would hold up to 25 to 32lbs of baby-force. This was the only gate we could find that was decently priced and had great reviews on strength. Everything is great except for the locking mechanism which is tough, even for a grown man. My wife can't open the lock. So, instead of swinging it open, we walk over it. The second problem with the gate is the installation screws they give you. They just aren't strong enough to drill into wood moulding. I don't know who Regalo imagined this for, but thankfully I had years of hardware experience, otherwise, I would've had to go to Home Depot and ask a sales rep what screws I should get to replace the pewter-like ones that come with this gate; as all of them twisted, snapped, and stripped 50% through the door moulding. Maybe these screws were meant for pre-fab housing; therefore, they might not be meant for tough apartment buildings or older houses. As I've said, we were in search of a sturdy gate and cheaply priced, and this was all that was available. Not a bad gate for the selection that's out there; just make sure you have a good power drill and stronger screws to replace what Regalo gives you.Customer Review: Not Safe for the Long Haul!
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought two of these gates, as well as 2 more expensive metal gates that open and close for our hallways. These gates were purchased to keep our twins off the stairs going upstairs and downstairs and wouldn't be used very frequently, probably less than once every 2 weeks. So I thought these would be perfect. They were at first. They stayed in place and were secure. Then as we started taking them down every now and then, like I said, less than once every 2 weeks, they became less and less reliable and seemed to "strip" out and wouldn't hold securely. If you are going to put these in a doorway that won't be used much, then these might be ok. But for blocking stairways, which could be very harmful for kids, then I would not recommend this gate by Safety 1st. I would go with a more secure metal gate, as I am now shopping for!
I LOVE my other two metal gates with the one-hand open/close gates, both pressure mounted. They are perfect for high-traffic areas. They have been in place about a year now and are used many, many times a day. One of these is the Evenflo Simple Step in taupe color and the other is by Dreambaby.
Customer Review: Very dangerous!! Please don't use this product!
Summary: 1 Stars
We purchased the Safety 1st Lift and Lock Security Gate to use at the top of the stairs when our son became mobile. We carefully followed all of the instructions and secured the gate into the door frame with the enclosed hardware. However, we experienced problems with the gate when we began using it in 2009. We found the gate difficult to open, the handle would stick, and this would put pressure on the hinges screwed into the wall on the other side.
One day when I was reaching over the gate to pick up our cat, the top hinge cracked and broke apart, and the gate came completely off the door frame! I flew head first down a flight of stairs and was knocked unconscious. I suffered a traumatic brain injury and have been out of work ever since.
The company only gave us a replacement gate (which was equally faulty in design) and have denied any responsibility in the matter. I have learned that the company recalled other safety gates due to defects in design. I urge everyone to stop using these gates right away! You would never want your child, or yourself, to experience what I have.
Customer Review: Don't buy unless you have 3 hands
Summary: 1 Stars
This gate is awkward to open with two hands and nearly impossible to open with one. That leaves the third hand for the baby.
The main problem is the design of the lock. Instead of a latch, which most hardware mounted gates use, there are 2 rods with rubber pads on the ends that push against the door stops, which are mounted to the wall. The rods are moved in and out of the door by pulling on the large white handle at the top of the door. When the handle is down, the rods are pressed against the door stop, and when the handle is up, the rods pull back into the door. Unfortunately, the rods don't fully disengage from the door stops and there is still friction as the door opens. The handle itself has quite a bit of friction as one lifts it. The door itself is made of flexible plastic, so the entire door twists as one attempts to lift up on the handle while overcoming the lateral friction of the rod/door stop assembly. It eventually opens, but not without an incredible amount of two-handed difficulty. I have used many doors, and this has the worst design. I recommend a latch mechanism instead.