This gate also has the rare ability to be installed at an angle, so it can accommodate odd situations where the gate isn’t perfectly perpendicular to the walls. Out of the box, the setup is faster and easier than most competitors, taking less than 20 minutes. Of all the gates we tested, the Cardinal Gates SS-30 Stairway Special offers the best combination of stability, durability, and versatility. We also found that companies that have not undergone JPMA certification tend to be those that don’t specialize in child safety, and in recent years there have been three recalls of non-JPMA approved baby gates (one from Madison Mill and two sold by IKEA). While it’s possible for a non-JPMA–approved gate to be completely safe, we felt that with all of the major manufacturers represented, there was no compelling reason to go outside of the certification for a recommendation. Ryan Schecter of Safe Nest Babyproofing told us, “All of the gates I use must meet or exceed the voluntary standard set by the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association.” Like Schecter said, JPMA certification is entirely voluntary, but we found that all of the major manufacturers of baby gates are in compliance.

This organization independently tests child products to confirm that they adhere to the standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials, an international organization that develops technical standards for both products and materials. JPMA certification: We only looked at gates certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.

Snap shut door curtain