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What Are the Pros and Cons of Using a Wooden Baby Gate?

Christina Edwards
Christina Edwards

Wood is commonly used to make baby gates. A wooden baby gate is typically very strong, and it may be less expensive than some other baby gate materials, particularly metal. Many wooden baby gates are also lightweight and portable, as well as attractive. On the other hand, some of these gates can cause minor injuries, like pinched fingers and splinters.

To keep a baby or toddler from venturing somewhere he should not go, such as down a dangerous flight of stairs, a baby gate is typically the best option. Parents should consider installing baby gates before their children become mobile. A wooden baby gate is one of the most common types of baby gates, and this type of baby gate has both advantages and disadvantages.

Woman holding a book
Woman holding a book

Strength and durability are two advantages of a wooden baby gate. These types of gates are typically very strong, especially compared to plastic baby gates. Many of them are also reinforced with metal. Some wooden baby gates can be used for many years, or even generations.

Parents may also choose a wooden baby gate based on price. These gates are typically less expensive than other types. They often cost less than metal baby gates that may be difficult to install.

Besides being durable and reasonably priced, a wooden baby gate is also more attractive to many parents. Unlike plastic or metal, these types of gates can be purchased to match nearly any type of home décor. The wood can be stained and varnished to show the natural beauty of the wood, or it can be painted.

Many parents choose wooden baby gates because they are easily portable. A portable wooden baby gate is usually very lightweight, so it can be easily moved from room to room. It can also be packed up and taken with the family during short trips.

Not all wooden baby gates, however, are considered safe. An accordion wooden baby gate can pinch a child's fingers between the wooden slats that stretch across a doorway. Most experts recommend buying new baby gates, instead of these older versions to avoid these types of injuries.

Although wood is usually very strong, there is also a possibility that a wooden baby gate can crack. When this happens, a child could cut himself or get a sliver stuck in him. Not only is this usually painful, but it can also lead to an infection.

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