MAKE | HOW TO – Build a better baby gate…

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By Phillip Torrone
Posted 2006/12/14 @ 9:25 pm
Category General

MadVegetarian writes –

“Why lay down 50 bucks or more for a gate (that has less than a 2′ opening), when you can MAKE exactly what you need for next to nothing?” – Link.

Looks like their version lets cats in and out while keeping small humans and dogs in/out.

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7 Responses to HOW TO – Build a better baby gate…

rscottv on December 14th, 2006 at 4:44 pm said:

That actually does not look child-safe to me (I am a pediatrician). The gate looks like it has too much space below it. A child could wedge their head or limbs under it. The crib standard for safe spacing is no more than 2 and 3/8 inches. A safety gate should go almost all the way to the ground.

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philliptorrone on December 14th, 2006 at 4:48 pm said:

yah, read the article – they mention why they did that.

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rscottv on December 14th, 2006 at 7:00 pm said:

I did read the article. They want the cat to be able to get under. The problem is that that leaves enough space for a toddler to wedge themselves under the bottom of the gate. I am basing my observation on what I can see in the photos that are with the article. From what I can see, the gate looks unsafe.

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philliptorrone on December 14th, 2006 at 7:07 pm said:

i saw this:

==
WARNING: Do NOT use this approach with babies!
CAUTION: Toddlers will most likely test the gate!
==

but telling folks it might not be safe is good, thanks for that.

since the design doesn’t require it to be that high, it can easily be 2 inches or so as you suggested.

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molly1216 on December 14th, 2006 at 8:44 pm said:

guess you don’t know much about cats and neither to they.
cat’s will just go over something that small.

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jswilson64 on December 14th, 2006 at 9:10 pm said:

How ’bout a solid panel with a cat hole (http://www.cathole.com/) in it?

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KWillets on December 14th, 2006 at 9:58 pm said:

Plywood cut to fit and hinges. Under $20 and haven’t lost a kid yet.

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