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How to Make A Baby Gate: 5 DIY Plans for New Parents!

How to Make A Baby Gate
Written by Willie F Brodson
Last Update: October 5, 2022

This is the project for you if you need to keep your baby from going up or downstairs!  A baby gate can be made from many items. You can use PVC piping and wood and even have them in a barn door style!

Here’s how you can make a baby gate in any design you like.

5 Amazing Ways to Make a Baby Gate

Method 1: Basic baby gate

Step 1: Gather the supplies needed

  • 3 2x4x12 boards
  • Gate Latch
  • 28 deck screws
  • Sandpaper
  • Wood conditioner
  • Cardboard
  • Wood stain
  • Table saw
  • Impact driver
  • Measuring tape
  • Sander
  • Staining brush
  • 2 – 3.5 inch door hinges

Step 2: Cut

With a miter saw or a table saw, you need to cut the boards into 3’ pieces.

Step 3: Arrange

Lay two of the boards parallel to one another at 3’ apart. Arrange the other 3’ boards you cut vertically 2” apart on the horizontal boards. The bottom and top of the vertical ones are even with the horizontal boards.

Step 4: Connect and secure

You need to put 4 screws into the vertical boards using an impact driver. Now add two screws to each top and bottom.

Step 5: Sand and paint

With sandpaper or a sander, sand the splintered parts on the board and get it ready for staining.

Add your staining conditioner to the wood, then wipe away the excess. You can now paint on your stain.

Step 6: Add latch and hinges

Once the stain has dried, attach the hinges following the directions on the package. Finally, add your safety latch to the gate, and you are all done.

Method 2: PVC baby gate

Step 1: Gather everything you need

  • PVC pipes  (3/4th of an inch) 7 x 2 ft pipe cut
  • Smaller piping to cut up for joining of the joints.
  • T-Joints (you need double the number of joints as the pipes you have)
  • PVC cement solution
  • Height changing furniture legs
  • PVC coupling joints

Step 2: Fix the pipes

Once you have made your cuts pour the cement liquid around the inside of the pipe where you are putting the joint. Straight after putting the pipe into the joint. This stuff can be potent, so make sure you work in a well-ventilated area.

Step 3: Start joining

Once you have the pipes for the vertical area ready, cut smaller pieces and start joining them through the joints horizontally. The length you cut will depend on the length of the gate.  In the end, you have the gate with an open joint on each gate corner.

Step 4: Work with couplers

These are attached to the joints in the corner with the height-changing legs, small pipes, and PVC couples. It is possible to remove the base from the legs of the furniture and attach the threaded side of the coupler to the female part of the legs.

Couplers cannot easily fit the legs into the coupler because they exist for a different purpose. This will require some effort. Connect the other end of the coupler with the cement solution.

Attach the PVC end to the four corners of the gate by connecting the T-joints.

As the circular head turns, it moves in and out as if it were a screw. Once you adjust the screw head and mount the gate against two vertical walls, the gate will latch tightly to the wall and remain fixed.

Make sure the gate goes between two vertical surfaces, and you’re done.

Method 3: Invisible baby gate

Step 1: Gather tools

  • Mitre Saw
  • 2 Drills: one to pre-drill, one to drive screws in
  • Acrylic sheet
  • Butt hinges
  • Wood screws
  • Magnetic catch

Step 2: Build a hinged frame

Using two nominal lumber 1” x 2” pieces with butt hinges and a wood screw, you will be adding a Perspex sheet which will work as the brace so everything is kept square.

Step 3: Screw everything in

Screw the acrylic sheet to the timber frame about every 15cms.

Step 4: The inner gate

You need to hinge the inner gate panel to the outer panel to give you two frames that are nested in each other.

Step 5: Add a latch

Add a latch or magnetic catch so you can open and shut it.

Step 6: Paint or leave it as is

Method 4: Barn baby gate

Step 1: Gather the equipment you need

  • Power drill miter saw
  • Tape measure
  • Gate Latch
  • Tee hinges
  • Chalk paint
  • Wood filler
  • Drywall screws
  • 1 2×4
  • 2 1×4
  • 6 1×3

Step 2:  Build the frame

The 1x3s need to e cut into 30” lengths. Put them on the floor as you cut each one. You can stop when you have got enough for the length you want.

Step 3: Move onto the frame

The 1x4s need to be measured for the horizontal bottom and top frames. Once you have cut them, measure out the vertical pieces and make the cuts. Your bottom and top pieces will go all the way across. Using an angle, make sure that the boards all equal 90 degrees and then screw down the boards.

Step 4: Attach the board and frames

With the drywall screws, drill the frame into the 1×3 boards. Ensure there is a screw into each 1×3 board.

Step 5: Add a cross in the middle

Place down some 1x3s along with the framing and mark out the places that need cutting for the corner. Makes the cuts and screw them in.

Step 6: Add trim to the top

Grab one of the 1x3s and cut it down to the size of the gate. Secure the top for some extra trim.

Step 7: Fill in the holes and sand

Once you have got everything secured, add wood filler to the screw holes. Once it has dried, give everything a good sand down.

Now give it paint with chalk paint.

Step 8: Add hardware

Screw on the gate hardware, and you’re done.

Method 5: Fabric baby gate

Step 1: Tools required

  • Fabric
  • Heat-activated seam
  • Bias tape ribbon
  • Cord bundlers

Step 2: Cut the fabric

Cut the fabric to the size of the area needed with an extra 2 cm for the seam.

Step 3: Start the loop

Put the bias tape on the longer edge of the fabric. Create a loop in the corner. Now seal the loop with a piece of the iron seam and a hot iron. Hold the iron on for a minute to ensure the seam really sticks. Now you have a little loop.

Step 4: Repeat

Repeat the above process on the other end. Now you have a long piece of bias tape with loops on either end.

Step 5: Secure the tape

Secure the bias tape into the fabric. Rip off some adhesive seam and fold the fabric over the top, then iron over it to make it stick.

Step 6: Repeat

Repeat those same steps on the other side until you have loops in all the corners.

Step 7: Connect to the wall

Now you can secure the cord bundlers to either the wall or side of the gate barrier and loop them onto the hook. Now you’re done.

How to Install a Baby Gate on Stairs?

FAQs

1. How long should I keep a baby gate up?

Ans. Children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years should have gates installed. The gates should be removed around the child’s second birthday or when the child can open the gate or climb over it.

2. Are baby gates a fire hazard?

Ans. Baby gates can pose a risk of children being unable to escape in a hurry if a baby gate is up. The best thing to do here is to prepare and ensure the older people in the home know how to open the gate quickly. Basic connections are best in fire-prone areas.

3. Can I install a baby gate if I have stairway banisters?

Ans. Yes, you can. Depending on your type, some baby gate designs are more suited for stair banisters and will be more secure.

About the author

Willie F Brodson

Certified by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and a master of Science in Occupational Safety Management from Indiana State University, Willie F Brodson is an occupational safety expert who believes in the age-old saying – “It is better to be safe than sorry.”

Willie’s areas of expertise include legal guidelines for health and safety, coding and construction safety, fire prevention and theft, and environmental technology. Over a span of four decades, he has provided safety training and consultation and developed safety manuals for a number of state-owned and private organizations.

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