Safety 1st Auto Close Baby Gate Review

At just turned 8 months, and just like his brother and sister before him, we now have a baby who is ‘commando crawling’ and officially on the move, and as such is being a total liability!

Enter: the return of the baby gate.

Since we had given our old baby gates away, I was delighted when Safety 1st got in touch and wanted to know if we’d like Arlo and the rest of the family to test out their Safety 1st Auto Close Baby Gates. 

There was a resounding “yes please!” as we are certainly needing them. Read on for my detailed auto close baby gate review.

Where as with the Freddie and Sasha it didn’t really matter what kind of baby gate we had, as they only had adults operating them, this time we needed something that was baby/toddler-proof, yet the older kids could manage too. If you’re looking for a baby gate for older children to open, then I can vouch that the Safety 1st gate it can be easily opened and closed by squeezing the buttons on the handle, and even S could do this with ease now at age 5.

What is a big plus point too, is that once the stair gate has been opened and the person goes through, the gate automatically closes behind you. This is a must-have now we have 3 children, as whilst the bigger two are very responsible for their ages, it’s not fair on them to have to remember to shut the gate behind them every single time.

This auto close baby stairgate gives me HUGE peace of mind as a result, and the double locking mechanism and Secure Tech® indicator shows the gate is safely locked into place.

I personally prefer pressure point baby gates as it means you can move them around as needed (we might yet put this one on our kitchen door sometimes), and also less drilling and damage to the walls in our home (insert precious homeowner emoji). 

If you’re wanting an extra wide stair gate, then this baby gate is pretty wide I would say, and opens in both directions for openings between 73cm and 80cm, but is also an extendable baby gate that can be extended up to 136cm, with separately available extensions.

Safety 1st Auto Close Baby Gate – Key Features:

• Type: Pressure mounted (no drilling required)

• Width: Fits openings 73–80 cm; extends to 136 cm with extensions (sold separately)

• Height: 91 cm – ideal for keeping babies and toddlers safe

• Opening: Two-way swing for convenience

• Locking: Double-lock mechanism with SecureTech® indicator

• Closing: Auto-close feature for peace of mind

• Best for: Stairs, kitchen doorways, and playroom entrances

Pros and Cons of the Safety 1st Auto Close Baby Gate

Pros:

• Auto-close feature saves you remembering to shut it

• Pressure-mounted and easy to move without wall damage

• Easy for older kids to operate, tricky for toddlers

• Fits wider spaces with extensions

Cons:

• Extensions cost extra

• May need adjusting for very uneven walls or skirting boards

So what did we think of our new baby gates?

I’m genuinely pleased with these ones so far, due to ease of use for all the family. The fact that having bigger children in the mix means more potential for tiny escapees, but the auto-close aspect has been a godsend, and being easy-to-use has significantly reduced the time spent answering “Muuuuuuummmmy, can you open the gate pleeeeeeeease?” type scenarios.

We’ve tried other baby gates in the past, including basic wall-mounted ones, but the Safety 1st Auto Close stands out because it’s both toddler-proof and big-kid-friendly. Unlike gates that require fiddly latches or constant manual closing, this one shuts behind you automatically, and the SecureTech® indicator means you can see at a glance that it’s locked.

I think we might buy another one to contain him in his room for the moment whilst we’re all getting ready on busy school mornings.

A definite thumbs up here!

FAQs about the Safety 1st Auto Close Baby Gate

Is the Safety 1st Auto Close Baby Gate pressure mounted or wall mounted?
It’s pressure mounted, meaning you don’t have to drill into your walls. This also makes it portable if you want to move it between rooms.

Can older children open it easily?
Yes, our 5-year-old can manage the squeeze handle mechanism, but it’s too tricky for a toddler.

Does it fit extra-wide openings?
Yes, it fits standard openings of 73–80 cm but can be extended up to 136 cm with separately available extensions.

Can it be used at the top of the stairs?
Yes, as long as it’s installed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

We were sent our baby gates from Safety 1st in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions my own.

Look here for more reviews.

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.