[kpingitquiet]

Hi! We have a ~26mo and have had a gate across the kitchen/dining since she could walk. There's a sliding door/screen exit there and the normal kitchen appliances. We're replacing the dining table soon and I'd love to remove the gate but I'm nervous about her safety. Do you have a gate across the kitchen? Across the back door? When do you plan to remove it? If not, do you use safety latches and stove guards and all that?

[JBaby]

We've never had a safety gate for our kitchen, but that is partly because it's designed in a way its not really possible. We don't have safety latches (she cant open the cupboards as they have no handles) or stove guards but DD is never in there without us so we're not overly worried.

We sometimes have a gate up to our back door but that's because DD escapes through the dog door without us hearing!! If you wouldnt hear the sliding door open I would just keep it locked.

[mummy.to.one]

No we don't have any gates up and only have the door latches on the cupboard under the sink, this has all the chemicals.

DS has his cupboard which is filled with all his plastic plates, cups, sippy cups etc... And he knows this is the one cupboard he can go to.

He also opens the pots and pans drawer, and I keep a wooden spoon in there for him to play music on the pots, but he knows to pack them away most of the time.

It did take a little while for him to learn he has his cupboard, with us saying no that's not your door.

[luke's mummu]

My son is 3 and 1/2 and we have just removed the safety gate. No problems so far, although I remind him when the oven is on and we try to keep him away and occupied while it is on. Chemicals are stored above the fridge, I can only just reach them with a footstool.

[libbylu]

We used a safety gate across the kitchen but would have taken it down before 2.5 years - he kept kicking it over at that point I think! And by that age they are old enough to understand about danger better and not get their fingers stuck in drawers. Depends on the kid though I guess.

[Escapin]

We have a safety gate at the end of the kitchen, but that's to keep DD's friends IN the kitchen and backroom, rather than roaming the rest of the house with dirty mits...

[farfaraway]

No gates or latches here and we've never had any issues. We "gave" the kids a kitchen cupboard when they got mobile full of plastic containers and bowls that they had free reign in. I've also never moved "breakables", they've been taught to live with them - it's our house too! I think you can be safe without gates and locks everywhere, it takes a conscious effort though.

[tenar]

For 3.5yo DD1 and 18mo DD2 we still have a gate on the kitchen. It is locked when we are cooking something on the stovetop and sometimes when the oven is on.

I worry about the risk to them both, but especially DD2, from them being too curious about what is going on on the stove... Not sure when we'll remove the gate, certainly not until DD2 is at least 2.

[imamumto3]

I don't have a gate for the kitchen because they design just does not allow it. the only door which is latched is the detergent cupboard. knives are up high. my kids have never hurt themselves in the kitchen. dd2 who is just over 2 knows to be out if the oven is on and runs away when she sees me opening the oven door, even if its just to clean it!

[kpingitquiet]

Mine definitely doesn't run from the stove despite us telling her "Too hot! Danger!" since she first noticed it existed, and she's rather fond of doing the exact thing we've told her not to do immediately after we've told her not to do it. We're trying for #2 and I was hoping to have less gates around from the start but I guess my dream of a gate free life is far far away! Thanks guys.