Customer Reviews

The First Years Hands Free Gate

5 star:		(536)
4 star:		(111)
3 star:		(44)
2 star:		(27)
1 star:		(38)

 

 

We are veterans of many types of gates for both dogs and now kids, and I am crestfallen that it took us this long to discover this terrific model. It combines the security of a permanent mount with the relative ease of installation and occasional portability of pressure-mounted models.

I had two irregular doorways to fill in with child gates so our scootching 13-month old could play safely in the area. For one large opening I used the SuperYard Gate, which is a decent all-plastic telescoping gate with permanent-mounting rails, and for the other I used the First Years hands-free with a single extension. After seeing how secure the First Years was, and how incredibly east it was to install the extensions, even though I'm happy with the SuperYard Gate, I wish I had bought two First Years Hands-Free,

The operation is really cool -- you step on a pedal, and knee the thing open. It works in both directions! I was skeptical the pedal was baby-proof, but letting my son (who is the median weight of a two and a half year old) put his full weight on it didn't budge it a bit. The design is also very attractive; nice thin white metal instead of the usual lattice-work plastic on most gates.

One comment on an earlier negative review, where the Grandparent indicated their 15-month-old could pull up the foot pedal: this cannot open the gate if the top is properly tightened! (See below). I tried this, and the pedal will slide but not allow the gate to open if the top is tight.

I have only a few minor caveats to convey:

- when installing it, make sure you follow the instructions and use the little plastic wrench (included) to do some fine-tuning tightening, so that the upper latch is the required distance from the catch (a wrench-width). This is easy to do, and I found that when I tightened it up as the instructions indicated, the good fit of the latch became excellent even with a slightly-irregular-from-vertical door post.

- the opening might be a little narrow compared to some other gates; it took a bump or two on my calf to get the hang of, nothing terribly difficult or painful.

- the extension might not be necessary if you have an opening that's right on the cusp of the suggested 29-34" door opening; if you have an opening right around the maximum, I'd recommend installing it without the extension first to avoid having to make a return for a possible un-needed extension. Installing and de-installing the extension, as I noted, is a piece of cake.

- this is not "portable" the way a simpler gate is, but can be de-installed and re-installed in less than two minutes. Since it swings open, if you want to use the gate in only one location, the portability isn't an issue.

All in all, just about the coolest gate I've used.

 

After trying 3 different gates (that all had high ratings on Amazon), this wasn't my favorite - but is still a good gate. I just preferred some of the features of the others. If it had a wider gate opening, I would have given it a 5 star rating. I turned my home into my own version of a baby gate showroom to figure out which one I wanted, so here's my take on three different gates.

I think they are all pretty good gates, it just depends on your situation and what features you're looking for. The key features that ended up making a difference to me were 1) the width of the gate opening and 2) the latch mechanism

First Years - Hands-Free Gate
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cost $50 & extensions $15 / gate is 32" Tall / fits 29"-34" doorway width / 1.5" bar to step over / gate opening 17"

- My gripe with this gate was primarily because the gate opening is only 17" wide! I'm 5'8" and I felt like I was going to have to really pay attention walking through it so I wouldn't end up bumping it every time. However...
- The hands-free step pedal is pretty cool and worked pretty easily. I wouldn't worry about a little kid figuring it out and having enough weight to be able to push it down to open it. For me it just wasn't cool enough to overcome my issue with the gate opening width.
- Good height to the gate.
- It was very sturdy in my doorway.
- This one did have a little ramp feature for the bar that goes across the floor that helps minimize the tripping factor.
- Fits only up to 34" doorways so has the best chance of needing an extension.
- All that being said, if you really want a hands free gate, and the width of the gate opening doesn't bug you, try this one.

Kidco Center Gateway:
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cost $85 & extensions $24 / gate is 29.5" Tall / fits 29.25" to 37.5" doorway width / 1" bar to step over / gate opening 22"

- Has the widest gate opening (the space you walk thru, not the doorway that it fits into) of any of them - about 22". (This certainly won points from my 6'2" husband who was pretty irritated when walking thru some of the others). I was surprised after reading so many reviews on all these gates that there wasn't more mention of this feature.
- This one also had the most secure latch feature. You have to push a button to lift the handle and lift the gate over a little ledge to open it and walk thru. I figure this will absolutely be the hardest one for my little one to figure out.
- This gate has the most adjustable widths and therefore would probably be the strongest in most door widths. The gate has about 2.75" pieces on the ends that you can use or not with the optional extensions (more 2.75" spindles as additions - 2 per box) to provide the most width flexibility. Because all the gates become "weaker" if the posts are extended too much, this one seems the sturdiest in my doorways. (ie. if the gate says it fits up to 37" and your door opening is 36.5", it won't seem as sturdy as if the doorway was 34").
- It doesn't have its brand name printed on it anywhere (a plus in my book) so it's totally white.
- It has the lowest bar across the floor that you have to step over at only 1" high (seems less of a tripping risk).
- This is the one that has the highest rating from Consumer Reports. (Child safety gates 8/04)
- Unfortunately, it also is the most expensive of the bunch at about $85 + any extensions you need.
- I do have to say that this one had the most confusing directions, but you can still figure it out ok - none of them took longer than 10 minutes to set up.
- It's the shortest gate and I wish it was a little taller.
- All in all, if you can afford the price of this one, it's definitely worth it!

Summer Infant - Sure & Secure Extra Tall Gate
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cost $60 & extensions included / gate is 36" Tall / fits 28"-48" doorway width / 2" bar to step over / gate opening 19"

- This is the one that I wanted to like because I thought it was the best deal.
- The gate opening is about 19" - which I thought was ok, but hubby wanted wider.
- The latch mechanism is really easy to operate and I thought kids could figure it out easily, but because the gate is so tall, they would probably have a hard time reaching it.
- It does come with its own extensions in 5" and 10" so it more easily fits the wider doorways.
- However, depending on the width of your doorway, this one may or may not fit as well. For example, I had a lot of doorways that are about 33" and this gate didn't end up fitting well in them because the gate without any extensions was too small and the posts had to be extended so far it didn't seem stable. And the 5" extension was too big to add. (vs. the kidco gate's extensions add 2.75" as needed).
- It's by far the tallest and I liked that since my daughter has been in the 95% so far. I also just like the way the taller gate looks.
- It does have the highest bar across the bottom to step over - 2".
- If if fits well in your doorway it is probably the best value for the money.

All three gates seemed to:
- Fit pretty tightly in the doorways after being adjusted properly. Depending on your walls and if you have moldings etc, you might need to take an extra 5-10 minutes to adjust them and get them straight and hanging correctly.
- Had the same type of post for the pressure-mount that is covered with a rubbery material to help it not slip on the wall.
- Were pretty easy to set up.
- All look about the same from a quality point of view - in other words one of them didn't look "cheaper" to me than the others.

Please remember that for safety, only hardware mounted gates are considered stable enough to put at the top of stairs, so don't use any of these for that. Think about how you will use these gates in your house and what features you will value. Good luck with your own purchase!

This gate is really a great product. I love the fact that you don't have to hardware mount the gate (no drilling into the doorways required), and it's still very sturdy. It was incredibly easy to install, and is very safe and secure. My 18 month son knows how the gate opens, but cannot open it because of the weight required to push down on the lever. The only negatives I encountered were:
1) The first Hands Free gate I purchased was not painted properly, so I had to return it for another one.

2) I had to buy the 5" gate extension for the gate to fit in the doorway. So, in the end, there are additional costs if the opening you intend to use the gate for is not that narrow. But all in all, it's totally worth it.

Length:: 3:28 Mins

When we decided to get a baby gate to prevent our chihuahuas from tormenting our new cats when we aren't home, I methodically researched every baby gate on the market before making a decision. The First Year's Baby Gate seemed to have the features we needed at a fair price, so I bought one. As you can see in the video, putting it together was fairly easy and it seems to be of very good quality. We've been using it on our bedroom door for about six months and though it gets a lot of basic use (we don't have any toddlers swinging on it,) it is holding up just fine.

In the video I tried to cover the basics of assembly, installation and use, as well as addressing some of the common concerns like the height of the threshold and whether a child or dog can open it. Though it doesn't have some of the bells and whistles that the more expensive units have, like an auto-closing feature, it is solidly made, opens and closes smoothly and stays closed when its supposed to. I would definitely recommend it to a friend.

I hope this helps,
Claire

PS - It always makes my day to know that people find these reviews helpful. So, please vote (The "Was this review helpful to you: Yes or No" buttons) and leave a comment if you'd like, even if it's just to say, "Hi!" I respond to all comments so feel free to ask a question about the product. Also, when you leave a comment, I will go to your reviews and pay you the same courtesy.
Comment

I returned the Swing and Lock gates and got this one. I am not disappointed. It was worth the additional cost. It comes with its own tool, which fastens the pressure mounts securely. I did not need an extension, so I cannot comment on how sturdy it is using those.It is very easy to open and close, and the gate swings in both directions. It was also easy to install. I have no complaints. I can't believe how many people report bad experienced using these on stairs. If you read the directions, it is NOT to be used on stairs. If your child gets hurt, you have nobody else to blame but yourself!

This gate is NOT for everyone. The opening is only 18" wide, so this would not be for a home with a wheelchair. Although it installs easily, I wouldn't suggest this one if you plan on moving it from doorway to doorway on a regular basis. It takes a few minutes, not something I'd want to do all day. But it is very easy to move, such as if you where having a party or needed to move furniture.

This gate is well made, but I do have one concern about durability. It has a plastic pin that locks the swinging part into place. I wonder if someone who does not push the pedal enough and pushes the gate, probably an unfamiliar adult or older child, could break it. I haven't seen anything to that affect in other reviews, so maybe not. Still, I'd have prefered to see metal. Maybe that concern is unfounded, I guess we'll see. Buy this gate.

I have had this gate for 6 months with no problems. I can see how the pedal could break and cause a problem however, This gate works so well in my house, it would be worth a little inconvenience if I had to replace the pedal or return the gate for a replacement. Even with that possibility I still rate it 5 stars!! It is located in the most traveled area of my house and it works beautifully!!! Besides my daughter, I also have 3 dogs that have tried to get through to the other side without causing any damage!!! I contacted First Years about this gate because I WANT MORE!! Only problem is it only goes to 34". I need wider for my other openings. I have been informed that they have created and shipped out extensions which will add up to 5" per side, to be sold exclusively at Toys R Us. I have contacted our local store and they have received them in stock. On my way to buy 2 more!!!!!

I love the idea of this gate. It worked great for a few months. But we have had three foot pedals and replacements that have now broken. The gate is made of durable metal but for some reason they chose to make the foot pedal out of flimsy plastic. Not only is this inconvenient to have to keep getting replacement parts IT IS ALSO A CHOKE HAZARD. The supporting plastic breaks off in very small pieces which could easily be swallowed by a small child. If they could just fix the foot pedal issue I would have no problem giving this gate 5 stars!!

I use this gate for my 2 year old's room. She has a habit of getting out of bed in the middle of the night and running through the house. Not only is that unsafe for her, but nerve racking for me. I used to have a regular pressure mounted gate up to her room, but she learned how to use the criss cross bars to climb up and over it. Im not comfortable closing her door, so I needed a gate that a) she couldnt climb b) wouldnt ruin the door way with drill holes and c)easy to open and close.

This gate was the answer to our prayers. First of all, it requires NO hardware. It is pressure mounted and if you do it tight enough, it wont move an inch. We've had it installed for over 6 months and it has NEVER moved, even when DD has a fit and tries to move it at night. The foot pedal, knee pad is awesome. When she falls asleep in the living room, we can carry her into her room and open the gate with both hands full. The one problem some may not like is if you use it in a doorway, you cant close the door. I for one like that b/c I dont WANT her door closed. I can peek in at her all night and not have to worry about her running through the house and getting hurt.

During the day, she likes to play in her room and close the gate. We simply put scotch tape over the little things so it doesnt lock shut. She can open and close it all day without locking herself in all the time. The box recommends that you dont use it if your child is over a certain weight and age b/c then they could step on the foot pedal and open it themselves. My toddler is 31 lbs and hasnt been able to open it yet.

I think this gate is a great investment and I will buy more when the time comes.

We've had the gate for about a year, set between our kitchen and the front foyer (near the stairs). No problems whatsoever. Assembly is easy and you can't beat the convenience of being hands-free. First Years clearly did its homework in finding the ideal functional solution - in one smooth motion, you can release the lock by stepping on the sturdy pedal and open the door by nudging your knee against a wide square on the center edge of the door. Closes and locks (everytime) with a somewhat forceful flick of your hand or foot. Makes carrying laundry, furniture, or a baby very easy. It is also extremely sturdy - we have not had to reposition it once in a year - though you will need a solid wall area on either side, as with most gates. Now that our oldest is 18 months, we have no worries about him hanging on it and, in case you have pets, our cat has no problem jumping over it. While we don't have it at the top of our stairs (no walls for support, just rails), I would totally trust it there if your house has walls to support it. Beyond that, the bars are wide enough (including near the door release) so your toddler won't hurt himself and there are absolutely no sharp edges. I know it's "just a gate", but it is the last line of defense between your toddler and a bad accident. Because of that, you can trust this gate to be convenient for you, and safe for your toddler. Highly recommended.

As parents of precocious twins, we've placed gates all over our house. We have tried five types, and this is the only one that I like.

In our former house, we placed the gate in the highest traffic area--between the den and the hallway to the rest of the house. I could carry two babies while opening and closing the gate. When we put our house on the market, we really appreciated the fact that we could easily remove the gate for the daily showings and leave no marks or hardware behind.

In our new house, the gate fit only one opening, and we had to look for other gates. The extension was not available at our BabiesRUs, and we didn't know it existed.

Finally, after a year of use, the foot pedal broke off. I called The First Years, who will replace the part for free.

This is one of the taller gates out there, which has discouraged my climber from scaling it so far. Also, I appreciate the fact that it has a base, so you don't make a mistake of installing it too high off of the floor.