Safety 1st SecureTech Flat Step gate review

The Safety 1^st Flat Step gate is a metal pressure fit child safety gate designed to fit most standard openings and doorways. It is designed with a U-shaped frame that has 4 pressure points to provide a solid fit. It adjusts to fit openings from 73-80cm and has a flat bar at the bottom to prevent tripping.

With an RRP of £30 it is comparable to other gates in the market. The Dreambaby Ava Pressure Fit Safety Gate, for example, costs around £24.99, while the BabyDan Designer Pressure Fit Safety Gate costs £24.99 and the Lindam Easy Fit Premium retails around £25. You can get cheaper ones, but they usually require being drilled into the wall or doorframe.

What you generally don’t want is a faff to install it, or a faff to open and close it - as you often have a child on your arm and need to navigate the gates one-handed.

Here is the verdict on the Safety 1st Flat Step gate...

Buyer’s Guide to safety gates

Child proofing your home: what to look out for

First impressions

The gate makes a good first impression as the flat step has a very low profile with rounded corners. This is a real bonus as my main problem with pressure fit gates has been stubbing my toe or tripping over the bottom step. The packaging is clean and simple with clear instructions.

How easy was fitting the Safety 1st Flat Step gate?

The gate has clear instructions and is quick and simple to fit. There are two options for fitting the cups to the walls, either permanently with screws or with the included adhesive pads which is a non-destructive option. If you choose the non-destructive option then everything required to fit the gate is included in the box.

The bottom pressure fit screws require the included spanner but the top screws have discs which can be tightened by hand which makes fitting and adjustment easy. The whole fitting process was among the easiest I have experienced with a baby gate and took less than 10 minutes to complete. I think this would be easily achievable even for those with no DIY experience.

How does the Safety 1st Flat Step compare to other gates you have used?

This is certainly the best pressure fit gate that we have ever used, and has many excellent features. However we found the opening mechanism to be more challenging than most. It requires more grip strength and co-ordination to open than is ideal, especially when trying to carry items at the same time. However, the locking mechanism is equipped with a nice visual indicator to let you know if it’s locked or not. It shows red when it's not secure...

... and green when secure:

What did you like most about the gate?

The gate’s stand out feature is the low profile step. This is the first pressure fit gate I have used that has not tripped me up or broken a toe, and it is easy to forget it is even there. The gate is light once unlocked and opens freely in either direction but this can be restricted if required. If released before 90 degrees it will swing back closed (but does not automatically lock) however if pushed past 90 degrees the gate remains open which is another handy feature.

Can it be fitted to any type of doorway?

This gate is suitable for any opening between 73 and 80 cm and can be extended up to 101 cm with optional extensions which are available separately.

How portable is it?

This is not a portable gate. It is easy to fit and therefore can relatively easily and quickly be moved to another place. However, correct and safe fitting requires moving the wall cups which would require more adhesive or further holes to be drilled.

How easy is it to open and close?

The gate is very simple to close and lock but opening can be more difficult as it requires quite a strong grip and it can be quite stiff. Locking the gate simple involves pushing the mechanism down. It is easy to see when it is locked as it lays flat and there is a useful colour indicator. The gate needs to be aligned in order for it to lock, as the gate is light and swings easily, it is easy to misalign it.

Is it child proof?

That depends on the age of the child. Our 6-year-old demonstrated that he could open it (with both hands and a great deal of effort) but it would be way beyond our 3-year-old - my mum finds it quite challenging.

Why would a parent want to use this gate?

If your challenge with any pressure fit gate is always the step then this gate is for you. The gate also has a nice wide opening and doesn’t overly restricts the opening it is placed in.

This gate is quick and easy to fit and is perfect for DIY novices and for those who want a gate with the minimum of fuss, mess and long term damage. The addition of the ‘hand wheels’ on the top tightening bolts make the fitting process even easier but also enable you to quickly tighten or loosen the gate as needed without having to find a spanner.

What is the price and is it good value for money?

The Safety 1st Flat Step gate generally retails around £30 but can be found for a little cheaper. This is comparable to other similar gates and I feel represents good value for the features it provides (and the lack of stubbed toes is priceless...)

MadeforMums Verdict

Overall we really liked this gate and it is certainly one of the best pressure fit gates we have used. The flat step is game changing for me, but the opening mechanism is the only real downside of what is otherwise an excellent product.

How we tested the product:

Meena is part of a family of 5 with 3 children aged 6, 3 and 1, with the additional complications of a dog and a cat. They tested the gate between their kitchen and living room to keep the children safe from kitchen activities and the snacks safe from the kids.

Have a look at some more safety gates with unique features:

• Summer Infant Super Wide Custom Fit gate
• Summer Deluxe Wood Pressure Gate
• Clippasafe Extendable Swing Shut Gate

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