Baby Gate Injuries on the Rise in U.S.

Many parents have been advised to install baby gates as a safety precaution. However, a recent study shows that these devices could be more harmful than helpful.

Statistics show that each year, close to 2,000 children head to the emergency room with injuries that are actually caused by the gates, according to Health Day.

Though most of the injuries are not serious, researchers believe many babies and/or toddlers may harm themselves in the attempt to push the gate down or climb over it, especially if unsupervised.

For the study, researchers examined data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-a database that collections injuries from hospitals nationwide. Findings showed 1,188 cases of baby-gate-related injuries over the study period.  

Results also revealed that the number of baby gate-related injuries rose from 4 per 100,000 children in 1990 to close to 13 per 100,000 as of 2010, according to the Associated Press (AP).

"We are probably seeing more of these injuries because parents are using these gates in their homes, which is good," said study author Lara McKenzie, a pediatric injury-prevention expert at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, via Live Science. "But we maybe need to do a better job of [determining] where the gates are installed, and making sure that it is a good, secure fit in those places." 

As baby gates may help prevent a child from reaching a certain area, gates that are pressure mounted may present the opportunity for children to stand against the device and possibly topple it over.

"Baby gates are one of the most widely used home safety products, and they are meant to protect children from accessing stairways and doorways and other hazards in the home," McKenzie said, via Live Science. "But the problem is that there is not always a good fit or match with the gate and the area that it is being used in." 

For more information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal American Pediatrics. 

Here are some tips to make sure you are using a baby gate safely for your child, courtesy of Kids Health:

-Make sure you measure the doorway for the gate before purchasing an item, to ensure that the area will be blocked off by the device.

-Check the label for ASTM/JPMA certification.

-Chose a gate with a straight top edge with either rigid bars or a tight mesh screen.

-Leave no more than 1 to 2 inches between the floor and the gate to prevent the child from slipping underneath.

-The gate should be no less than three quarters of the child's height.