The First Years Hands Free Gate
The First Years Hands Free Gate
The First Years Hands Free Gate Reviews
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.
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