Our pick for most familiesCrawling to ~2 years
Dreambaby Chelsea Auto-Close Security Gate
A pressure-fit metal gate that swings shut and latches itself — for doorways and the bottom of stairs.
Home safety
Baby-proof in one sweep before your baby crawls, around 6 months, starting with the worst hazards. Anchor tall furniture and TVs to the wall: children in Australia have died when furniture or TVs toppled onto them, and anchors are cheap. Gate the top and bottom of stairs: at the top, use a gate screwed into the wall or frame, never a pressure-mounted one, and avoid gates with a floor bar there. Pressure gates suit doorways and the bottom of stairs. Check blind and curtain cords: the ACCC mandatory standard says a loose cord must not form a loop of 220 mm or more below 1,600 mm from the floor, and cleats belong at 1,600 mm or higher.
Budget pickFrom crawling, keep fitted
Dreambaby Furniture Wall Safety Straps (2 pack)
Cheap straps that tie drawers, bookcases and TV units to the wall — baby-proofing job number one.
Also goodCrawling to ~2 years
Perma Child Safety Wide Retractable Gate
A screw-mounted mesh gate with no floor bar when open — our choice for the top of the stairs.
Things we don’t recommend, and why
- Pressure-mounted gates at the top of stairs — a child pushing on them can dislodge them. Use a hardware-mounted gate there. Source: Nemours KidsHealth — Choosing safe baby products: gates, NestPath — Best baby gate Australia 2026
- Accordion-style gates with diamond-shaped openings, which can trap a child's head or neck. Source: Nemours KidsHealth — Choosing safe baby products: gates
- Leaving blind or curtain cords loose: a loose cord must not form a loop of 220 mm or longer less than 1,600 mm above the floor, and cord cleats must sit at least 1,600 mm up. Source: Product Safety Australia (ACCC) — Blinds, curtains and window fittings mandatory standards
- Leaving chests of drawers, bookcases and TV units unanchored. Source: Product Safety Australia (ACCC) — Toppling furniture, Red Nose — Moving your child from a cot to a bed
- Baby walkers — child safety experts advise against them; they let babies reach stairs, heaters and cords. Source: Product Safety Australia (ACCC) — Baby walkers guide
Price bands for this category: $ < $30 · $$ $30–80 · $$$ $80–150 · $$$$ > $150. Prices change — check the retailer.