A very handy safety gate that is 100% hands free. It is very easy to install, you just put it in your door frame and adjust the knobs on the sides and wa-la. There is a nifty pedal at the bottom that if stepped on by an adult the gate will open and there you go. You can have baby in one hand and a laundry basket in another or what have you and walk right on through. There is also a base at the bottom which is normally expected to stay (you're to remove it if your doorway floor is "uneven") but read ahead and find out why we removed it.
My experience with The First Years Hands-Free Gate
After trying so many different gates that you had to push on buttons and left up or unlatch with your hands and slide, I was getting frustrated. I am only 5 feet tall and so I can't really step over most gates that well and it's something I don't want to do with a baby in my hand. I was always complaining and getting so frustrated with safety gate companies, "Why can't they make a hands free gate?!?". And so one day, after finding out I was about to have another child (while already having a child under 2 as well) I went to every store in my city until I found The First Years Hands-Free Gate.
I was so excited when I saw it. So excited that I did not care that it was a pricey out-of-my-budet $50. I quickly snatched it up and went home with my precious gate in hand. I thought I had a prize, a rarity. A "wonder".
When we first started using this gate it was all going well. Me and my boyfriend both wear boots so the pedal was being tested a lot. We have a shotgun style home so the door way this gate was put up in is the only doorway to the rest of the house, so it was constantly being used. After a few short months, one day we realized there was a crack in the pedal. I was very furious. I suggested everyone to be more gentle when stepping on it and maybe not wear shoes or boots. Then it just broke one day. We went out and bought another one, thinking maybe we were just too rough on it. Then only a few short months later it too broke. This time we contacted the company, they claimed that they have never had any complaints on this particular gate. They then sent a replacement pedal in the mail. Eventually it too broke.
OK, so now you would think I would have learned that this gate is a waste and just go find another gate, right? Wrong. I was determined to have this gate. I know, some of think I was being stupid, but really it all turned out good. I don't think anyone should have to have went through this like we did to get this gate to work, but I finally got it and now we've had this last gate we bought a year now and it has not since broke or cracked.
When you purchase this gate (if you purchase it, after reading reviews about it, you may not want to) there is a removable base at the bottom. Now if I remember correctly, the instructions said to only remove it if your floor/doorway was uneven or something. We didn't at first with the other gates but this time I suggested we remove it and "see if the gate will last longer this time". We removed the base and now our gate works perfectly. I think they'd be better selling this gate without the base. Of course, I could be wrong. There may be others out there who removed the base and still had problems. But if not, try removing the base!
I want to suggest to anyone, if you ever buy this gate and the pedal breaks, I encourage you to please contact The First Years and let them know!
The First Years Hands Free GateThe Hands-Free Gate is just that: a safety gate that doesn't require any hands at all! And while it's simple for an adu...More at Diapers.com
Foot-pedal operated Gate swings open in both directions Fits all standard doorways 29" to 34" wide, and will fit openings up to 44" wide with Gate Ext...More at Amazon
No hands needed! Simply step on the foot pedal to open this sturdy gate in either direction. Ideal for containing pets and kids — it's made of stron...More at One Step Ahead
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
Rarely does a mom or dad make it through a day without thinking they could use an extra set of hands. So First Years designed the next best thing -- a...More at Amazon Marketplace
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.