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Baby gates come in all types from wood to metal and extra wide to extra tall.  Whichever type you end up choosing for your home, it is important to remember not to depend on a baby gate as the sole means of supervising your baby.  Nothing will keep your baby safe more than your own supervision over them.  Just because a baby gate is installed does not mean that your child is 100% safe.

There are two main types of baby gates which you can purchase for the home.  They include pressure-mounted and hardware-mounted.  Pressure-mounted gates can be pushed into a doorway or hallway and usually come with 2 panels that adjust into place.  These are typically used in doorways that lead from one room to another or at the bottom of stairs to prevent a child from climbing up.  They are not recommended as a way to block the top of stairs.  Over time pressure-mounted gates can lose their ability to stay secure and should be replaced.  Once they lose this ability, they are easy to dismount, thus, the main reason they should not be used to block the top of stairs.

Hardware-mounted gates are the main gates used to block the top of stairs.  Because they must be drilled into the wall or doorway, it is much more secure and makes it very difficult for a small child to dismount.  The hardware-mounted baby gates typically come with an open and close feature that resembles a door.  This makes it convenient for adults and older children to pass through.

Modern baby gates should be made from sturdy material and should not have sharp edges.  You will find some modern gates with v-shaped openings but they are generally small openings.  Beware of older baby gates of the past with the same v-shaped openings that are large enough for a child’s head to fit through.  You may find these old models at garage sales or passed down through the years.  If you come across one, it’s best to avoid them or discard them all together.  It is probably best to avoid the newer v-shaped or diamond shaped openings in baby gates as even the smaller openings can be risky in the home.

Also be aware of baby gates with mesh panels.  If you go this route, choose one with a fine weave rather than a wide one as a child could easily get caught in it or use it as a way to climb.  The best baby gate to go with are probably those with vertical bars.  Vertical bars take away the worry of a child trying to climb the gate.  Make sure your baby gate does not have any parts that could break off.  While this may seem like common sense that manufacturers should be aware of, many baby gates are still recalled due to easily broken parts.  Before you purchase your baby gate, be sure to measure the width of the doorway as well as the required height to prevent your child from climbing over.

Bed wetting alarms are not all the same, even though they are all designed for the same purpose – a solution to bedwetting for a child or an adult. There are many different types of these alarms to choose from, which is why it is important for parents to choose the one that will be most effective for the child’s enuresis. Many times children have a problem with bed wetting because they sleep so soundly they don’t wake up in time to go to the bathroom. There many also be a medical reason for the bedwetting. Parents need to have the child checked by a doctor before they choose any solution and this includes bed wetting alarms.

There are three main types of bed wetting alarms on the market:
·    Wired bedwetting alarms
·    Bedwetting alarms that clip to the underpants
·    Bedwetting alarm in a rubber pad
Each of these alarms has advantages and disadvantages. What may work for one child may not work for another. For this reason, parents do need to research the different enuresis alarms to choose the one they feel will be the most effective solutions for their child.

The wired bed wetting alarms are very unique in that they are really panty liners The remote sensor is placed in between the liner and the underpants. It uses a 9-V plug and a battery. As soon as the sensor detects the slightest bit of moisture on the absorbent liner, it send as signal to the alarm. The alarm, similar to an alarm clock, will continue to sound until the child or parents wakes and turns it off. Even though this is called a wired enuresis alarm, there are no wires attached to the sensor that the child could get entangled in during the night. The response to urine is instantaneous and the clock alarm can be placed far enough from the bed so that the child has to get up to turn it off. However, this type of bedwetting alarm is not suitable for use with boys because the liner for the underpants is very small and narrow.

The most common type of bed wetting alarms on the market today is the panty liner with sensors built in. The alarm is connected to the sensor through a clip on the pyjamas. There is a wire from the clip to the liner and it is also connected to a clock alarm. This is the cheapest model of bedwetting alarms on the market and it does have quite a few disadvantages. It has the same type of alarm system connected to a clock that will sound when moisture is detected. However, the wires can also be pulled loose from the sensor, which means that the child will not get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Since there are wires connected with these enuresis alarms, the child can also get tangled up in them if he/she moves around a lot during sleep. For some children, this type of alarm is not effective as a solution to bedwetting.

Bed wetting alarms that come with a rubber pad is wired but does not pose any problem with the wires getting tangled or pulled free. You lay this enuresis alarm over the mattress cover and then cover it with the bed sheet. It works in the same manner as the other types of bedwetting alarms by sounding when it detects moisture. There is no clip for the child’s pyjamas and the batteries are rechargeable, saving you expense in having to buy a lot of replacement batteries. It is harder to clean because you have to wash off the mat and the alarm will keep sounding until the wet bedclothes are replaced. However, it is the most effective of the bed wetting alarms.