EasyBabyRetractable Baby Gate, 33" Tall, Extends up to 55'' Wide, White/Child Safety Baby Gates, Pet Retractable Gates for Stairs, Doorways, Hallways, Indoor and Outdoor

I'm leaving 5 stars because the gate does exactly what it should. The construction of the gate and brackets are substantial and it functions, excellently, which is what I had hoped for. The gate came with wall template which makes alignment a snap. Installation was VERY easy (with one exception, see below)BUT!!!!!Use your own screws. SERIOUSLY!! PLEASE USE YOUR OWN SCREWS!!! The screws that are supplied are cheap and I broke every single one. At first, I thought it was because of the torque on my drill, but even with a handheld screwdriver I broke 2 more screws. Fortunately I have the tools to back out broken screws, but most buyers won't. Go ahead and do yourself the favor of using screws purchased elsewhere.

Do NOT use TEMPLATES!! MOUNT APPROPRIATELY!The reason I gave 4 stars is due to the fact that the templates included are entirely inappropriate and probably led to the majority of the negative reviews.I used the gate template and immediately noticed the top 2 holes would be crooked even though the sides would be level. After mounting the gate I pulled it across and noticed that the bottom latch would be lower and the top wouldn’t even land within the hook on the gate. Just seeing the position of the bottom latch, and the obvious bow in the mesh material, I knew it would not work.Mount the gate side first. Then pull the mesh gate TAUT across the opening and gauge where you need to place the latches. If the mesh is not taut, and there is slack, the gate is not mounted appropriately and will make opening it easier for children and pets. The “pull” of the gate mechanism against the latches is what makes this secure. If there is any bow to your mesh it is not mounted appropriately. You can actually see this in a video on one of the negative reviews.I’ve read all of the reviews and I purchased this gate as a BARRIER, for both my 8 month old and 2 dogs, between the main house and the kitchen. I have no intention of leaving any of them unattended and expecting ANY gate to keep them safe...I feel that is one of the main take-always from a majority of the negative reviews. That is user error.I included a picture of my 8 year old to show the height. She can barely open the gate with both hands. I also used “outside” mounting for added stability vs mounting between the doorway itself.

I bought this to keep my son’s dog out of the cat litter. He thinks the cats leave tasty snacks in there unfortunately. He managed to stretch the bottom enough the first day to wiggle under it.

If you are thinking about buying this product. STOP. This is the dumbest product ever. If you think this is a one hand opening gate, think again. Not only do you need two hands, you need multiple attempts at opening and most times for closing. Why? Because there is some kind of locking mechanism that is activated if you do not pull the screen all the way over to the bracket in one clean pull. If you stop just an inch away you have to turn the knob to unlock and then pull again to hook on to the brackets. If you have things in your hands / arms put them down cause the process of opening and closing is a chore. Do not buy this product.

Either my baby is a genius or there are some serious design flaws with this "baby" gate. My 11 month old can easily just unhook the gate! In fact, she did it in 3 sec after I installed it. So... don't buy if you're looking to use this gate with a baby or toddler. Only will work for pets (unless your pet is a genius). I'm returning it because it does not even work in the slightest bit for a baby.