Retract-A-Gate Made in USA · Retractable Safety Gates for a Baby, Dog, or Cat

Retractable Safety Gate for Kids & Pets
"Keeps Little Ones Safer"

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Retract-A-Gate Baby Gate Videos and Reviews

Retract-A-Gate Baby Gate Videos

Explore a sampling of videos our customers have made. They show how Retract-A-Gate works in their home and why they love our retractable safety gate.

Simple to use, baby gate for stairs that’s sleek, quiet, and attractive

Hi everyone, I’m so happy with my Retract-A-Gate retractable baby gate. I have a young toddler, as you can see, and another baby on the way. I love how attractive, unobtrusive, and low profile Retract-A-Gate is. We have the 72” version which can cover my down-stairs area and then I can simply move the gate and with the additional bracket kit option I can move it up-stairs where my little one likes to play on the floor. It’s also super quiet and I can easily operate it with one hand!  Thanks for watching!

Samantha M.
Charlottesville, VA

Soft and friendly mesh, Retract-A-Gate has all the things we love

I love Retract-A-Gate and my little guy likes how soft the mesh is as he walks along and rubs up against the baby safety gate, but keeps him from getting up the stairs where we want to keep him out of. For our stair posts, we went with the banister adapter kit so we wouldn’t have to drill into our wooden newel posts. I have to say that this Retract-A-Gate retractable baby gate works so well for us that we’re going to be getting two more for both the top and bottom of our other stairs!

Kimberly P.
Alexandria, VA

Retract-A-Gate was a great choice for us

There are a lot of things we like about Retract-A-Gate.  We got the extra-wide gate since we have a wide space to cover near our stairs.  This was the only one on the market that met all of our requirements.  I like that you only need to use one hand while operating the gate which works well if you are carrying a baby.  The neutral café color looks nice and blends in well with our walls, and it doesn’t look like a typical ugly baby gate.  The installation was very easy and now we don’t have to worry about damage to our walls.

Tyler P.
Aberdeen, SD

Retract-A-Gate fits our needs perfectly!

Here is our retractable baby and dog gate that we bought from Retract-A-Gate. It rolls up out of the way when we don’t need it, but gives us security on the bottom of our stairs to keep our active toddler and dogs from getting upstairs when they are not supposed to. We made our own stair banister adapter but you can also buy them from Retract-A-Gate too. We searched for over a year to find the perfect gate, and, after going through a bunch of other gates, trying and returning them, we finally found Retract-A-Gate which offered everything we needed and more – we love it! The gate is easy to use with one hand, is low profile and stays out of the way when we’re not using it, but most important its safe and secure and we trust it on our stairs. Retract-A-Gate is by far the best solution we’ve tried and because we trust it so much, we plan to get another gate for the top of our stairs. And, it’s made in the USA. Thanks for watching.

Beth M.
Kansas City, MO

I run a day-care and the Retract-A-Gate works great for me, my kids, and the dogs

I bought a Retract-A-Gate for my in-home daycare and it works great for me. It’s low profile, blends in nicely with my cabinets, and it’s easy to move out of the way when I don’t need it. It probably only took us about 10 minutes to install it with just simple tools. The kids and dogs can easily see through it, which actually helps to keep them calm, but best of all its fully secure, I totally trust it.  I’m glad I found my Retract-A-Gate.

Cheryl F.
Temecula, CA

Retractable safety gate with lots of benefits

We bought our Retract-A-Gate from Smart Retract, who are the makers of it. My wife and I have a young baby who is just starting to walk. We needed something to block our stairs and another room. Our Retract-A-Gate does both and works very well for us. We really like the ease of use and how simple it is to operate. We also like how quiet the gate is – it doesn’t wake up the baby when she’s sleeping. As you can see the gate opens up very wide but when its retracted it has a slim profile so it’s small and compact. This was the best safety gate we found for stairs and its nice because we can unhook it from the brackets and move it to another location too.

Daniel D.
Melrose, MA

Friends + family + internet led me to find the Retract-A-Gate

It seemed like I looked forever to find the perfect and best baby gate for us, but I found it, its Retract-A-Gate. I was looking for a safety gate for my little 18-month-old boy Evan and our dog Bentley, that looked nice on its own, but also matched the colors of my house. As you can see, the tan color works well with my tan colored walls. I didn’t want a gate that we would need to step over, I wanted something very easy to use that could be opened and closed with one hand while I’m also holding my son. We have two Retract-A-Gate’s one on the main level and one at the top of our stairs. What’s also great is that they are not only very strong and secure, but they are so compact and out of the way when not being used, you barely know they are there.

Ashley G.
Carlisle, PA

Researched, compared, and found Retract-A-Gate for the top of our stairs

I felt nervous leaving the top of my stairs unguarded. I wanted the best choice for my family so I evaluated a number of different gates, and eventually chose the Retract-A-Gate for my home. I compared many other gates but decided on Retract-A-Gate because it’s certified for the top of stairs, it looked easy to install, and I wanted something that I could use with one hand while carrying my little boy. The installation did turn out to be very simple. We ended up deciding to make our own stair banister adapter boards which the brackets mount to and that way we didn’t have to put screws in our post. The gate is nice and safe and secure for my baby but my 5 year old kiddo can open it after we showed him how.  If you want a safe and attractive gate for your stairs, or any area of your home, without the hassle of a tripping hazard to worry about – we recommend Retract-A-Gate!

April M.
Kent, OH

Retract-A-Gate Baby Gate Reviews

Read independent third-party reviews of Retract-A-Gate written by organizations that have evaluated and tested the gate for babies and pets.

As Seen on Viewpoints.com

Retract-A-Gate is a great buy – Very Happy!

Low profile, easy to use, baby gate for stairs
Author: Alysia DeVries

Retract-A-Gate is a great buy – Very Happy!

My staircase is in the middle of my home so I wanted a retractable gate that wasn’t hard to open/close. After reading some reviews, I decided to spend a little extra money and get the Retract-A-Gate.

I am very glad I did. You can open/close the gate with one hand. It is very well made, tough, thick plastic. The mesh is nice. I wouldn’t spend the extra money on the spacers as wood shims will do just fine. And, we had an awkward configuration so needed a certain thickness shim to attach this to the wall. We also have the banister kit which worked out well. One thing to note is that you need to attach the banister kit to something square. So if you have a round post like we do, you have to use the bottom stair as the “square” and shim behind it to reach the post, or else it will twist. The gate is quiet when opening/closing too. I really like this product. It does have a locking mechanism for the top of the stairs, but I am not sure I would feel comfortable with it there. My son already tries to lift up the fabric which is nearly impossible at the bottom of the stairs, but he might be able to slip under it at the top. That is just my opinion. It does say it is certified for top of the stairs use.

As Seen on Preview It | Review It.com

Retract-A-Gate: Extending Safety Throughout the House

Author: James Gottry

Retract-A-Gate: Extending Safety Throughout the House

My wife and I have three children. The oldest is 4. The youngest recently started walking. If I told you nothing else about our lives, you would understand the pandemonium that ensues on a regular basis.

Now add to this information the fact that our house is laid out in such a way as to allow our kids to travel in a big circle from the living room to the kitchen to the dining room. As a result, we regularly have three small humans walking, running, pushing (their toy shopping cart) or driving (their toy car) in this Toddler 360 Circle.

As you might imagine, this gets a bit crazy as meal time approaches. Accordingly, we needed a way to block off the kitchen when we are using the oven, knives, and major kitchen appliances, but because of the configuration of the entrances, traditional baby gates are not a feasible option.

After an exhaustive search, we found the solution: Retract-A-Gate.

Here are just two reasons traditional gates were not a good solution for us.

Traditional gates often have a “foundation” piece that is permanently stretched across the floor. We aren’t wanting to permanently prohibit our kids from using the Toddler 360 Circle; if fact, it’s one of the features we loved about this house. We like that they can run (or “drive”) through this circle over and over–it’s filled our house with laughter time and time again. But we also need to be able to “close the track” during certain times. A gate like this wouldn’t work for us. Traditional gates often have to swing open and stretch across a wall when opened. What you can’t see in the picture above is our kitchen table just to the right. Even if we could find a long gate that swung open and left the floor clear for the kids to run and drive their car, it would be impossible to swing the gate open to either wall without hitting the table.

The gate is retractable.
When you are done with the gate, you simply allow it to automatically rewind into a small roll. Baby gates can be an eyesore but Retract-A-Gate has a very small “footprint.” Even more impressively, in just a few seconds you can remove it from the two small brackets that hold it in place, leaving only those two clear brackets on the wall.

The gate comes in three colors.
White was perfect for our needs, but the black and “cafe” options offer more flexibility than most traditional baby gates.

The gate fits a wide opening.
We had two openings to block off. One space, pictured below, was approximately 50 inches, so the 52-inch wide gate fit perfectly. The other opening, pictured at the top of this review, was approximately 70 inches. Retract-A-Gate was the only gate I found that was large enough to fit this opening, while also offering the flexibility we needed in terms of installation and operation.

The gate is tall enough.
Our two oldest are tall for their age and a shorter gate might have tempted them to try and climb over. At 34″ tall, this gate is taller than many competitors.

The gate is mesh.
Another reason our boys don’t try to climb Retract-A-Gate…they can’t! They are constantly standing on the lower beam of our traditional baby gates at the bottom and top of our stairs (we bought these years ago, before we knew about Retract-A-Gate). With the mesh Retract-A-Gate, there’s nothing to try and climb. Another thing I like about the see-through mesh is that our kids can see what’s happening on the other side, lessening the temptation for them to try and pull down the gate.

The gate locks.
Like many kids, ours like to open things. Doors, cabinets, drawers, boxes…if it can be opened, they’ll try to do it. Retract-A-Gate has a great childproof lock that keeps children from opening the gate when you want it closed, and keeps them from closing it when you want it open. It goes without saying that this is an essential feature for a gate!

The gate is easy to install.
If you have kids, you know that time is precious. The last thing I wanted to do was spend hours installing a baby gate. Thankfully, Retract-A-Gate is one of the more simple installations I’ve done. Two brackets on the left, two on the right, and you’re done. The only remotely tricky part about the installation is making sure you get the brackets level, and this was a moderate challenge for me only because I had a short level. If you have a good level or a plumb line, this won’t be an issue at all. And even if you don’t, it will only require you to take a few extra minutes when you are lining up the brackets, to ensure everything is level.

BOTTOM LINE I highly recommend the Retract-A-Gate. In fact, we will likely purchase another one for a hallway upstairs, even though a traditional baby gate could work in that location. Retract-A-Gate is easy to install and easy to use; it’s well-made and less obtrusive than other baby gates, and it solved our problem in a way other gates could not.

As Seen on Viewpoints.com

Retract-A-Gate is the best retractable gate on the market!

Author: mommyDoc

Retract-A-Gate is the best retractable gate on the market!

I am the mother of 2 young children in a house with stairs. I have a relatively wide stairway and have tried using multple gates both at the top of the stairs and at the bottom (to prevent my crawler from getting hurt). I was tired of tripping over gates myself or shimmying between the gate openings. This was particulary hard when carrying anything or when it wasn’t very bright. I ended up hurting myself pretty badly after tripping at the base of the stairs because of the gate. It was then that I began researching a retractable gate that uses a single hand to open/close. I love the idea of a mesh gate that could neatly disappear when not in use and one that I wouldn’t have to end up at Home Depot looking for adjustments to get into my banister. I found it. Retract-a-gate is primarily sold online. There are a few catalogues both for children and pets that do sell it for about the same price. I find that the accessories that get it up on banisters without drilling are sold primrarily at the website (retract-a-gate.com). The gate is made only in one color (beige/tan) and it comes in a tall and regular height version. I have purchased the regular height but could see how for a larger animal, it would be good to have a taller version. I have been extremely happy.

True to the claims on the site. It is very easy to open with one hand. My four year old can be taught how to open it but someone younger could not open it. It looks fantastic. Sometimes I have to look twice to see that it is there which is amazing considering that I have white wood and not tan and dark floors. It looks amazing and it is very easy to use. The mesh is soft and breathable and not scratchy when my infant is burying his face in it. It is very easy to clean and wipe off. I love the look and the safety features of it.

I attached it to the bottom of the banister and another at the top. This replaced my handsfree safety first gate, my summer’s extra tall gate and another top of the stairs evenflo see through gate. Hand down, the retract a gate is the best! Very durable and reliable — all the things that you could want in a gate.

Drawback: It’s more expensive. When all is said and done with 2 bansister attachments and the gate it is approximately $150. Shipping is required because it is only online. Worth it! Every penny.

I would recommend this gate to any parent or person who needs to keep someone away from something. It is great. It comes in two sizes and two height.

Retract-A-Gate Baby Gate Testimonials

We receive wonderful customer feedback on a daily basis. Here’s just a sample of the comments of why so many people have come to love Retract-A-Gate, a one-of-a-kind safety gate.

Going strong after a year of child care use

“I purchased this gate about a year ago. I wanted to wait until I “tested” it, over time, before recommending it to others. I LOVE it! I do family child care in my home and watch 6 children. My pressure gate was always falling down and I had to store it on weekends. Your gate has held up so well and it has made my life much easier! I recommend it to other home care providers.”

Barbara B.
Tamarac, FL

Baby gates blend well with our décor

“We installed both gates and I must say Retract-A-Gate is really a nice color. The Café Latte color blends in well with the surroundings, and is not as noticeable as other white gates we’ve had in the past. I’m so happy with Retract-A-Gate that I plan to purchase another gate as a baby shower gift for a friend.”

Missy B.
Wauconda, IL

Upscale looking baby gate

“Your retractable baby gate is fantastic. It was easy to install, looks nice, and retracts easily. It was perfectly suited for our needs. We needed a good baby gate for our twins since they move almost as fast as I can!”

Wendy B.
Berkeley, CA

Retract-A-Gate recommended to other moms

“We installed Retract-A-Gate at the top of the stairs on our outdoor decking; I was so impressed by its strength and discreet design that I sent out a recommendation to the “Highlands Mummies” listserve – a group of mums over 1,000 strong! I hope they find the product as amazing as my husband and I do. Good luck.”

Nikki S.
Denver, CO

Highly recommended stair gate

“We got our gate installed at the top of the stairs today for our 8 month old daughter and love it! We are going to order another one for the familyroom/kitchen doorway and extra brackets for the bottom of the stairs so we can use the 1 gate between top & bottom stairs! I am also emailing all of my new mommy friends to let them know we feel this gate is definitely worth it!! Thanks for a great product!”

Janet W.
Dover, MA

Great service and a great retractable baby gate

“A BIG thanks to your customer service. You replied quickly to my emails and addressed our questions instantly. Thank you so much for your help, your service is outstanding! And we love the retractable gates! They work perfectly for our 10 month old daughter and our big furry dog. Most especially for our daughter who is crawling faster and faster each day. Thank you again!”

Dave P.
Calgary, Alberta Canada

Thanks for the installation advice

“I wanted to thank you for the gates. Installation was fast and easy, and the mechanism is easy enough for my 4.5 year old to open and close (that’s a good thing for us). Anyway, thanks for taking the time to look at our pictures and make your recommendations. It’s working out nicely.”

Dafna A.
Riverwoods, IL

Not unsightly or hard to install

“Thank you, to the folks at Retract-a-gate! Our gates have arrived and my husband just installed them at the top and bottom of our stairs. These gates are a lifesaver! No hard to install, unsightly baby gates for us! These are discreet, and very well built. They were installed in record time, and are so easy to use. Our 9 month old daughter and 2 year old spunky Golden Retriever are each kept safe and sound and out of trouble. And how brilliant to be able to move these around with extra brackets and clips! Genius! Thanks for developing such a great product!”

Anne H.
Wellesley, MA

Daycare Center recommended child safety gate

“I think your gate is the BEST on the market. I have a home daycare and care for 12 infants and toddlers a day. My staff of three and I go through Retract-A-Gate about 50 times a day, five days a week. It is a very good gate. I have four hard plastic gates, two wooden gates and your retractable gate. I will buy another Retract-A-Gate from you soon to replace one of my other gates. I do think for most applications it is absolutely the BEST gate on the market.”

Elizabeth G.
Fredericksburg, TX

Very easy to use retractable baby gate

“I love the way there’s no button to hold in while unwinding and winding like the other gate we have. Thanks again.”

Tom W.
Lockport, IL

Ode to Retract-A-Gate

“Oh, how we love our Retract-A-Gate,
To you, this poem, we dedicate.
We praise you for your product design
For it has given us peace of mind.
Now, our stair-steps are blocked away
And my son is safe throughout the day.
He was sneaking up the steps at such quick speed.
For a proper gate, we were in desperate need.
I searched the internet high and low.
And found some gates that were just so-so.
But then, behold, I found Retract-A-Gate
And everything seemed to be first rate.
We measured, re-measured, and debated a bit
Then said, Hey, let’s just order it!
We have to say that we are quite impressed-
This gate truly stands above all the rest.
It’s easy to use, and blends in real well
And when it is locked, it is easy to tell.
But the most important point of all-
The gate protects my boy, who is still quite small.
Thanks for your product; for making it great;
Every home should have a Retract-A-Gate!”

An Original Poem by J.E.M. – Jonah and Andrew’s Mum

Retractable Baby Gate is better than expected

“I wanted to share how much I LOVE this product! I was searching and searching for something that would fit the large opening to our livingroom from the entryway. The only things I could find would have closed the large opening and left me with only a small ‘pass through’ area. When I found Retract-A-Gate, I was THRILLED and hoped it would be as great as I was imagining.

It’s been all that and more! Our little guy just started crawling, but I installed it about a week before he was truly mobile. It has served us perfectly! It is soft enough for him to touch and ‘hit’ his head against (stopping power with the crawling is a work in progress, smile) without me having to worry about metal/wood bars. But it is secure enough that I do not have to worry about him getting out of the safe areas. I close it and don’t give it a second thought; that alone is priceless!

We ordered extra brackets and have a set so we can close off the livingroom during regular play time or can block off the top of the stairs for safety–with ONE GATE, that is REMOVEABLE and inconspicuous! Couldn’t ask for a more versatile product.

Our dog is sweet, but he’s hyper when new people come over. I am able to close it off and get him to calm down before someone enters our home. The fact that I don’t have to shuffle someone at the door, our son, AND the dog is wonderful! We are a military family with a move in our future. I love knowing there is a product out there that is of good quality, flexible enough to meet my various needs, and is American made. I may leave this gate here so the next person can love it, too!

THANK YOU for a quality product from a “local” company! Everyone who sees it LOVES it, and I have already recommended it to several people I know and will continue to do so!”

Lisa H.
Norwalk, IA

Canadian happy with quality and ease-of-use

“I live in Ottawa, Canada and have been using the Retract-A-Gate for about 6 months. This is the most effective, best-designed and built, and easiest-to-use child safety gate that I have ever experienced. It operates easily with one hand, leaving the other free to manage the child or do whatever else needs to be done concurrently with operating the gate. Thank you for the excellent product … keep up the good work!”

Guy T.
Grandfather of Cian

Best retractable baby gate on the market

“I love my Retract-A-Gate! It was easy to install and looks great. Best of all, I can open and close it with one hand which is important since I’m usually carrying my child. The gate is very slim and takes up a small amount of space when retracted. We had a retractable gate by a different company that was very hard to operate and install. The Retract-A-Gate is a HUGE improvement over the other brand! Customer service was great. They responded to my order quickly and shipping was fast. We love our Retract-A-Gate so much that now we own three of them. Thanks for providing such an awesome product.”

Pam S.
Jacksonville, FL

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