The Parenting Journal

Spiral staircases look stunning. They also represent one of the more complicated babyproofing challenges you’ll face, because almost nothing about them is standard. The steps are wedge-shaped. The curve defeats most gates. The baluster spacing is often whatever the original...

Key Takeaways Any spindle gap a 4-inch ball passes through is a head-entrapment hazard. A stair gate blocks access but does nothing about gaps along the railing. Acrylic guards are reversible, mesh netting covers wide openings, retrofit spindles are permanent....

Open staircases look stunning in a home. Clean lines, visible treads, that sense of space flowing between floors. Then you have a toddler, and every one of those beautiful gaps becomes something you lie awake thinking about.The problem with open...