What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

what can I say to MY parents to convince them that a baby gate is NECESSARY at the top of the basement stairs. The stairs do not have a solid door that closes, it has an accordion-type folding door that will open if you push on it.

I told my parents I would buy one for them and they acted offended, saying "We won't just let him roam around-we'll watch him"
I tried laughing it off and saying No, you need a baby gate, and they changed the subject saying Oh We'll see.




eta: ds is crawling and pulling himself up and he's quick!


He would be staying there for several hours 2 or 3 days per week

Message edited 1/8/2013 8:05:13 PM.

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

Is he staying at their home so they can babysit on a regular basis or is it just for when you visit? If it is for when you visit I would not impose something like a gate on some one else's house (even my parent's home), but if they are regularly watching your DC then yes, I would get one for a home like you described.

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

Can you put some type of lock on the top of the door so it can't open?

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

I don't know why some parents are so stubborn and ignorant. I don't know what you can say if they aren't already hearing you.

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

Buy the gate and go over ready to install it, Sucks but you have no choice IMO

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

I would just show up with a gate and tell them you would never forgive yourself if there was God forbid an accident. Better safe than sorry.

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

get over it?

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

I don't understand why any grandparent would want to put their children in a potentially dangerous position. If my children go near the back of the house, my parents will yell out, "make sure the basement door is locked" to whomever is back there with them. And my kids know how to go down stairs!

What I would say is, "There is no choice in this matter, I'm putting up a baby gate at the basement while my child is here. End of story."

You can get a pressure gate so they can take it down when your child is not there, but while he is there, the gate is up. End of story.

Message edited 1/9/2013 9:31:19 AM.

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

My MIL was a little bit like that and we refused to let it go - her house has some of the steepest steps I've ever seen and she herself admits that doesn't know how neither of her sons ever made it through childhood without falling and getting seriously hurt.

She tried to give us the whole "I won't let her go near the stairs" routine and "I'll be watching her all the time and won't leave her alone" and the best was "I don't like how they look because it'll ruin the look of the house," but none of it was adequate for us.

One day, DH said "tough" and showed up with a baby gate and installed it himself and told her if she wanted to watch DD for any period of time, then it was a necessity.

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

ask them if they will feel better if the baby falls down the stairs and ends up in the hospital.

Kids are quick, it takes a second!

Get the gate and go there with it.

Re: What to say to grandparents who are "offended" by request to put a baby gate at top of basement stairs?

i would say if you want my child to come over then you need a gate, or a better door that closes.