Numi stair-gate

They're going to be part of your interior decor for a couple of years, and you can take one of two approaches to stair gates. Either you accept that they're a piece of baby gear and ignore whether or not they fit in with your interior design - or you try hard to find something sophisticated.

Until now, good luck with the latter option, unless you're inclined to make them yourself. But the walnut-and-brushed-metal Numi is undeniably attractive. It speaks far more of adult design than of the many concessions you've made to parenthood.

Given that, I'm impressed by the price: at £60.00, it's more than the lower-range stair gates out there, but comfortably below the luxury options. Break that down to just how many times a day you're going to be looking at it over those two years, and it's worth it.