Honestly, I think sometimes we overcomplicate these old houses. I’ve renovated a bunch, and when it comes to kid-proofing, I’d rather just bite the bullet and put in a solid door or even a temporary wall if there’s a real hazard. Pressure gates are basically suggestions to most toddlers—especially in homes where nothing lines up right. It’s not pretty, but a screwed-in plywood barrier beats chasing a toddler through drywall dust every time.
I hear you on pressure gates being useless in old houses—mine just became a tripping hazard for the adults. I’ve done the plywood barrier too, but have you ever tried those magnetic child locks on cabinet doors? Not perfect, but they slowed my kid down a bit. Sometimes I wonder if there’s any foolproof way, short of boarding up the whole room...
