I chose this gate because I wanted a small play area for my 8 month old son. This is a good option, and good value for the money. It is relatively lightweight, which makes it easy to maneuver and fold up when I need to move it. That is good for portability, but I think it will also shorten the life of this product in my household, because I don't think it will be as effective once my son more mobile. I think he'll be able to push it around the room. But for now it is a very good choice. It keeps him safe and contained so I can prepare dinner or run to the bathroom without worrying he'll get into trouble. The mechanism for opening and closing the sections is relatively easy to use. I'll probably buy the extra two panels to make it a little bit larger.