So long story short my husband and I live 6 hours away from the rest of our families and make trips to visit with our little one every few months. We stay with my husbands parents while we are in town which they love because they get more time with their grandchild. They are currently finishing their basement renovations which they are partially doing with us in mind. It's a 5 level split so the 4th level is getting their fancy spa bathroom and the open space is going to be like a TV room with a hide-a-bed for us where she's planning on putting a packnplay for baby to sleep in as well. Guest rooms are all too small (with queen beds stuffed in) for us to fit with our little one and our 80lb dog now so it's a nice thought for her to accommodate us.

Now the problem - there is still a 5th level which is undeveloped and used as laundry and storage. It has probably 8 wood stairs going down from the 4th level and the floor at the bottom is cement. I've asked her if they plan on putting a door on the stairs but they are not and I asked about drilling a baby gate into the wall and she was reluctant to do so... I told her pressure gates are not recommended for the tops of stairs because they could give way if leaned into and that I wouldn't want to risk it anyway due to the nature of the stairs... but I told her I'd look for alternatives as our little one is only 3 months and not crawling yet and they haven't yet finished their basement renovations. But we will need something in time- even if the renos aren't done until our little one is walking. It is between two walls that COULD use a pressure gate if it wasn't at the top of a set of stairs so their aren't any weird posts causing dilemmas or anything.

Anyone find alternatives to drill gates for their top of stairs baby gate set up?