Baby gate for stairs that is easy enough for kids to use?

[sunflower.mama]

Title says it all. We've been baby gate free for 2+ years, and dd2 will be crawling this winter. Our home is split level and the kids are up and down the stairs ALL DAY. I'd love to find a gate that is safe enough for top of the stairs yet easy enough for my 7 year old and perhaps even my 4 year old to operate independantly. Any thoughts?
TIA!

[AmandasMom]

I have the "Evenflo - Secure Step Metal Top of Stairs Gate". I don't have any small babies anymore, I use it to keep the dog from being on the 2nd floor of the house. It is installed at the top of the stairs. I drilled it directly into the wood frame, and I use a fence latch instead of what it comes with. My 5 and 10 year old operate it just fine. I tried a plastic gate once and it just didn't look good and it didn't feel secure.

[Mom2M]

We have this gate http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ms_ohs_product at the bottom of the stairs and 5 year old DD is able to easily open and close it by herself.

[sunflower.mama]

[LaughingHyena]

We have this one http://www.lindam.com/product/safety...-fit-plus.html DD managed to open it from about 3 1/2

Mostly we used it between 2 rooms though it did occasionally get used on the stairs. For something used regularly on the stairs I would have looked at screw in ones since they don;t have the bar to step over.

We also have one of these http://www.lindam.com/product/safety...lexiguard.html I think a 10yo would be fine with it but not the 4yo. I find it great when we have people round and I don;t want the kids upstairs. We also use it when decorating to keep the kids away form wet paint.