necessary such that flexible gate member 1 will securely fit between wooden stairway posts 3 of varying size style and width the internal portions of the lateral adjustment buckles provide a fastening means to limit the differential expansion of the flexible gate member and thereby facilitate the secure fit of the gate member across stairways of varying size style and width the lateral adjustment means 5 further reinforce the strength and resilience of the flexible gate member the lateral adjustment means 5 as shown in fig3 are spatially arranged to complementingly cooperate with each other to provide a banister to banister engagement portion which enables the barrier to fully and completely horizontally span across a stairway passage the flexible gate member 1 shown in fig3 is provided with three tubular sleeves grooves channels or slots indicated generally at 4 for receiving the three removable vertical structural support rods 6 the tubular sleeves 4 can be manufactured molded or formed by stitching portions of the edges of the fabric in lapped engagement with one side of the gate member 1 to form tubular sleeves to receive the removable vertical structural support rods 6 to fortify the structural integrity of the flexible gate member 1 and to securely hold the removable vertical structural support rods 6 rigidly in place within the flexible gate member 1 shown in fig3 the preferred embodiment of the tubular sleeves 4 will have a width.