What are outlet covers?

So it’s time to childproof. Your little one is no longer content to stay where you last plunked him. Who would guess that such sweet, innocent bundles could get into so much trouble? Unfortunately for caregivers, babies and toddlers hold an incredible fascination with electrical outlets, which are conveniently (for them) located at eye-level. Thankfully, someone invented outlet covers to help protect curious children from the hazard of electrical shock.

Simply put: Outlet covers (or outlet plates or protectors) serve as a physical barrier to help prevent electrocution. Outlet covers are designed to protect children from occupied and unoccupied outlets. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), unprotected outlets cause thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths each year. Of the reported injuries in 1997, 86% occurred in children that were 1 to 4 years of age. The most common foreign objects inserted into outlets were keys and hairpins.

You may not be aware of how many outlet protectors are offered nowadays. It’s not just those two-pronged plastic caps that seal off the receptacle. Some products are actually outlet kits that replace your existing faceplates. Some make use of swiveling or sliding faceplates to quickly protect live outlets should your child yank out a cord. (For more information for outlet cover options, see topics 2 and 3 below.) Most outlet protectors are available in the industry-standard ivory or white. The typical cost of an outlet cover is less than $5.

When to do it? Most pediatricians advise parents to begin childproofing electrical outlets at the first indication that their baby can roll over. It won’t be long now before she rolls, scoots, crawls, and then walks to every conceivable corner of your house!