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What should I look for when shopping for outlet covers?

Home » Child Safety » Outlet Covers » What should I look for when shopping for outlet covers?

Most parents will tell you that they are looking for safe, inexpensive covers that boast easy installation and no wiring. But what are the most important factors when choosing outlet covers? Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by children and are large enough so that children cannot choke on them.

There has been movement away from traditional outlet caps for two chief reasons: 1) kids can remove them, and 2) they pose a choking hazard. Temple University’s Biokinetics Research Laboratory conducted a study in 1997 to test the effectiveness of plastic plug-in outlet caps, and found that children aged 2 to 4 could remove the caps in most cases. One-hundred percent of the children in the study could remove the flat, oval covers that were 1/16-inch thick.

Some experts believe that plastic outlet caps give parents a false sense of security. The state of Washington has banned outlet caps in childcare facilities due to the potential choking hazard. In addition, standard covers do not prevent children from pulling out electrical cords to expose live outlets.

The cap variety will work for very young babies and are better than nothing at all, but most experts recommend that parents install tamper-resistant outlet covers, some of which use sliding or swiveling faceplates. However, you may want to buy some outlet caps to tote on vacations for hotel rooms and relatives’ houses. Some manufacturers offer caps with pinching grips that make them trickier for kids to remove. Outlet caps are very inexpensive (as low as $1 to $3 for a pack of 12), so it won’t set you back much.

If you’re convinced that you want the faceplate variety for the outlets in your house, you might change your mind when you do the math. Replacing all your outlets with the tamper-resistant kind could cost you more than $400! To save money, many parents opt to install the faceplate-type covers on just the most frequently used (or most accessible) outlet in each room.

You may also need to invest in a few large covers specifically made to house oversize plugs such those on AC/DC adapters, cordless phones, answering machines, power strips, and major appliances. Covers that enclose both the outlet and the plugs help prevent children from toying with important electronic equipment such as your computer, fax machine, and alarm clock. Some outlet protectors are also designed to house thicker cords.

Next Page: What are some good options for outlet covers?

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