Young children are curious little beings that are expected to be crawling around, checking out every single thing in sight. Hence, if you are a parent, childproofing your house is a must. This means blocking the staircases, installing soft play mats in common areas, omitting choking hazards, and most importantly electrical outlet safety to the sockets or devices by ensuring that they’re out of harm’s way for your child should be taken seriously. 

“Do we need to make electrical repairs prior to having our child?”

While going for an electrical system revamp seems like the safest solution there is, the cost of such repairs is not very practical. The good news is, there are still other budget-friendly ways to keep your kids safe from electric sockets and other electrical hazards at home. 

Below are some tips to help you:

Tip #1: Make it a habit to unplug all appliances when they are not in use.

Do this before you allow yourself to rest or sleep at bedtime. Make keep your kid away from wiring hazards or the appliances to avoid any shocks or potential fire hazards. 

 Tip #2: As much as possible, keep your wires and outlets out of your kid’s sight.

One effective way of doing it is by placing a frame, a cabinet, or any objects in front of the socket to conceal its presence in the area. 

Tip #3: If concealing seems insufficient, use electrical outlet caps instead. This is one cheap way to prevent your kid from sticking their fingers or other objects into the outlet.  

Electrical outlet caps are widely available and one of the easiest ways to ensure electrical outlet safety. They are made of plastic and are designed to easily plug into your sockets. The cap’s outer area is purposely solid flat so that toddlers will not be able to grip on it, thereby dismissing any opportunities of them poking anything into the outlet. 

Tip #4: Cover your power strips. 

A lot of people are fond of using power strips as a cheap and convenient solution to have more electrical wall receptacles to power multiple appliances at once. Power strips are usually placed on the ground, hence a real hazard potential especially to the eyes of toddlers.

Tip #5: Minimize or stop using extension cords.

Power strips and extension cords are a big no, especially in your kid’s room. Although they are very convenient to use, they are never kid-friendly. 

Nowadays, just search on Google for residential electrical repair services so that you can easily install more outlets or lighting to any room in your household. You never have to settle with extension cords or stand-alone light fixtures that will expose the outlet sockets. 

Tip #6: Tie the cords of your appliances to avoid accidental falls. 

Excessive cord wiring is common with a lot of appliances that sit near the outlet. This excess can easily loop around the foot, causing the victim to stumble and fall. Besides the injuries it can cause, the fall can be enough to abruptly pull the plug from the socket. This can downright cause a spark, increasing the risk of fire if not managed right. While you already have the mental capacity to stay away from such incidents, your kid does not. Keep your child safe by tying the cords. 

Tip #7: Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters or GFCIs. 

GFCIs are responsible for shutting the power off as soon as any liquid is leaking from the circuit to the ground which can cause electrical shock. They are best installed in rooms that have water sources like bathrooms and kitchens but you can install one in your living room too especially if your kid frequently roams around the area. 

Tip #8: Use nightlights for your kid’s room. 

Using nightlights will help keep your kid safe especially if already potty trained. This ensures that the room is sufficiently lit in case if they get up at night to use the bathroom. You can opt for table-mounted or outlet-mounted ones but the latter is better as it also functions as an outlet cover. 

Tip #9: Do not hoard faulty appliances. 

Do not let your kid suffer from the risk of electrical shock by playing old appliances. Remove the clutter so that your child doesn’t even get near faulty appliance chords or devices. 

Tip #10: Regular electrical maintenance is the key. 

Your frayed and loose wires need urgent attention. Do not let them stay like that for long. As mentioned above, you can shop for cord covers and outlet caps and do the maintenance on your own, or you can seek a professional Arvada electrician, such as ElectriCall. 

The latter will make sure everything in your electrical system is thoroughly checked while eliminating any hazards. Regular electrical maintenance, such as electrical outlet safety, is like an investment for the whole family’s safety and the perks of having a properly working electrical system are a bonus.