Kid Proofing

[JTSmithson]

I know it's not the garage, but it's electrical. Looking for the best (throw in opinions and facts) on tamper resistant outlets. wife wants these covers Kidco slidey covers.

I don't REALLY want to rewire all the outlets in the house again, did that already cuz of the nasty brown they were, but would feel better about doing that vs. some chincy covers.

Looking for the outlets that have the little covers in the vertical prongs that don't open unless both are pushed at the same time. something from Home Depot

thanks,

Joe

 

[MrMark]

Those will work but they are kind of chinzy. Step up to the better backwire outlet.

BTW, my understanding is that the tamper resistant plugs are code now anyway for new installs.

 

[ddawg16]

Those will work but they are kind of chinzy. Step up to the better backwire outlet.

BTW, my understanding is that the tamper resistant plugs are code now anyway for new installs.

Mark is correct.

I'm using the Leviton outlets....I'm actually surprised at how easy it is to push in a plug....no issues.

With our kids, we used the plastic push on covers...little fingers don't have enough strength to pull them off.

But...allow me to tell you now....your outlets are the least of your problems...

 

[rlitman]

Sometimes they fight you to push in a plug, sometimes not.
I replaced most of the outlets in my house with TR ones a few years back.
In any case, they're FAR better than any safety cover option.

 

[ratdoggy]

Mark is correct.
With our kids, we used the plastic push on covers...little fingers don't have enough strength to pull them off.

We used those too and alot cheaper than the $10. I'd worry more about the kid pulling a TV or DVD player on top of themselves by pulling on a cord than getting shocked. But it does happen.

 

[bdamico]

Kids survive without the plastic covers. I find it funny that both of my boys were drawn to the outlets with the covers and then kept trying to pull the covers off. And they seemed to ignore the outlets witout the covers.

 

[ddawg16]

Kids survive without the plastic covers. I find it funny that both of my boys were drawn to the outlets with the covers and then kept trying to pull the covers off. And they seemed to ignore the outlets witout the covers.

Really good point....there are also a lot bigger problems in the house....especially that cupboard that has all those household chemicals in it.

The key to make it safe is limiting which rooms the child can be in....

Oh....and you get real good at using those eyes in the back of your head

 

[bdamico]

Really good point....there are also a lot bigger problems in the house....especially that cupboard that has all those household chemicals in it.

The key to make it safe is limiting which rooms the child can be in....

Oh....and you get real good at using those eyes in the back of your head

I've got a big house and two little boys. They want to open every single cabinet, every drawer, every door, entertainment center, closet, buffet. They can fall off the couch and chairs. They can bump into corners of every table, surface. They fall on every floor. My house is too big to child proof. It's absurd. The only things I put in are gates to protect stairs and to lock them into play room. And i put rubber flooring on play room floor. My wife put up some electric covers bc we had some laying around. I find it funny that those are the outlets our toddler pays attention to. Why kids would be playing with outlets in any room much less a garage is beyond me

I almost never let them out of sight until they are close to three.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It really is interesting how contradictory kid proofing is. My wife bought some of those outlet covers when we first had kids and never ended up using 'em. And our kids never had issues with sticking things in outlets(3yrs and 6yrs now). But i have friends who 'kid proofed' their houses to and their kids are very curious especially with outlets covers!

 

[blackz26]

The only way to kid proof anything is be a good parent. I think everything else should be considered child resistant.

 

[frankush]

Those little plastic push in covers have been around forever. 20 years ago the only place you ever saw a tamper resistant duplex was in a psych ward. Install what will make you sleep better. I was a toddler back in the 60's and made my career choice early. I stuck my safety scissors (all metal) in outlets at least once, or so I've been told.

 

[Voi]

My soon to be five year old was drawn to outlets at the crawling stage. We tried the push in outlet protectors and he popped them right out. We found a locking type at Babies R Us and he was able to push in the button and pull them out as well.

We eventually found another locking type that has two buttons that need to be pressed in at the same time and he could not get them out. If you need the name I can find one and get a name off of it or take a picture for you.

Neighbor's grandson was the same way and we loaned them a bag of what we had left and it worked for them as well.

Edit: This is the product we used.

http://safety1st.djgusa.com/en/djgusa/deluxe-press-fit-outlet-plugs

 

[G_P]

When I was little I unscrewed the bulb from a nightlight and jammed my finger in the socket. My mother said I looked at my finger then looked at her with a confused look and jammed my finger back in the socket and got zapped again! Lol

Neve bothered the outlets from what I have been told.

Sent from my C5120 using Tapatalk 2

 

[zuk123]

I've got a 2 and a 4 yo. I used the push in plastic covers.

From my experience, you don't have to worry so much about them inserting something, as pulling a plug part way out and touching the prongs. With the first child, every time she touched a cord or plug we would say no, and hold her hand still. It didn't take long for her to stop touching cords. The second one hasn't shown much interest in plugs, but when she does touch one, we do the same thing.

FWIW, I stuck a butter knife in an outlet when I was about 4. Kicked me across the room if my mom can be believed. We used that knife with the little chunk out of it thru my whole time at home and my folks still use it daily. It was a good reminder to everyone not to stick things in outlets.

Oh, and you will get really sensitive to the ABSENCE of noise. When they get quiet is when you have to worry

zuk

 

[rlitman]

Oh, and you will get really sensitive to the ABSENCE of noise. When they get quiet is when you have to worry

Too true.

 

[hh76]

I've got a 2 and a 4 yo. I used the push in plastic covers.

From my experience, you don't have to worry so much about them inserting something, as pulling a plug part way out and touching the prongs. With the first child, every time she touched a cord or plug we would say no, and hold her hand still. It didn't take long for her to stop touching cords. The second one hasn't shown much interest in plugs, but when she does touch one, we do the same thing.

FWIW, I stuck a butter knife in an outlet when I was about 4. Kicked me across the room if my mom can be believed. We used that knife with the little chunk out of it thru my whole time at home and my folks still use it daily. It was a good reminder to everyone not to stick things in outlets.

Oh, and you will get really sensitive to the ABSENCE of noise. When they get quiet is when you have to worry

zuk

This is what I worry about, even with adults. Start to pull out a cord that is in there pretty tight, then regrip when the prongs are a little exposed.

 

[rlitman]

The only good answer to that issue in the US is GFI protection.
In other countries, plugs have plastic coverings on their shanks behind the tips that protect against this.