Top 5 Best Babyproof Electric Outlet Covers | 2017 Reviews
Whether we like it or not, we cannot really do away without having electrical outlets at home. Nearly everything we use requires electricity – televisions, computers, cell phones, kitchen appliances and the list goes on. And, once a baby enters your life and your home, these two just cannot be mixed together.
So, what does a responsible parent do? Simple! Get baby proofing kits and start off by putting on safety outlet covers.
However, before you go on a shopping spree buying outlet plug covers, it is important that you know the basics of these things first. For starters, houses that have been built after 2008 are usually already fitted with tamper resistant electrical receptacles required by the National Electrical Code.
How this design works is that the openings of the outlet are covered with shutters that only open up when they are pushed simultaneously such as when an adult plugs something into it. If your baby decides to poke into one of the holes, it is highly unlikely that they can get it to open.
Still, one can never be too careful. Which is why it is also important that parents know the two styles that outlets come in before they go out and buy outlet covers. Basically, the standard outlet comes with a screw in the middle, which is how it attaches to the receptacle, while the Decora outlet is simply clipped on to the receptacle.
Now that you know the basics, it is time to find the best electrical outlet covers for your home.
Quick Comparison Table
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Mommy’s Helper Outlet Plugs |
Munchkin Plug Covers |
LectraLock Baby Safety Electrical Outlet Cover |
Mommy’s Helper Safe Plate Outlet Covers |
Safety 1st Power Strip Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
|
0.8 ounces |
2.1 ounces |
4 ounces |
3.2 ounces |
1.1 pounds |
 |
|
|
|
|
Mommy’s Helper Outlet Plugs
The thing is that you do not really need to spend a lot of money in order to baby proof and child proof the electrical sockets and plugs inside your home. If you are looking for a cheap yet effective way to cover those potentially dangerous places are these outlet caps.
What do we like most about these? The very inexpensive price tag, of course! They cost only a few dollars and you most likely will be left with a handful more at home. Another thing to like about this is that it comes in a plain design and blends well with your electric plugs. If you are worried about it standing out from the rest of your house’s design, you don’t have to worry because it is barely noticeable.
These electrical outlet safety plugs also come with a very tight fit. It only takes a slight push to put them in place but it will take a lot of work to take them out. While this means that your little one will have a lot of difficulty taking them out, it means that the parents will go through the same thing, too, and that can be a major inconvenience for a parent who is constantly doing the vacuum cleaning. Still, we do not mind using these covers if it meant that our kids or pets will never be at risk of electrocution.
Another thing to keep in mind is that these outlet plate caps are small and can be easily misplaced so make sure to keep them in a secure location, away from the reach of kids. We suggest using these caps in electrical outlets that you do not often use to avoid the inconvenience.
It may look like a very simple solution to a problem but it definitely works and it comes very cheaply as well so we are placing this product at the first spot in our list.
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Details of the Mommy’s Helper Outlet Plugs |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
0.8 ounces |
|
Dimensions |
1.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 inches |
Munchkin Plug Covers
The thing about the basic safety outlet plugs is that they can be very difficult to take off, even for the parents. True, while the main purpose of installing them on electrical outlets would be to make sure that kids and pets will never be able to poke the holes no matter how hard they try to take away the covers but, wouldn’t it be better if it was friendlier for adults to use?
As an alternative, you can use these child proof outlet covers from Munchkin. These covers work pretty much the same with the basic safety plugs only that they are designed to be much easier for adults to remove so if you constantly do the vacuum cleaning then you do not have to worry about running through this major inconvenience. Whether you place it in a frequently used outlet or not should not be a problem.
What else is there about these outlet protectors? Well, parents who are worried about the design do not have to think about it – these come in an opaque design which means that it will easily blend in with most standard outlets. It also has a smooth non-grip finish so no matter how try your babies try to play with it, it will never come off. Not convinced? The covers are also designed to not have a lip and instead lay flat against the outlets so it is nearly impossible to take them off, at least for your kids.
However, you will still have to remember that little kids can be very intelligent human beings so when you try to take them out of its place, make sure that they are not around or they will follow you. Some parents have complained about not being able to remove it easily but a flat screw or the back of the spoon should easily do the trick.
They are slightly more expensive than the basic plugs, however, which is why we are placing it at the second position.
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Details of the Munchkin Plug Covers |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
2.1 ounces |
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Dimensions |
4.2 x 2.7 x 7 inches |
LectraLock Baby Safety Electrical Outlet Cover
For outlets that have appliances permanently plugged in to them, a different type of baby outlet covers may have to be used to prevent little ones from playing with it. What we suggest using is this duplex style cover which protects that outlets and plugs and keep the wires out of the way (or at least make it less attractive to kids and pets).
Other brands actually have their own plug and cover design but we find that this one from LectraLock is the easiest for parents to use. True, it is highly recommended for those places that have appliances constantly plugged into them but you would want to make sure that unplugging them when you have to do not create inconvenience, right?
We love the design of the Letralock in that it makes plugs easy to get on and off. It also comes with a clear plastic so you know are currently being plugged with just a single glance. You simply put this cover on top of your existing outlet – not only will your baby stop poking at the outlets, there is also a lesser chance of them being successful at pulling the cords. Despite that, the cover is quite easy to remove when adults do it.
Another thing to love about the LectraLock is that it is made from the US and offers a lifetime guarantee on their product. If that is not enough to convince you to use this as outlet cover at home then we are not sure what else will!
Perhaps the only disadvantage to this one is that they are only best used on plugs with the cords going out at the bottom. If they are plugged in sideways, there is often not much room left to bend the cord but you can make the whole slightly bigger which could void the warranty. For this, we are placing the LectraLock at the third spot in our list.
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Details of the LectraLock Baby Safety Electrical Outlet Cover |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
4 ounces |
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Dimensions |
4.9 x 3.1 x 3.3 inches |
Mommy’s Helper Safe Plate Electrical Outlet Covers
Another solution when it comes to child proofing outlets would be to use sliding outlet cover plates that make like a whole lot easier for parents and harder (in a good way) for kids and pets.
What do we like about this product? Basically, it comes with spring loaded shutters so all you have to do is forget about them once you have them installed. This solves the problem posed by the plug covers included in this list as there is a huge tendency that you will forget about replacing them after unplugging your electrical appliances. With the sliding cover, there is nothing else to think about and you do not have to worry about risking your kid or pet’s safety. Simply unplug your appliance and the cover snaps back into place.
Many parents also love that despite the very simple solution that these child proof outlets provide, these products are still very difficult for babies and even slightly older kids to figure it out. However, installation is not a pain as you can install them like you would a standard outlet cover. Put it there and you never have to think about it again.
We did find a con to using this product. For one, it only works with standard outlets so if you have those Decora outlets we mentioned in the introduction, you might have to find another outlet cover. Some parents also complain that it may be a little too hard to use in that the sliding plate wants to snap back making it nearly impossible to plug anything in.
Despite the reviews, we still think that these are very limited cases and that these covers are still worth a shot especially if it means protecting everyone from the risk of being electrocuted. Cheap, easy to install and works great – these are just among the many reasons why we are placing this item at the fourth spot in our list.
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Details of the Mommy’s Helper Safe Plate Electrical Outlet Covers |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
3.2 ounces |
|
Dimensions |
5 x 2.5 x 0.8 inches |
Safety 1st Power Strip Cover
Another type of problem area in the house when it comes to the electrical department is the power strip. It is nearly impossible for a house not to have this item at home as it makes things a lot more convenient plus it allows multiple appliances to be plugged in. What does a parent do?
An outlet in a power strip that is not in use can easily be placed with any of the outlet plugs covers included in this list but what if there is one or even more cords currently plugged to it? How does a parent prevent their child from thinking of it as a toy and pulling out the wires?
Enter the electric outlet covers for power strips. This basically looks like a plastic cylindrical case where you can put the power strip in. It comes with a cutout that is big enough even for the largest size cords to fit in. You do not have to worry about compatibility because this cover can fit power strips anywhere between 7.5 and 10 inches and you can choose to put them on the floor or mount them on your wall for convenience.
However, the biggest disadvantage to using this one is that the cutout can still be enough for your kiddo’s little hands to go through although they will not exactly reach the actual outlet unless they use a long object. Most often, parents cover the cutout with duct tape to prevent their kids from playing with it. Also, it can still be possible for them to pull out the cords if they tried hard enough but you can also duct tape the cords together so it becomes difficult to yank them out.
It may not be 100% fool proof but it certainly is worth looking at. We will have to place this power strip cover at the bottom of our list although we think it is still worth a shot.
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Details of the Safety 1st Power Strip Cover |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
1.1 pounds |
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Dimensions |
5 x 4 x 10.5 inches |
Have you decided on the best outlet covers to baby proof your home? Truly, there is a product that you can use depending on your particular need at home. Whether you are child proofing a less used outlet or a frequently used on, a power strip or something else, know what something has been invented to make your life as a parent even more convenient.
Still, it is not enough to put in these outlet covers all throughout your house, don’t forget to constantly keep an eye on your baby and make sure that everything hazardous and risky to them is kept out of their way. Babies can be very clever so it is best that you keep one step ahead always!
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