Welcoming a baby to your home can be an exciting experience — but it also requires a lot of preparation. In addition to purchasing items for the nursery, it would be wise to consider your home’s electrical maintenance needs. A few simple childproofing strategies will ensure that your outlets and cords don’t pose a hazard for your little one.

The Top 3 Childproofing Electrical Maintenance Tips

1. Outlet Caps & Plugs

Keeping babies and toddlers from reaching into an electrical outlet should be a top childproofing priority. All unused outlets should be childproofed with an outlet cap or plug. These plastic “shields” insert directly into the outlet, eliminating the risk of electrocution. Best of all, they are extremely cheap. If you’d like something that looks a bit nicer, you could invest in a sliding plate cover that automatically slides over outlet slots when not in use.

2. Cord & Outlet Covers

For outlets that do have something plugged in, protection is still needed. You don’t want your children to pull cables out of the outlet. When you can’t strategically block the area with your furniture, you should install a specialty cord and outlet cover. These plastic covers go over the outlet and plug while leaving a small opening for the cord.

3. Secure Lengthy Cables

Extension cords and other long cables can pose a tripping hazard, or even a shock hazard if your child bites on them during teething. As with outlets, making the cables inaccessible is the best practice. You can further minimize the risk of an accident by covering the cable with gaffer’s tape or looping it up and tying the coils together with a zip tie.

From basic electrical maintenance to emergency electrical repair, you can count on E-Con Electric, Inc. Serving Wood County, WI, since 1970, their highly trained electrical contractors provide safe and reliable solutions for residential customers and businesses alike. To learn more about their services, visit them online or call (715) 423-8440.