Babies love to explore, and when it comes time to crawl, they’ll inspect every inch of their surroundings. Electrical cords and outlets pose a serious shock risk, so you’ll want to prepare your home with electrician-approved products before letting your baby roam. Here’s a closer look at the electrical elements that need to be baby-ready.

A Parent’s Guide to Baby-Proofing Everything Electrical

1. Cover Outlets

Keep your baby from forcing their fingers or another item into a power outlet by adding a cover. Start by sealing off outlets you won’t be using at all.

Install a box cover to outlets that need to be used, as they will prevent a baby from getting to the plugs. Spring-loaded sliding covers are another option—if a child pulls a cable out, the cover closes to prevent access to the now-vacant outlet.

If you notice any damage around outlets, including burn marks, have an electrician inspect them to ensure there’s nothing wrong with the circuit.

2. Invest in Plugs

Electricians recommend various plug locks to protect against prying little hands. Basic models include clear cases that fit over the entire outlet. More discreet solutions include a thin plate that fits over the outlet and cables. Once in place, plugs can’t be pulled out. These can be added to power strips as well.

Be sure to avoid bright colors that may attract your baby to an outlet, and choose models that can’t fit into a toilet paper roll—anything smaller is a choking hazard.

Guard the power cables, too. You can prevent them from being plugged into outlets by adding solid cable locks to their ends.

3. Take Care of Cords

Babies can easily trip over power cords and cables, become tangled in them, or pull items down from overhead. Start by shortening cables. Replace any that have a lot of slack, tie up those that you can’t replace, or purchase a cord shortener. You can easily wrap extra cord inside of the latter.

Cords running over open flooring can be covered and held down with a cable sleeve. Fasten those that are hanging down from TV receivers, speakers, and other devices to entertainment consoles or walls.

Does your home need to be inspected to create a safe space for your growing family? Arc Electric Air Conditioning and Heating of Wilder, KY, can provide all the basic maintenance you need. These certified electricians proudly serve northern Kentucky and the greater Cincinnati area. They provide comprehensive cooling and heating system repair, electrical services, and installations. Call (859) 441-7161 to schedule repairs and explore their electrical services on their website.