Having a new baby is exciting, but it can also be scary. Being a parent means that you all of a sudden have to consider the many dangerous things in your house—and how to protect your child/children from them. Fortunately, when it comes to your electrical system, it’s easy to keep babies and toddlers safe with just a few simple adjustments. Keep reading to learn the top five ways to baby-proof your electrical equipment, and remember, for all your residential electrical service needs, just call our experts at Lightning Bug Electric.
5 Common Sense Ways to Baby-Proof Your Home’s Electrical Equipment
- Install Outlet Covers: Purchasing and installing outlet covers is simply the easiest way to ensure your child does not put their fingers or anything else in receptacle sockets. These days, it’s not hard to find options that completely cover outlets or just plug up receptacles that are not in use. Just make sure to cover any outlets that are low enough to the ground for your little one to stick their fingers or foreign objects into.
- Secure Power Cords: Having too many power strips already isn’t a great idea, as this may overexert your electrical panel, in addition to creating tripping hazards. However, since it is basically impossible not to need a few power strips these days, it’s important that you make sure these power strips are secure and out of the way for when your baby starts crawling. We suggest tying your cords together in some way, purchasing a safety cover, and keeping all power strips out of the way as much as possible. It is a good idea to purchase a power strip surge protector too, for the safety of your entire household.
- Make Sure Appliances Are Out of Reach: Remember when we said earlier that you should cover any outlets that your little ones can reach? Just as important is making sure that your electrical appliances are stored properly, so your kids can’t play with them. For one thing, you don’t want your young child pulling out a cord too quickly, and potentially getting shocked. This is dangerous for anyone, but it is particularly dangerous for babies. Also, for items like toasters, hair dryers, curlers, etc., make sure they are never kept near water, and always place them somewhere your baby won’t be able to access when they are not in use.
- Don’t Forget Your Lampshades: When lightbulbs get too hot, it’s easy for anyone to burn their hands on them. That’s why as simple as it sounds, making sure your lights have proper shades over them can make a big difference. You should also keep any plug-in lamps out of reach of your children, and when it comes to lightbulbs, try using modern, energy-efficient LED bulbs, as these are not as hot to the touch.
- Take Care of Any Exposed Wiring: Again, exposed wiring is one of those things that is dangerous for everyone, so even if you do not have a baby, it is a good idea to take action if you have any exposed wires in your home. That said, if you have a baby, now is a particularly good time to get on that rewiring project you’ve been putting off too long. Fortunately, our skilled electricians at Lightning Bug Electric have extensive experience in wiring and rewiring, and are highly trained to keep your home safe from all kinds of electrical issues.
To learn more about possible safety upgrades, call Lightning Bug Electric at (404) 471-3847, or contact us online for more information.