Becoming a parent requires you to reevaluate many aspects of your life. This includes carefully assessing how safe your living environment is since young children love to explore their surroundings, which can get them into dangerous situations. As such, baby-proofing your home is essential when preparing to welcome a new arrival. It’s especially important to identify and eliminate potential electrical hazards since these can cause serious harm. Fortunately, injuries are often preventable by taking the following precautions and addressing concerns with a professional electrician. 

How to Baby-Proof for Electrical Safety

1. Cover Unused Outlets 

Once babies begin crawling, there’s a risk of them sticking their fingers or other objects inside exposed outlets. To avoid electrocution, it’s best to place plastic plugs into any sockets that aren’t being used. These are difficult for children to remove and will help keep them from making contact with an electrical current. You may also use outlet plates or covers, which both allow sockets to remain functional while making them inaccessible to kids. 

2. Keep Electrical Cords Tucked Away 

Cords that run along the floor pose tripping hazards, and dangling cords can be tempting for small children to pull on, wrap around their neck, or put in their mouth. To prevent injuries, always keep electrical cords out of sight or neatly stored. You can strategically hide them behind furniture, use a cord shortener, or invest in cord covers that will hold multiple cords together. Power strip covers are also available to provide a barrier between your child and an excessive amount of electricity. 

3. Consider Installing New Fixtures 

It’s common for older structures to have faulty wiring, light switches, or receptacles, increasing the risk of fire. A qualified electrician can help determine if there are any of these types of electrical problems in your home and provide recommendations for updating your system. For example, installing tamper-resistant and ground fault circuit interrupter receptacles will provide your family with another level of protection against unsafe currents. An electrician may also suggest replacing lamps with more overhead light fixtures to reduce the number of cords around. 

Trust the professionals at Bunnell Electric to help protect your growing family from electrical accidents. These highly trained and skilled electricians are equipped to perform a thorough inspection of your home’s electrical system and will provide quality solutions for any issues that need to be taken care of. Having served residents across the Greater Cincinnati, OH area since 1982, this family-owned business is dedicated to ensuring the safety and comfort of every client. Call (513) 779-8778 to schedule an appointment, or visit them online for more information about their services.