To wonder why the dangers of socket covers are not well known

[TinylittleElf]

Just watched a video of how dangerous they can be on fatally flawed website, i had no idea and am really suprised have promptly removed all the covers from around the house. Why is this not better known id always read that they should be used in baby books etc

YANBU - I was given loads of them by the Children's Centre (Surestart) for free about 18 months ago, they are promoted there. I had no idea they were anything other than an essential safety device until I read about how they can actually increase the danger of plug sockets on here!

I didn't know about them till I read about it on MN and now rabbit on about it to whoever will listen when babyproofing comes up.

I think MNers are fairly clued up about it but they're still endorsed elsewhere and I've never met a HV yet who isn't baffled by me not using them. They need to educate children's centres and hvs, plus midwives. It would be quick to spread the word. They gave me all sorts of crappy leaflets whilst pregnant. One explaining the dangers, plus no hand outs of free socket covers from the surestart centre and you'd see a massive change in understanding.

Eh? Why? Is this a joke?

someone pops up on mn every 6 months to share their outrage about why the dangers of socket covers aren't known. I don't have any, because my empty sockets are all hidden behind furniture and the ones visible have something plugged in. Never saw the point in them anyway.

whats the danger?

Never heard of this...

What I don't understand is why people use them in the first place. I've never heard of a child shocking themselves from a socket and besides they are made these days so accidental shocks are virtually impossible.. it reminds me of those pointless bath plugs they sold a few years ago to prevent spiders climbing up the plughole...

Because sockets really aren't that dangerous either way... That socket covers make UK sockets more dangerous (but not sockets in most of the rest of the world) doesn't really matter as it makes something that is extremely safe, slightly less safe but still pretty safe so it's not something that it's particularly worth devoting a lot of effort trying to convince people otherwise.

That said HV's etc should be made aware.

See www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

Read what's wrong with them here

im not 'sharing my outrage' just genuinely didnt know and presumed sockets were dangerous, discussing this with others will surely get the word out there but i do think it should be hv's etc that are doing the sharing.

We have just adopted 2 toddlers and it was part of our health and safety check that we had to have covers. I had read about the advice now being not to but was told doesnt matter they have to tick the box!

I knew they were a bloody daft idea as my Dad (electician for 20+yrs) told me not to get them when DS was a crawling baby 5yrs ago and I was muttering about babyproofing.

We've never used them and binned the ones we bought.

I had no idea.

Having said that a cooker fire guard bought from a well know supplier of baby items by us to keep our DC safe - the registered gas checker stated was unsafe and unfit for purpose and showed us where it despite being fitted properly had already melted.

So perhaps I should have investigated further.

I never knew this :-0

...and I am the fussiest mum on the planet with definite pfb tendencies

I dismissed my dh's ramblings about this 7 years ago! He told me they were pointless verging on dangerous but I ignored him.

Still not told him he was right but willl no doubt have to when this baby starts crawling and the issue comes up again!

I never used them, pointless really. Didn't realise they could be dangerous at the time though. I never saw the need.

Good to see that this issue is being discussed again on Mumsnet. Those who visited the website may have noticed that there is now an endorsement of FatallyFlawed's concerns by the leading manufacturer of UK sockets, MK. It is way past time for the government to take action. Another group has started a petition on the government website, you can find it here: epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36699

I get that sockets aren't all that dangerous but why do covers make them more dangerous? Are other things plugged into sockets dangerous? One of those plug-in air-fresheners?

CogitoErgoSometimes because socket covers are not plugs - they're not the right shape often, and you can install them upside down - meaning that the flaps that are controlled by the earth hole open providing open access to the live terminals. So a child you can remove a cover - pretty easy - could also then insert it again upside down - and then poke something metal into the now open holes.

Also many of them are again not the right shape and allow you to poke things past the covers and into the holes.

It's very,very unlikely - but given that you have to spend money and make an effort to use covers, it's very silly to do it when there's no benefit.

I just bought some, as ds3 is always flicking the switches and I didn't want him poking things into the wholes. Why are they dangerous?

Sorry xposts

A child would find them very hard to remove - I struggled!!!

I agree with RedHelenB. The covers I had (part of a pack of various safety things) were buggers to prise off again so I didn't bother. No child would have managed those.