Plug Socket Woes

[EdPops]

Hi - I just want to get a sense check on this and see I'm over-reacting or not...

We have a 22 month old boy who's fascinated by the household hoover and loves acting out cleaning with it. Perfectly fine

However, my OH keeps showing him how to plug it into the wall socket so he can turn it on and off himself. This terrifies me as my logic says... if he understands the concept of plugging things in = fun-times, but not necessarily the dangers of electricity, it's only a matter of time before he sticks something in he shouldn't.

My OH on the other hand argues that its in fact teaching him how to safely plug things in. Argument ensues...

Be keen to hear your thoughts.

I wouldn't be encouraging a child that age to play with plug sockets.

Maybe play out worst case scenarios with DH?

You encourage him to play with plug sockets: he gets an electric shock and dies.

You don't teach him how to plug things in: he can't hoover independently at the age of 2!

As shameful as it is to have a 2 year old who can't hoover independently, I think I'd rather that than the alternative!

I've only just started telling my six year old to plug and unplug stuff herself. Up till then plug sockets were only for grown-ups to touch. Two year old shouldn't be touching them. I'd get him a toy Hoover - you can get ones with real suction. He'll learn to vacuum and he can learn about plugging the real one in when he's bigger.

DD was a socket and hoover fiend from about 9 months. Now with things like the hoover she's allowed to get the plug and stand by the socket waiting for one of us, if she touched the socket she wouldn't be allowed to help with the hoover.

She doesn't need to plug things in because that's not a job for a small child. She also likes looking under the car bonnet, I'm not letting her check the oil anytime soon. Your DH needs to learn about age appropriate tasks.

@NuffSaidSam

I wouldn't be encouraging a child that age to play with plug sockets.

Maybe play out worst case scenarios with DH?

You encourage him to play with plug sockets: he gets an electric shock and dies.

You don't teach him how to plug things in: he can't hoover independently at the age of 2!

As shameful as it is to have a 2 year old who can't hoover independently, I think I'd rather that than the alternative!

🤣🤣yep, this, all the way!!!

@EdPops. At your DS's age all they need to know about plug sockets is 'don't touch'.

UK sockets are the safest in the world. You can't electrocute yourself by sticking something in one of the holes, unless you stick something all the way into the top hole at the same time.

I don't think that plugging a plug in a socket leads to trying to push other things in, but I am not sure that I would be explicitly encouraging it yet either.

Whatever you do, don't get any of those plug in "safety" covers, they make sockets more dangerous.

www.pat-testing-training.net/articles/socket-covers.php

'You can't electrocute yourself by sticking something in one of the holes, unless you stick something all the way into the top hole at the same time.'

This is why what the OP's DH is doing is so dangerous! He's teaching him to put plugs in. What do plugs have? Three prongs so that something is all the way into the top hole at the same time as the bottom two holes! It would be safer if he was encouraging him to put his fingers/a pencil into the socket.

It's not just about the risk of electrocuting though - what if he sees OPs hair straighteners/curling wand, thinks I'll plug that in and they get switched on in the process and you end up with a melted carpet or worse. I ruined a kettle once because I switched it on by accident with no water in and I'm late 30s, who knows what havoc an enthusiastic toddler could wreck.

Far too young to be teaching how to plug things in. Your oh is being a muppet

@TheSmallAssassin is perfectly correct!