Baby-proofing plug sockets

[MxK]

My LO has just started getting around himself in the last couple of days and has instantly taken an interest in any visible sockets and switches (of course).
I was going to just buy some of those plastic things you plug into the socket but a few people I know (and a few things I've now read) say these are actually more dangerous than just leaving them uncovered because of the way the socket works?? Has anyone else heard this??

Yes they make plug sockets more dangerous in this country (assuming you are in the UK)
Leave them uncovered and distracted your child away if necessary.

Yep, in the UK they're not really needed. If your socket is in good working order - not cracked and showing exposed wires etc. - then the danger is that the socket covers can break really easily and leave a plastic prong stuck in the safety 'hole' and then it's much more likely that someone could then put 2 metal objects into the 2 other holes and create a circuit.

Yes, they're dangerous assuming you're in the UK.

The way a plug socket works, is the 2 bottom holes are not live until the top hole has a pin in it. So poking something in a bottom hole will do nothing.

If you out a socket cover on, the top hoke will have a pin in it and then should baby poke anything in down the side of a wonky/damaged/poorly fitting socket cover, it will be live.

This website has some pictures of how sockets work on the inside and explains the problems with covers. https://www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

Read this, it explains why they're not required.

www.fatallyflawed.org.uk/

If you're that worried, then the best thing to do is get the full box socket covers and fit those over the whole socket plate instead.

DO NOT do this in the UK. Thank goodness our are safer. And the socket covers makes them less safe.

Yes the UK plug is a beautiful thing (I'm an electrical engineer and beauty is in the eye of the beholder!). Its already been designed to be safe and those awful plastic covers are pointless at best and bloody dangerous at worst. I honestly don't understand why they are not banned.

Thanks everyone, you’ve set my mind at ease 😊I’ll maybe just get some of the bigger covers for the sockets in his room and leave the rest as I haven’t noticed any dodgy or problematic-looking ones.
Yeah we’re in the UK but theres just so much different advice and what you might call the “official” guidance tells you to use the little plug things! Absolutely shocking that they’re still telling people that when there’s evidence to the contrary 🙄

Agree with all the others - definitely don’t use 😊 lots of distraction and an ideal opportunity to start teaching “no” 😊
Welcome to the parenting stage of needing eyes in the back of your head 😅😂 it’s amazing how fast something so small can move!

I don't know what you mean by official guidance saying to use them? From where?

Here's advice from the department of health saying that they're dangerous and they shouldn't be used.

ETA link (open orange underlined link for pdf) as pic blurry! https://foundationyears.org.uk/2016/10/dfe-note-on-the-use-of-electrical-plug-socket-coversinserts-in-early-years-provision-in-england/

So does the design of our sockets mean that if a child pokes a thin screw driver into any of the pin holes, they will not touch a live wire? I once found my eldest son, aged about 18 months, trying to poke the small screwdrivers you get in Christmas crackers into a socket! I was convinced he was about to get electrocuted!

He was a devil child in many ways, always messing around with things he found in the house causing damage! Even his toddler plastic fork ended up being posted in the video recorder slot where the tapes went and a wax crayon hidden under one of the fake coals on the gas fire - fortunately I found it before it was lit!

@Ihateslugs

I think it's not impossible, but you have to do two holes at least at once

Yes that is correct, the socket is designed so that it is not possible to touch a live wire in this situation.

If the child poked the screwdriver into the live or neutral they would be stopped by the shutters. If they poke it into the earth then there is no current.

The earth pin has to go in to open the shutters, so you son could electrocute himself with TWO very thin screwdrivers but thats quite a lot of fine motor coordination for a baby/toddler.

This is why the covers are so dangerous, they provide a tool that can be used to open the shutters via the earth pin. An example of this was cheap covers where the pins can be snapped off easily, the cover can the be put in upside down and leave the live pins exposed and accessible.

Thank you so much for such a clear explanation, I understand it now.