How To Baby Proof Phone Jack
Electrical connectors pose a potential danger to children. If you want to baby proof phone jack, you are not weird or paranoid, you are doing your noble duty as a parent, and that is to provide a safe environment for them.
Once kids become mobile, they are full of curiosity, and they will want to play with anything and everything in the house, including dangerous things like electricity. With that in mind, you should take away or baby proof anything that might harm them.
Phone jacks and any other electrical outlet in the house pose the danger of electric shock and, worse, electrocution. Therefore, to protect your innocent and exploring child, you should baby proof it as soon as the baby shows signs of moving around.
Now that you understand the importance of baby proofing the phone jack let us educate you on how to do it. Here are different ways to baby proof the phone jack:
Outlet covers
Outlet covers are designed to cover the whole outlet to prevent the baby from accessing the outlet, unplugging the cords, and sticking their fingers inside. The covers do not prevent the baby from reaching the sockets, but you are assured that they cannot open them hence maximum safety.
Outlet covers feature a dual press child-resistant operation system to ensure that kids can never remove. However, removal and installation are very easy for adults.
Duct Tape
Another tested and proven way of baby proofing the phone jack is by covering it with duct tape. Duct tapes are readily available, you might even have one in the house, and even if you are to buy one, it will not cost you a lot.
Securing them with duct tape makes it hard for the clueless child to play with the jacks. Duct tapes are efficient, but with evolution, there are gadgets designed to childproof power outlets and that is what you should use. You should only use duct tape if you cannot afford any other baby proofing gadget.
Wall Plate
Wall plates are designed to replace existing cover plates, and they are made from polycarbonate thermoplastic for durability. These covers can withstand whatever impact or force applied to them. They are fade and heat resistant, ensuring that they do not get discolored over time.
Note that, for the wall plates to serve their purpose, they must be of the same configuration as the original wall plate.
Cover with Furniture
Most parents use furniture to keep electrical outlets out of kids’ reach, and you can apply the same with the phone outlet. With furniture, you do not have to spend any amount, but ensure that the weight of the furniture does not press on the cables to prevent malfunction.
Parents can go to any lengths to ensure that their kids are safe. As the kids start to move around, it is crucial to allow them to explore their new space and ensure that they are safe from dangers paused by electric connectors like phone jacks.
Finding a long-lasting and practical solution for electrical outlets and connectors can be very difficult, but your phone jack baby proofing struggles are sorted with the tips discussed above.
For adjustments on electrical outlets and connectors, it is important to consult with a professional electrician. Having the baby-proofing work done by a professional ensures safety for the baby and everyone in the house.
Why You Should Baby Proof Phone Jack
Baby proofing the phone jack is not a must, but you should do it for the following reasons:
Baby safety
Babies are attracted to everything in the house, and you will catch them playing with the phone jack not once or twice. The child faces the danger of electrocution if they remove the cables and insert their finger in the phone jack. Baby proofing the phone jack removes such risks and makes your home a safe environment to grow in.
Peace of mind
Children are naturally curious and active, and there is no way to tame their hyperactive nature. Even after teaching them that the power sockets and outlets are dangerous, there is no guarantee that they will stop reaching out to them.
If you choose to leave your power outlets bear, you will have sacrificed your peace of mind. Every time the child goes silent, you worry and run around because you will think that they are playing with the sockets. Baby proofing is the only sure way to avoid the potential risks and give you peace of mind.
Avoid inconveniences
Electronics are part of our daily lives, but they are not designed with baby safety in mind, and you will never realize this until you have a kid running around the house. If your child is messing up with the phone jack, the easiest solution will be disconnecting it until the child is old enough, but then, you cannot survive without a phone. Therefore, to avoid inconveniences and for the safety of everyone in the house, you should put in measures to make the phone jack safe for the baby.
See also how to baby proof floor lamp
FAQs on Baby Proof Phone Jack
Can babies get shocked by a phone jack?
Letting the baby play with the phone jack puts them at the risk of electric shock and possible electrocution. You might think that the power going through the phone jack is too little for electrocution, but there is no little or a lot of energy with electricity.
What happens if you stick your finger in a phone jack?
If babies stick their fingers in the phone jack, they will get electric shocks or electrocution. Human bodies are excellent conductors of electricity; therefore, you should never let your baby play with the phone jack.
Why do babies love power cables and sockets?
Babies are naturally curious, and therefore they are interested in everything and anything around the house. Other than curiosity, they might want to chew cables to sooth their teething gums. Chewing electric wires and sticking things in power outlets is fatal, and therefore, every parent should embrace baby proofing electrical connectors.
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