Why Plug Socket Safety Covers Might Actually Be Unsafe

You know those little white plastic covers we plug into sockets to “protect” our children? For years they’ve been sold as must-have baby safety products. But here’s the surprising truth — in the UK, plug socket safety covers can actually make sockets more dangerous.

I know, it sounds completely backwards. I once filled my house with them too, thinking I was doing the right thing. But after looking into it, I realised that those “safety covers” might not be so safe after all.

Let’s look at why.

UK plug sockets are already child-safe by design

Here’s the part most of us never learn when we become parents — modern UK plug sockets already have built-in safety shutters.

Since 1947, British Standard 1363 sockets have included an internal design that prevents fingers or objects from reaching the live electrical parts. The live and neutral openings stay securely closed unless the earth pin (the top one on a plug) is inserted.

That means a child can’t just poke something in and touch electricity. The shutter system physically stops them. It’s one of the reasons UK plug sockets are considered the safest in the world.

So, what happens when you add a safety cover?

How plug socket covers can make things worse

Many of the socket covers sold online don’t match the exact size or shape of real plugs. When pushed in, they can force open the internal shutters and even hold them open.

This completely defeats the built-in safety feature that makes UK sockets so safe in the first place.

Even worse, a badly sized cover can damage the socket’s contacts, making plugs fit loosely or sit unevenly. That can lead to overheating — a real fire risk.

Plastic inserts can also break or snap off inside, especially cheaper ones. Once jammed, they’re hard to remove and may leave the socket unusable.

It’s ironic, isn’t it? A product marketed to protect children can actually create the very danger it claims to prevent.

What the NHS and Department of Health say

This isn’t just a rumour shared on parenting forums. In 2016, the UK Department of Health and the NHS issued a safety alert recommending that plug socket covers should not be used in any care or residential setting.

Their exact wording was clear:

“In certain circumstances, the use of plastic 13A electrical socket inserts (sold as safety accessories) can overcome the safety features designed into socket outlets.”

They went on to say that all socket inserts “should be withdrawn and responsibly disposed of.”

In other words, the people responsible for public health and safety in the UK have formally warned against them.

You can still read the full alert here:
Electrical Safety Alert from the Department of Health (EFA/2016/002)

Why are they still being sold?

That’s the part that frustrates many parents. If these covers are unsafe, why can we still find them on the shelves of trusted baby shops and big retailers?

The short answer: there’s no law banning them. Retailers can legally sell plug socket covers because they’re classed as “consumer accessories,” not electrical equipment.

So shops like Boots and others continue to stock them, often describing them as a way to “keep curious fingers away from sockets.”

It’s easy to see why parents keep buying them. The packaging looks reassuring. The price is low. And the message appeals directly to our instinct to protect our children. But the science and the standards say otherwise.

What to do instead

If you’ve been using plug socket safety covers, don’t panic — but do remove them. Modern sockets are designed to be safe as they are.

Here’s what you can do to keep your home safe instead:

• Check your sockets: Make sure they’re modern BS 1363 types with internal shutters. If your home is very old, have an electrician confirm they meet current standards.
• Keep sockets tidy: Avoid overloaded extension leads and trailing cables that can be pulled or tripped over.
• Supervise play areas: Place furniture so small children can’t easily access sockets if you’re still concerned.
• Educate, don’t just block: As children get older, teach them what plugs are for and why they mustn’t touch them.

The hidden environmental cost

There’s another angle we rarely think about — plastic waste.

Most plug socket covers are made from cheap, non-recyclable plastic. Millions have been sold over the years, only to end up in bins when people learn they’re unnecessary.

Choosing not to buy them in the first place saves you money, avoids waste, and reduces unnecessary manufacturing — all small but meaningful steps toward a healthier, more sustainable home.

How this misconception spread

So how did we all end up believing these covers were essential?

It started in the early 2000s, when childproofing products became a booming industry. Retailers marketed “baby safety kits” full of gadgets — cupboard locks, corner cushions, and yes, socket covers.

The marketing worked brilliantly. The fear of electrical shock is powerful. Parents, wanting to do everything right, trusted those labels and photos of smiling babies.

Unfortunately, safety standards didn’t keep pace with marketing. By the time official bodies caught up, millions of homes already had these covers installed.

It’s a reminder to question what we’re sold in the name of safety — and to look for official guidance rather than marketing promises.

When socket covers might still appear useful

If you travel abroad, you’ll sometimes see plug socket covers sold for older socket types without shutters (especially in parts of Europe or Asia).

In those cases, the covers can still serve a purpose. But in the UK, where sockets must comply with BS 1363, they’re not just unnecessary — they’re potentially harmful.

So unless your sockets are very old or damaged, you don’t need any additional protection.

Final thoughts

As parents, we want our homes to be as safe as possible. That instinct is right — but sometimes the simplest approach is the safest.

UK plug sockets are already designed to protect children. Adding plastic covers can defeat that design and introduce new risks.

So if you’ve got them around the house, the kindest thing you can do — for your child and for the planet — is to remove them and recycle the plastic where possible.

Peace of mind doesn’t always come from buying more products. It comes from understanding how things actually work.