Re Electrical Switches

[Guest guest]

>my youngest has discovered the wonders of electical socket switches. We

have

socket covers, but we can't find anything to stop him playing with the

switches.

We used two different things.

The simplest is a thing called 'Universal Switch-Guard' it isn't designed

to be childproof, but would make flicking the switch more difficult and

probably take away enough of the 'fun' to stop it. It's a bit hard to

describe, but I'll try. There is a flat sheet of plastic(pretty thin) which

goes between the plug (or socket guard) and the socket - with holes for the

'legs' to poke through. Then it has a raised part which goes over the

switch. The plastic is flexible enough for you to be able to bend it out of

the way to operate the switch in an emergency. Two sideby side on a double

socket would really spoil the fun for little fingers. We're still using

them for things like the freezer and computer switch that you don't want

switched off by mistake when you are groping around behind a cupboard/desk!

I think these just came from a DIY or electrical shop and were pretty cheap.

The address on the ageing packet is Dezac Ltd, PO Box 17, Cheltenham, GL53

7BR.

The other thing we had worked more like the margarine tub idea, but has a

bracket that goes between the socket's faceplate and the wall and then the

box part clips over the top enclosing (normal sized) plugs. It clipps shut

and needs an adult hand size and strength to open it. We used this to

prevent little ones pulling out the mains plug for the answering machine and

phone in the hall. It came from around 8yrs ago and is called

'Socket Guard'. We don't have any further use for it, it's somewhat

discoloured white plastic, with some paint around the edges, but you would

be welcome to it if you mail me off list with your address.

HTH

Liz Goudie