Electrical socket covers for children: which type is safest?
By the INJOOD team · Reviewed by Mohamed Abdelmoneim, occupational health and safety specialist (NEBOSH IGC, ISO 45001 Lead Auditor) · Last updated: 17 October 2026
The safest permanent solution is a factory tamper-resistant socket, with internal shutters that only open when both prongs go in together [14]. The quickest and cheapest solution is a plug-in cover, as long as it meets what the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) specifies: hard for a child to remove, and large enough that it can't be swallowed [1]. Sockets in Egypt are the round European type (Type C and F) [16],[17].
Why are sockets dangerous?
CPSC data point to more than 24,000 American children under 10 treated in emergency departments for socket injuries between 1991 and 2001, nearly 7 children a day [14], and half of them were aged two to three [15].
Comparing ways to protect sockets
| Type | How it works | Advantages | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plug-in cover | A plastic piece that blocks both holes of the socket | Cheap, no installation, easy to move | Protection stops if you forget to put it back after use, and in a Temple University study every child aged 2 to 4 easily removed one type of cover [14]. Choose a tight cover and test it yourself |
| Self-closing cover (fitted in place of the socket face) | A plate that covers the holes automatically after the plug is pulled out | Doesn't depend on you remembering to replace the cover | Needs fitting and the right size for the socket |
| Factory tamper-resistant socket | Internal shutters that only open when both prongs go in together [14] | The strongest permanent solution, and CPSC recommends it when replacing sockets [1] | Replacing the socket itself, by an electrician |
How to use socket covers correctly
- Cover every unused socket within your child's reach, especially those near the floor and next to the bed and sofa.
- Choose a cover that fits tightly and doesn't come out with a light pull. Try pulling it with your hand.
- After removing the cover to use the socket, put it back straight away, and don't leave it on the floor.
- Check the covers regularly, and replace any that have become loose.
- Keep extension leads and cables away from your child.
- If you are rewiring your home, ask the electrician for tamper-resistant sockets [1].
INJOOD socket covers
Electrical socket safety covers for kids – pack of 8 — EGP 199. A plug-in type, suitable for the round European sockets common in Egypt, sealing both holes tightly. Also included in the INJOOD kit – 7 pieces.
Frequently asked questions
Electrical socket covers: which type is safest?
In the long term, the safest are factory tamper-resistant sockets with internal shutters. Plug-in covers are a quick, cheap solution, and they work if they are tight, hard to remove, too large to swallow, and put back after every use.
Where can I find socket covers online in Egypt?
INJOOD (injood.com) is an Egyptian store for child-safety products. It sells a pack of 8 socket covers for EGP 199, with delivery to every governorate and cash on delivery.
Do the covers fit sockets in Egypt?
Yes. INJOOD's covers are designed for the round European sockets (Type C and F) used in Egypt.
How many covers do I need?
Count the sockets near the floor in the rooms your child goes into. A pack of 8 usually covers two or three rooms.