Ensure your kid’s safety with our phone jacks baby proofing guide. Discover why phone jacks are dangerous for babies and how to use phone jack covers.
You can baby proof a phone jack with safety covers, cord concealers, and strategic furniture arrangement. Because of the electrical shock and strangulation risks, you should make your phone jacks secure for your little one. Regularly check if the safety measures remain secure as your child grows and explores.
As a father of two tiny tornados, I understand the urgency that goes along with the words “baby proofing.” Let’s be honest. Every corner of our house suddenly looks like a danger zone. And yes, that includes the unassuming phone jack!
Yes, that old landlines things nobody used anymore! But as any parent can attest, if there’s a random thing in the house, my kids will find it, and the phone jack is no exception. And while they may look harmless, risks are involved, especially for curious little fingers.
This article will cover the followings:
Let’s start by talking about the danger.
To fully proof your home, make sure you get the babyproofing equipment from this list!
Are Phone Jacks Dangerous for Babies and Toddlers
My youngest once tried to stick a half-chewed gummy bear into our phone jack, true story. Seems harmless, right? But believe me, these innocuous-looking little slots are full of potential perils. Let’s talk about why phone jacks are not the amusement zone your child thinks they are.
#1 – Electrical Shocks
While phone jack sockets might not seem as obviously dangerous as power outlets, don’t be fooled. They carry their own set of risks. Under normal circumstances, your typical phone jack socket has a relatively low voltage, around 48 volts DC, when the phone isn’t in use. This ramps up to approximately 90 volts AC when the phone rings. To put it into perspective, your standard electrical outlet in the U.S. supplies electricity at around 120 volts AC. That’s a big difference, but don’t let the numbers lull you into a false sense of security.
Although the voltage in a phone jack socket is lower than that in an electrical outlet, it’s still not a zone we want our little explorers venturing into. Remember, their bodies are smaller, and their skin is thinner than ours, which means even a small amount of electricity can cause a significant shock.
Once, my little ‘Miss Explorer,’ armed with tweezers from his mom’s makeup bag, decided to explore our phone jack socket. My heart still does the samba, remembering that close call. We can all agree that we don’t want our little ones to learn about electricity the hard way.
#2 – Strangulation Hazards
Our tiny creatives have a knack for transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary. A phone cord? It’s not just a boring wire connected to the wall. It’s a lasso, a jungle vine, a snake! This is where there’s a potential danger lurking.
The danger lies not only in children wrapping cords around their necks but also in getting entangled while playing. Kids move fast. One minute, they’re playing with the cord. The next, they could be tangled up in it.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission states that cords within a child’s reach pose a serious strangulation hazard. And phone cords attached to those uncovered phone jack sockets are no exception.
#3 – Choking Hazards
Let’s set the scene. It’s a quiet Tuesday afternoon. You’ve managed to grab a moment of peace, and your mini adventurer has discovered the phone jack socket on the wall. Their little fingers are just the right size to fiddle with it, to remove the plug, and voila! On the floor is a shiny pin with a metallic clip. A fascinating new toy ripe for exploration.
That’s where the danger lies. Small, shiny objects like phone plug clips can become serious choking hazards if they make their way into your toddler’s hands and then into their mouths as toddlers are wont to do.
Did you know that according to a study by the National Safety Council
, choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death? Therefore, choking is a very real risk for our little ones, and our job as parents is to minimize those risks as much as possible. That includes those tiny, innocent-looking phone jacks.
I’ve been there myself. When my youngest, let’s call her ‘Lady Explorer,’ started to crawl, she made a beeline for our phone jack socket. I didn’t even realize it was within her reach until I saw her there, tiny fist clenched around the shiny phone plug she’d managed to dislodge. It was a wake-up call, I’ll tell you that!
#4 – Damage to the Phone Jack
There’s a certain irony in that our little ones, as innocent as they are, can transform into tiny demolition crews when curiosity takes hold. While built to withstand daily use, phone jack sockets aren’t quite up to the challenge of a toddler’s curious explorations.
Forceful attempts to insert non-compatible items, overzealous yanking of the phone cord, or even seemingly innocent drooling can cause damage. Not only can this lead to a loss of phone connectivity (which can be dangerous in cases of emergency), but it could also turn into a potential safety hazard with exposed wires and components.
And we can’t ignore the potential cost of these damages. And let’s be honest, with all the baby expenses, we don’t need any added financial surprises, do we?
Our role as parents is not just to react to danger but to anticipate it. Baby proofing can sometimes feel like you’re the main act in a circus juggling show. Still, every step we take is towards a safer environment for our children to explore.
How to Baby Proof a Phone Jack
Here’s where our baby proofing adventure really kicks off. And by the time we’re done, not even a baby Houdini could outsmart our defenses. From safety covers to strategic furniture arrangements and more, we’ll explore all avenues of fortification.
However, the goal here is not to turn your home into a fortress but to create an environment where your little one can explore freely without turning your heartbeat into a drumroll.
First, Evaluate Your Home for Phone Jack Safety
- Location: The first thing we need to examine is the location of the phone jack socket. Is it within reach of our mini superheroes? Is it near their favorite play area? For instance, our phone jack socket was next to my son’s beloved Lego fortress. I knew it was a recipe for disaster waiting to happen!
- The Need for Speed Dial: Let’s ask ourselves: Do we really need that phone jack socket? Is it still serving a purpose, or has it turned into a glorified wall ornament? In our house, we realized that our mobile phones were doing all the heavy lifting and the landline was gathering dust.
- The Child Factor: Our child’s age and activity level play a crucial role. My friend, Simon’s children are like dolls, happy to sit with picture books. While my kids have the energy, the Tasmanian Devil!
Next, Select the Ideal Baby Proofing Options for Your Phone Jacks
These little gems are easy to install and are designed to keep those tiny fingers from accessing the jack socket. The best part? They’re not just childproof but dad-proof too – easy to remove by adults, not so much by our miniature explorers!
For more information, including price, check out the Phone Jack Safety Cover on Amazon here!
A blank wall plate can be a perfect solution if you’re not using the phone jack socket. It covers the socket completely, removing the temptation altogether. It’s like it was never there!
For more information, including price, check out the Blank Wall Plate on Amazon here!
A cord concealer is a must-have if you’ve got a phone cord hanging around. It hides the cable and prevents the ‘lassoing cowboy’ or ‘intrepid jungle explorer’ games. My ‘Little Acrobat’ would vouch for its effectiveness if he could!
For more information, including price, check out the Cord Concealer on Amazon here!
High Mounting
If you still need to use the phone jack socket, consider relocating it higher up on the wall, out of reach of your mini mountaineer. You might need to hire a professional, but the result will look great.
Looking for a quick or temporary solution? Here are some DIY baby proofing ideas!
DIY Baby Proofing Ideas for Phone Jacks
As a DIY enthusiast’s dad, I’ve got a couple of tricks up my sleeve. So, let’s get creative!
- Furniture Arrangement: Sometimes, the simplest solutions are right under our noses. Rearranging furniture to block access can be a quick and cost-effective fix. Just make sure the furniture itself is secured to prevent toppling over.
- Crafty Covers: Create a makeshift phone jack cover if you have a spare outlet cover. You remove the original plate, place the outlet cover over it, and screw it back in. It’s not perfect since the phone socket and electrical outlet are the same size. Also, since the phone socket and electrical outlet holes are not aligned, the phone socket will be covered.
- Reuse and Recycle: Ever thought of turning old plastic containers into protective shields? You can secure an old plastic box (think of those baby wipe containers) over the phone jack socket. Just make sure to smooth out any sharp edges.
- The Magic of Velcro: Velcro strips can do wonders! Use them to secure cords and wires along baseboards or behind furniture, keeping them out of sight and reach. Yes, the same
Now, what about duct tape? The ever-handy, multi-purpose, fix-it-all in the world of DIY. I’ve used it to fix many things around the house, and it’s been a lifesaver. But duct tape may not be your best friend when it comes to baby proofing, particularly for phone jack sockets. Duct tape leaves behind a sticky residue that can be a real pain. Also, With time, duct tape can peel off or lose its stickiness, making it an unreliable baby proofing solution. Not to mention, it could be a more aesthetic choice.
Conclusion
Remember, the idea is not to eliminate all risks (we’re not raising our kids in a bubble) but to minimize the dangers in their exploration zone. After all, our homes are their first playgrounds, and we want them to enjoy every second of their adventures while keeping our hearts out of our throats.
As you look around your home, maybe with a fresh cup of coffee in hand or a child tugging at your leg, remember there are immediate steps you can take. Whether rearranging furniture, securing phone jack covers, or assessing the need for that phone jack, these small actions can make a big difference.
However, remember this key advice: keeping up with your child’s development is essential. Today, they’re eyeing that phone jack. Tomorrow, it could be the kitchen cabinets or the stair railing.
Stay vigilant, and keep adapting. Your journey as your child’s safety guardian is continuous and ever-evolving.
To fully proof your home, make sure you get the babyproofing equipment from this list!