Power Point Covers and Child Safety: What Works in NSW

Power point covers are a sensible, low-cost way to stop small hands reaching unused outlets, but they are only one layer of protection. Choose a cover that suits Australian outlets, check the approval marking on anything you plug in, and keep cords out of reach. If an outlet is cracked, loose, hot or sparking, a cover is not the fix. That outlet needs a licensed electrician.

Below we cover what the official guidance says, how to pick and fit a cover, where covers fall short, and when to call us.

TL;DR

• Cover unused power points with a suitable safety cover or childproof plug. NSW and Victorian safety bodies recommend this, but a cover never replaces supervision.
• Covers do not fix faults. A loose, cracked, buzzing, warm or tingling outlet must be isolated and checked by a licensed electrician.
• Cords, overloaded power boards, water and damaged appliances are often the bigger risk around children.
• In NSW, electrical articles that must be approved need a permanent approval mark on the article itself, not only on the packaging.
• Never remove a wall plate or change wiring yourself. If you want shuttered outlets installed, hire a licensed electrician and ask for the Certificate of Compliance.

Table of Contents

• Why unused power points matter around children
• What NSW and other safety bodies recommend
• Types of power point covers
• How to choose a cover that suits Australian homes
• What the new socket standard means for you
• Fitting a cover safely, step by step
• When a cover is the wrong answer
• Beyond the cover: the rest of the room
• Our perspective: covers help, but the circuit behind them matters
• Landlords, property managers and strata
• Need a Sydney electrician to check your outlets?
• FAQ
• Sources

Why unused power points matter around children

Energy Safe Victoria says electrical injuries in children are most commonly caused by poking objects into appliances or unused power points, or by playing with appliances. That matches what toddlers do. They explore with fingers, toys, keys and hairpins, and they pull on anything dangling.

Modern Australian outlets are designed so that fingers cannot easily reach live parts. Even so, the official advice is to cover unused outlets, because a determined child with an object is a different test from a finger. The guidance is qualitative: it recommends covers, but it does not promise a guaranteed protection rate for any one design. Treat a cover as a useful barrier, not a guarantee.

What NSW and other safety bodies recommend

The NSW Government’s guidance on avoiding electrical accidents and Energy Safe Victoria both point to the same basics:

1. Fit safety covers or childproof plugs in unused power points.
2. Keep cords and appliances out of children’s reach.
3. Check cords, plugs, switches and outlets regularly, and replace damaged equipment.
4. Keep electrical appliances away from water.
5. Where plugs must stay within reach, use a power board with a built-in safety switch, as Energy Safe Victoria recommends.

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network adds a practical point in its baby-proofing advice: children climb furniture to reach outlets, pull low-hanging leads and get at appliances left plugged in. The whole setup matters, not just the wall plate.

Types of power point covers

There are three common styles. Each suits a different situation.

A box-style cover is useful because it protects an outlet with a plug already in it, and it stops children pulling the plug out. For example, Kidsafe NSW lists a power point safety cover at $17.95 including GST that covers outlets whether or not they are in use. It has a clear top and a cover held by two child-resistant catches. Prices change, so check the current listing.

How to choose a cover that suits Australian homes

When you shop, check these points:

• Australian outlets. Australian plugs have angled flat pins, so a cover made for another country’s outlets will not seat properly. Confirm the product is intended for Australian 230/240 V installations.
• Approval information. For regulated electrical articles, NSW Fair Trading says approval marks must be permanently on the article, and a marking on the packaging alone is not enough. If the seller cannot show it, do not buy. This matters most for power boards, chargers and other plug-in products. Simple covers may not fall in that category, so ask the seller.
• Do not trust “Australian standard” wording alone. Overseas marketplace listings sometimes use the phrase without evidence. Look for the actual marking and a seller you can contact.
• Child-resistant fastening. A cover that falls off or can be flicked open with one finger does little.
• Fit and visibility. A clear cover lets you see if the power is on without removing it.
• Stock. Hardware stores and baby-product retailers stock covers, but availability varies by store and date. Check current stock with the retailer before you make a trip.

What the new socket standard means for you

Standards Australia published AS/NZS 3112:2025 on 21 November 2025. It sets requirements and test methods for plugs and socket-outlets. WorkSafe Queensland reports an application date of 21 November 2027. The revision includes requirements for socket outlets with additional protection such as shutters or covers.

What does that mean for a parent? Nothing urgent. Your existing outlets are not suddenly unsafe. But if you are a landlord, builder or property manager specifying new outlets, ask your electrician which version applies to the product being installed rather than relying on a generic “child safe” label.

Fitting a cover safely, step by step

Fitting a plug-in or box-style cover is not electrical work. It does not involve the wiring behind the wall. Do it carefully:

1. Inspect the outlet first. Look for cracks, discolouration, a loose faceplate or scorch marks. If you see any, stop and read the next section.
2. Turn off the switch at the outlet before you fit or remove a cover, and grasp the plug rather than the cord when removing it.
3. Fit the cover firmly so it cannot be pulled off with one tug.
4. Route cords so they do not hang within reach, and keep cable ties and spare leads out of children’s hands.
5. Re-check regularly. Kids learn quickly, and covers wear or crack.

Never remove a wall plate, alter wiring or swap in a replacement outlet as a childproofing measure. NSW requires qualified electrical work and a Certificate of Compliance, and you can check an electrician’s licence on the NSW Fair Trading website or by calling 13 32 20.

When a cover is the wrong answer

A cover hides the opening. It does not repair the outlet behind it. Stop using the power point and call a licensed electrician if it is:

• cracked, broken or loose in the wall
• warm, hot or discoloured
• sparking, buzzing or crackling
• giving a tingle when touched or when you plug something in

NSW guidance says a damaged power point should be covered while you wait for an electrician, and children must keep away from live plug pins. Keep the area clear, switch the circuit off at the switchboard if you can do so safely, and keep children out of the room.

For a live fault, our emergency electricians are available 24/7, and our team can run electrical fault finding to locate the cause rather than just replace the faceplate.

Beyond the cover: the rest of the room

The baby-proofing basics from Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and the NSW Government apply to every room. In practice, walk through your home at a child’s height:

• Power boards. Place them out of reach, never daisy-chained, and avoid overloading them. Choose one with a built-in safety switch if the plugs cannot be kept out of reach.
• Cords. Shorten or tidy dangling leads. Children pull them, chew them and trip on them.
• Appliances. Unplug or switch off kettles, toasters, heaters and chargers when not in use. After a power failure, switch off heating appliances, because fires have been caused when power returned unexpectedly, as the NSW Government notes.
• Water. Keep appliances away from bathrooms, sinks and pools.
• Furniture. Place beds, cots and climbable furniture away from outlets.

If you are working through a full childproofing plan, this two-phase babyproofing checklist can help you sequence the job across the first months.

Our perspective: covers help, but the circuit behind them matters

We are a Level 2 electrical contractor, and most of the calls we take about children and power points have the same story. A parent bought covers, then noticed something about the outlet itself: a faceplate that moves, a warm patch, a burning smell, a switch that crackles. The cover was never the problem. The wiring or the fitting was.

Our view is simple. Use covers on every unused outlet in rooms where children play or sleep. Keep them as one layer. Then have the electrical system behind them checked, especially in older Sydney homes, rentals and anywhere renovations have been done. A safety inspection will look at the things a cover cannot: outlet condition, circuit protection and the switchboard. Ask us to test your safety switches too, as part of our electrical maintenance work.

We would rather you call us about an outlet that turns out to be fine than leave a warm one covered. We give a 10-minute callback guarantee for urgent calls, and we offer free site inspections for Level 2 work.

— Christopher

Landlords, property managers and strata

If you manage rentals or strata properties, a child-safety complaint about an outlet is a maintenance item with a compliance angle. A loose or cracked outlet should be treated as a fault, repaired by a licensed electrician and documented. NSW Fair Trading identifies the Certificate of Compliance as the record that work was tested and safe, so keep it with the property file.

A scheduled rental property electrical inspection is a tidy way to catch worn outlets, missing safety switches and damaged fittings before a tenant with a toddler reports them. If an inspection turns up defects, our team handles electrical repairs and defect rectification across Sydney.

Need a Sydney electrician to check your outlets?

If you are childproofing a home, nursery or rental and want certainty about what is behind the wall, High Demand Electrical can help. We are a certified Level 2 contractor serving homes, businesses and strata across Sydney, with over 300 five-star reviews, 24/7 emergency support and discounts for seniors. Start with our safety inspection service, or reach us through the High Demand Electrical home page for anything urgent.

FAQ

Are power point covers safe for children?

Well-made covers reduce access to unused outlets, and safety bodies in NSW and Victoria recommend them. They are not a guarantee. Small plug-in blanks can be pulled out and mouthed by toddlers, so choose a design that is hard to remove, and keep supervising.

How do I cover power points from kids?

Put a suitable safety plug or cover in every unused outlet and use a box-style cover over outlets with a plug in them. Then tidy cords and keep power boards out of reach. Do not remove wall plates or change any wiring yourself.

Does Bunnings sell baby-proof power point covers?

Stock varies by store and date, so check with your local store before you go. Whichever retailer you use, look for clear fitting information for Australian outlets and, for plug-in electrical products, a permanent approval marking on the product itself.

What if my power point is already damaged?

Stop using it and keep children away from it. Cover it while you wait, switch off the circuit if it is safe to do so, and call a licensed electrician. A cracked, loose, hot, sparking or tingling outlet is a fault, not a childproofing issue.

Can I have shuttered outlets installed?

Yes, but it must be done by a licensed electrician, who should give you a Certificate of Compliance. Ask which outlet type and standard version suits your installation.

Sources

• Avoiding electrical accidents, NSW Government
• Safety labels for electrical goods, NSW Government
• Electrical safety requirements and consumer rights, NSW Government
• Using electricity safely, Energy Safe Victoria
• Baby proofing the house, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
• AS/NZS 3112:2025, Standards Australia Store
• Updated Australian Standard for socket outlets, WorkSafe Queensland
• Micky Ha Ha Power Point Safety Cover, Kidsafe NSW