Many parents use this appliance to protect their young children, however it's been shown to cause more damage than to prevent it.

When you've babies coming into the house, it's hard to remember what to safeguard and proof in your house so they don't get their little fingers stuck anywhere they shouldn't be. Spotted on IrishMirror, the usage of plug sockets that most Irish parents use to safeguard plugs have been proven as being hazardous. The Clogher Valley Sure Start Facebook page, a project founded to help the parents of babies and toddlers have advised parents to not use safety plugs as they've been deemed a fire risk. The plastic covers, which many of us use as a way to cover electrical sockets have been connected with starting fires. The post advised parents in getting rid of the safety plugs.

"It has been brought to our attention by the Southern Health and Social Services Trust that Socket Covers pose as a Fire Risk. "We have been asked to pass on this message to all our families to highlight the danger. Please remove these covers to prevent a fire in your home.!"

The project has told parents to use a plastic cover which goes over plugs instead, rather than the traditional white sockets. David Peacock, a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology supported the claims.

"In recent years, many companies have been marketing plastic 'safety socket covers' in the misguided belief that these are an essential tool to prevent children from inserting their fingers or other objects into plug sockets. "It has now been established that plug-in covers are actually unsafe."