A new warning has been published telling parents to ditch one baby proofing product that millions have been using in their homes for years, with experts claiming it can do more harm than good

Parents have been warned about the dangers of one baby-proofing product found in millions of households across the UK.

Plug protectors are commonly used by worried parents to protect them against the dangers of electric shocks but it has now been revealed they are in fact more dangerous than first thought. A report by consumer choice website Which? has urged parents to part ways with the safety tool after fears were raised they do more harm than good.

This is down to the design of the protectors which blocks the existing safety mechanism inside UK plug sockets. The usual British 13 amp socket found in homes is already safe, and features plastic shutters which close when the socket is empty. The shutter is designed to provide a barrier from the 230 volts of electricity that could shock tots who look to investigate plugs unknowingly.

However, it has been found that tools like plastic plug protectors can actually leave these shutters open, creating an increased threat to children's safety. Experts at the Consumer Choice website have also said if the protector is installed incorrectly, by putting it in upside down or if it snaps, it can cause more damage to the shutter on the socket.

Electricians have also warned that plug protectors can even damage the internal connections and increase the risk of electrical arcing which can lead to melted or singed sockets. As well as electricians, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the NHS have warned people about the dangers of the tools. "It is understandable that we want to do all we can to protect our children from the dangers of electricity and can therefore understand why people are attracted to plug socket covers," Steve Cole, director of policy, campaigns and public affairs at RoSPA, said.

"However, the truth is that they can be more dangerous than having a bare socket."

"That’s why we agree with Which?’s latest report, and that the safest approach to childproofing your electrical outlets is essentially to leave them untouched," he added, The Sun reports. The Electrical Safety Foundation (ESF) also told The Sun it recommends parents not to use the devices. The statement said: "The ESF recommends avoiding the usage of removable outlet covers.

"A study conducted by Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, USA, found that 100% of all two- to four-year-olds were able to remove one type of plastic outlet covers within 10 seconds."

Parents are now being encouraged to teach children about the dangers of plugs instead of simply using the covers which heightens the risk. Consumer rights expert at Which? Harry Kind, said: "If you are concerned about young children around plug sockets, we recommend that you pack your electric cables neatly away and as far out of reach as possible." He added: “You might also want to turn off any outlets you're not using, or block them off using large furniture pieces such as a sofa.”

It is now seen as best practice to just leave the electrical outlets, rather than covering them up. Another consumer expert, Martyn James, has suggested parents look at things from a baby's perspective. "We as adults tend to look down on things we don't tend to look and look up like a baby does," he said.

"The things that we tend to overlook because they look safe on first grounds, are probably the first things that your child will use to haul themselves up into a standing position."

He added: "Those are the things that you need to check. Ask yourself, is this going to topple over and squish the baby or is this going to break open?"