If your baby is having a seizure right now, place them gently on a flat, safe surface, turn them onto their side, and time the seizure. Call 911 if it lasts longer than 5 minutes. Do not hold your baby down, and do not put anything in their mouth. Stay with them until the seizure stops and they are fully awake.
Most seizures in babies stop on their own within a few minutes. What matters most is keeping your baby safe during the episode and knowing what to watch for afterward.
What to Do During the Seizure
The moment you realize your baby is seizing, note the time. Knowing how long the seizure lasts is one of the most important pieces of information you can give a doctor later. If possible, use your phone to start a timer.
Gently lay your baby on a firm, flat surface like the floor or a crib mattress. Move away anything hard or sharp they could hit. Turn them onto their side so that saliva or vomit can drain from their mouth rather than blocking their airway. Do not try to hold their body still or restrain their movements in any way. This will not shorten the seizure and could injure your baby or you. Do not place a finger, spoon, cloth, or anything else into their mouth. Babies cannot swallow their tongues during a seizure, and objects in the mouth can damage teeth, gums, or the jaw.
Stay calm and stay close. If you can, use your phone to record a short video of what the seizure looks like. Doctors find this extremely helpful when figuring out what type of seizure occurred.
When to Call 911
Call emergency services immediately if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes. A seizure that continues past this point is considered a medical emergency, and medical teams will need to intervene to stop it safely.
You should also call 911 if:
- This is your baby’s first seizure ever
- Your baby has trouble breathing during or after the seizure
- Your baby’s skin turns blue, especially around the lips
- A second seizure starts shortly after the first one ends
- Your baby does not start waking up within a few minutes after the seizure stops
- Your baby was injured during the seizure
Even if the seizure stops quickly and your baby seems fine, a first-time seizure always warrants a call to your pediatrician. They will likely want to evaluate your baby promptly.
What Happens After the Seizure Stops
Once a seizure ends, babies enter a recovery phase where they may seem drowsy, confused, or unusually floppy. Your baby might fall into a deep sleep and be difficult to wake. This is normal and does not necessarily mean something is wrong. For febrile seizures (seizures triggered by fever), most children recover within about 18 to 30 minutes. Other types of seizures can have longer recovery periods, sometimes lasting one to several hours.
During this recovery window, keep your baby on their side and stay with them. Watch their breathing. Let them sleep if they need to, but gently check on them. As they come around, they may be fussy or clingy, which is also expected.
Febrile Seizures: The Most Common Cause
Febrile seizures, triggered by a rapidly rising fever, are the most common type of seizure in young children. They typically occur between the ages of 6 months and 5 years, with the peak risk at 12 to 18 months. About 2% to 5% of children in this age range will experience at least one.
There is no specific temperature that triggers a febrile seizure. Some children seize at relatively modest fevers, while others tolerate high fevers without incident. The key factor seems to be how quickly the temperature rises, not how high it gets. A fever above 100.4°F (38°C) is the general threshold, but every child’s seizure threshold is different.
Febrile seizures are frightening to witness, but the vast majority are harmless. They typically last under 5 minutes, involve the whole body stiffening and jerking, and stop on their own. About 16% to 20% of children who have one febrile seizure will have another one, often during a future illness. Having a febrile seizure does not mean your child has epilepsy or will develop it.
Infantile Spasms Look Different
One type of seizure in babies that requires urgent attention is infantile spasms. These look very different from the shaking and jerking most people picture when they think of a seizure. Infantile spasms may appear as:
- Sudden stiffening or tensing of the whole body
- A brief “jackknife” movement where the arms, legs, and head bend forward
- Arching of the back
- Repeated head nodding
- Eyes rolling upward
- Chin twitching or facial grimacing
These movements are often subtle and brief, lasting only a second or two, but they tend to happen in clusters, one after another. Parents sometimes mistake them for colic, a startle reflex, or gas. If you notice even one or two of these episodes, contact your pediatrician right away. Infantile spasms are considered a medical emergency because early treatment significantly affects outcomes. Do not wait for a routine appointment.
What Doctors Will Do After a First Seizure
After a baby’s first seizure, doctors will want to determine the cause. The evaluation typically starts with a physical exam and questions about exactly what the seizure looked like, how long it lasted, and what your baby was doing beforehand. This is where a video recording proves invaluable.
An electroencephalogram, or EEG, is one of the first tests doctors order. It measures the electrical activity in your baby’s brain and can help identify what type of seizure occurred and whether the activity is coming from a specific area. This test is painless and involves small sensors placed on the scalp. If a seizure brought you to the emergency room, an EEG may be done there. Otherwise, it’s often scheduled within days.
Brain imaging is another common step. A CT scan may be done in the ER to quickly rule out serious problems like bleeding or large abnormalities. An MRI, which provides much more detailed pictures of the brain’s structure, is usually scheduled days or weeks later. For some babies, doctors also order blood tests to check for metabolic issues, infections, or electrolyte imbalances that can trigger seizures. Genetic testing may be recommended depending on the circumstances, especially if epilepsy is suspected.
For a straightforward febrile seizure in an otherwise healthy child, the workup is often minimal. Your pediatrician may not order imaging or an EEG if the seizure was brief, generalized, and clearly associated with a fever.
Creating a Seizure Plan
If your baby has been diagnosed with a seizure disorder or has had more than one seizure, work with your pediatrician or neurologist to create a written seizure action plan. This document spells out the type of seizures your baby has, what they look like, how long they typically last, and exactly what steps a caregiver should take if one happens.
Give a copy to anyone who cares for your baby: daycare providers, grandparents, babysitters. Review it with your doctor to make sure the details are accurate, especially any instructions about medication. Having a clear plan in place means the adults around your baby can act quickly and confidently instead of panicking in the moment.