Emergency & Urgent Care
Seizures in Infants
Seizure is uncontrolled electrical activity in brain. Can look like: rhythmic jerking of limbs, stiffening of body, staring spell, lip smacking, eye rolling, loss of consciousness.
Febrile seizures (caused by high fever) are most common in babies 6 months-5 years. Usually harmless but scary. Other seizures may indicate epilepsy or serious condition.
Seizures lasting >5 minutes or multiple seizures without waking between are medical emergencies.
What to Do
- Stay calm and time the seizure (important info for doctors)
- Turn baby on side to prevent choking on saliva
- Clear area of hard/sharp objects to prevent injury
- DO NOT put anything in baby's mouth (can't swallow tongue)
- DO NOT try to hold baby down or stop the jerking movements
- Loosen tight clothing around neck
- Call 911 if seizure lasts >5 minutes or baby is not breathing normally
- After seizure: Keep baby on side, check breathing, stay with baby until fully conscious
- Go to ER even if seizure has stopped - needs medical evaluation
- For febrile seizures: Give fever reducer after seizure stops (not during)
When to call a doctor
Call 911 immediately if: first-time seizure, seizure lasts >5 minutes, multiple seizures without baby waking up between, baby has trouble breathing, or baby is injured during seizure.