If your child has a fever seizure, knowing the right steps in the moment can help you protect their safety and respond calmly. Get clear, parent-friendly guidance on febrile seizure first aid, what not to do, and when to seek urgent care.
Answer a few questions to get personalized guidance on how to help a child during a febrile seizure, including safety steps to take right away and common mistakes to avoid.
During a febrile seizure, focus first on keeping your child safe. Place your child on a protected surface, turn them onto their side if possible, and move nearby objects away. Loosen tight clothing around the neck and watch the seizure closely so you can note how long it lasts. Do not put anything in your child’s mouth, do not try to hold them down, and do not give food, drink, or medicine until they are fully awake. If this is your child’s first seizure, the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, breathing seems difficult, or your child does not recover as expected, seek emergency medical care right away.
Lay your child on their side or in a recovery position if you can, on a flat surface away from hard or sharp objects. This helps protect them during the seizure.
Use a clock or phone timer as soon as you can. Knowing whether the seizure lasts under or over 5 minutes is important when deciding what care is needed next.
Notice your child’s color, breathing, and how they act after the seizure ends. If breathing is labored, your child looks blue, or they are not waking up as expected, get emergency help.
A child cannot swallow their tongue during a seizure. Putting objects or fingers in the mouth can cause injury.
Trying to hold your child still can lead to accidental harm. Instead, clear the area and let the seizure run its course while you supervise closely.
Wait until your child is fully awake and able to swallow safely before giving anything by mouth.
Think: protect, turn, time, observe. A short sequence can help you stay focused when emotions are high.
Notice the start time, body movements, eye position, breathing, and how your child acts afterward. These details can help a clinician understand what happened.
Call emergency services if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, your child has trouble breathing, gets injured, has another seizure right away, or does not return toward their usual state.
Start by placing your child somewhere safe, such as the floor or a bed away from hard objects. Turn them onto their side if possible, loosen tight clothing around the neck, and time the seizure. Stay with your child and watch their breathing.
Get emergency help if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, your child has trouble breathing, turns blue, is badly injured, has repeated seizures without recovering, or if this is their first seizure and you are unsure what is happening.
Do not put anything in your child’s mouth, do not try to stop the movements by holding them down, and do not give food, drink, or medicine until they are fully awake and able to swallow safely.
Once the seizure stops, keep your child on their side and stay nearby as they wake up. They may be sleepy or confused for a short time. Contact your child’s doctor for guidance, especially if this is the first febrile seizure or if anything about the event seemed unusual.
Answer a few questions to better understand febrile seizure safety steps, when emergency care may be needed, and how to feel more prepared if it happens again.
Answer a Few QuestionsExplore more assessments in this topic group.
See related assessments across this category.
Find more parenting assessments by category and topic.
Febrile Seizures
Febrile Seizures
Febrile Seizures
Febrile Seizures