What to Do When Your Child Has a Febrile Seizure
I will never forget the first time I watched a febrile seizure as a young doctor — and I had training. For a parent with no warning, it is one of the most terrifying experiences imaginable: your toddler suddenly goes rigid, shakes, maybe turns a little blue around the lips. Here is what I need you to know, and what to do.
Key takeaways
- Side-lying position, time the seizure, nothing in the mouth, don't restrain the shaking.
- Call 911 for seizures over 5 minutes, breathing trouble, or back-to-back seizures.
- The sleepy period afterward is normal — keep them on their side and stay with them.
- Fever reducers don't reliably prevent febrile seizures; treat fever for comfort as usual.
First: what is happening
A febrile seizure is a convulsion triggered by a rapid rise in fever in children 6 months to 5 years old. About 2–5% of young children have one. They look catastrophic and are almost always harmless — simple febrile seizures do not cause brain damage, and most children outgrow them by age 5 or 6.
In the moment: your 6-step job
- Note the time. Look at a clock — doctors need the duration, and terror makes 60 seconds feel like 10 minutes.
- Side-lying on the floor, away from hard objects.
- Nothing in the mouth. No fingers, no spoons. They cannot swallow their tongue.
- Don't restrain the shaking.
- Loosen tight clothing around the neck if easy.
- No medicine during the seizure — wait until they are awake and can swallow.
Call 911 if: the 5-minute rule
Longer than 5 minutes, trouble breathing, blue and staying blue, back-to-back seizures, or not waking up afterward — call 911. Most febrile seizures stop on their own in 1–2 minutes.
After: the sleepy phase is normal
Your child will likely be drowsy or confused afterward — the postictal period. Keep them on their side, stay close, and let them rest. Then: a first febrile seizure always needs same-day medical evaluation to find the fever's cause. Call your pediatrician or go to the ER.
The question every parent asks: will it happen again?
About 1 in 3 children have another with a future fever. I know that is scary to hear. But the long-term outlook is excellent, and fever reducers do not reliably prevent them — so just treat fevers for comfort as usual.
Bookmark our full febrile seizure first-aid guide — and I hope you never need it.
Frequently asked questions
How long do febrile seizures usually last?
Most last 1–2 minutes and stop on their own. Call 911 if a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes.
Should I put something in my child's mouth during a seizure?
Never. It can injure your child, and children do not swallow their tongues during seizures. Lay them on their side instead.
Do I need to go to the ER after a first febrile seizure?
Yes — a first febrile seizure should always be evaluated the same day to identify the fever's cause and rule out serious infection.
Reviewed by Ali Ozcan, MD, MBA
Board-certified pediatric emergency medicine physician and creator of ER4Kids. This guide reflects the same trusted, evidence-based guidance Dr. Ozcan provides to families in the emergency department.
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