Tips for looking after an infant when you have epilepsy

Introduction

In this information, we use the word ‘infant’ when we are talking about babies and young children.
Many parents and carers with epilepsy successfully look after infants. This information tells you when and why you might be more at risk of having a seizure, when looking after an infant. It will help you to identify possible dangers for an infant if you have a seizure while looking after them. It also suggests some ways that you can reduce the risks of danger and make sure an infant is as safe as possible.
Your midwife and health visitor will be able to give you more general advice and information about looking after an infant.

The risks of having a seizure when you are looking after an infant

(Bathing, changing and dressing, feeding a baby, feeding a young child, Keeping an infant safe during and after your seizures, making your home safe, teaching an infant about seizures and first aid)

Keeping an infant safe when you are outside the home

Prams and pushchairs

There is no particular type of pram or pushchair that is recommended for use if you are at risk of having seizures. Here are some suggestions for choosing and using one.

• Choose a pram with a lot of padding, if there is a risk you might push it over during a seizure. Extra padding could protect an infant from a fall. Alternatively, if you still use a portable car seat for your infant, you could use a pram which you can attach the car seat to. This would also provide protection from a fall.
  
• Look into safety equipment for the pram or pushchair, if there is a risk you might let go of the handle during a seizure. The charity REMAP has details on the Lanyard pram security system and they may be able to advise you on other options. You can contact them on their Central Office number, tel. 0845 130 0456 or email data@remap.org.uk
  
• Tie a label with some emergency contact telephone numbers to the handle of the pram or pushchair. This would be helpful if your seizures could cause you to be confused or wander away from the pram or pushchair
  

Child carriers and baby slings

An infant might not be safe if you had a seizure while carrying them in a child carrier or baby sling. Before deciding whether or not to use one of these, you might want to consider the following questions.

• Do your seizures cause you to fall? Could this cause an infant to be hurt if you were holding them in a sling or carrier at the time?
  
• Do you get an aura or warning before a seizure, which causes you reduced, or loss of, awareness? If so, would you have enough time to remove the carrier or sling and put the infant in a safe place?

If you are not sure whether or not to use a child carrier or baby sling, you could ask your own health visitor for more advice.

Child reins, harnesses and wrist straps 

Child reins, harnesses and wrist straps keep a young child, who can walk, close to you when you are out and about. Here are some things to consider if you have seizures that affect your consciousness or cause you to fall.

• Wrist straps are attached to your wrist and a child’s wrist. If you had a seizure a child would remain attached to you. If you fell during a seizure, you could pull a child to the ground too. However, this would be safer than the risk of a child running away.
• Child reins and harnesses fasten to a child’s body and you hold the end. If you had a seizure, it would be easy to let go of this and a child could run away. It might be safer to use a wrist strap.

Keeping an infant safe in open spaces   

If you have seizures, you may feel more confident about taking an infant out on a trip on your own, if you carefully plan it before you go. Here are some things to consider.

• What hazards are there? For example ponds, streams, swimming pools, rivers, steep steps, roads and railway lines.
• What safety measures are there in the area, to protect an infant from danger if you had a seizure? For example, trained lifeguards, and fences around water features, door staff, gates and security systems in play areas.    
• Would it be safer to visit this area with another adult?
• If you are worried that an infant might wander off and get lost if you had a seizure, here are some suggestions to reduce the risks.
• Tell a child about a specific place to go if you lose each other, for example a park warden’s office or an ice cream stall. Could you ask the people at these places to keep an eye out for the child?

• Give an infant an identity bracelet to wear, which contains your name, address and telephone number.

Changing facilities

Public baby changing facilities often leave little choice but to change an infant on a baby-changing table. If you had a seizure when using one of these, you could knock the infant off the table. Or, you would be unable to stop them from rolling off the table and falling onto the floor.
To increase safety, consider carrying a baby-changing mat with you, and change the infant on the floor. You may prefer to use a changing mat with a raised cushion edge. This way, the infant would not be able to roll off, if you had a seizure. For information about suppliers of baby-changing mats with raised cushion edges, contact the Disabled Living Foundation:
Tel: 0300 999 0004
Website: livingmadeeasy.org.uk/children

Getting home after a seizure

• After a seizure, you may be too confused to get yourself and an infant home safely. It could help to carry an identity card, containing details such as your name, address and the number of infants with you. You could also put the telephone number of a relative or a taxi firm who know you and would arrange to take you home. Identity cards are available from Epilepsy Action, free of charge.
• As soon as a child is old enough, consider teaching them how to use a mobile phone. This would enable them to phone for help from one of your family or friends. Many phones have a speed dial facility, which will make this easier for an infant.

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This resource is freely available as part of Epilepsy Action’s commitment to improving life for all those affected by epilepsy.

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We can provide references and information on the source material we use to write our epilepsy advice and information pages. Please contact our Epilepsy Helpline by email at helpline@epilepsy.org.uk.