Caring for your baby or toddler

Many parents with epilepsy successfully care for their babies and young children. If your seizures are not controlled, there are some sensible precautions you can take to make sure your child is as safe as possible in the event of you having a seizure.

• If possible, share the care of your baby, especially at night, so you do not become too exhausted.
• When feeding your baby with a bottle of on the breast, you could sit on the floor on a towel or a rug holding your baby, so that if you have a seizure the baby does not have far to fall.
• When the child is taking solids, you could put them in a bouncer chair or car seat on the floor and sit next to them.
• When using a baby chair, make sure you cannot knock it over.
• Never bathe your baby on your own. Instead you could give them a simple sponge bath.
• When carrying your baby up or down stairs, use a carrycot or car seat to provide protection from a fall.
• Use safety gates at all times.
• Use a pram with a brake that comes on when you release the handle. REMAP can provide advice on safety brakes for prams. Contact them directly for further details. Tel. (+44) 08451 300 456. http://www.remap.org.uk/
• When you take your child out, use reins that will prevent them wandering off if you fall unconscious.
• Teach your child as soon as possible what to do if you have a seizure. You can get information about ways in which you can do this from the Epilepsy Helpline.

29 March 2007

• Telling your child
• Safety advice