A seizure does not always involve falling or strong jerking movements. Your child may instead stare blankly, stop responding, make repetitive movements, stiffen, experience brief jerking or suddenly lose muscle tone.
What you notice depends on the type of seizure, where it begins and how the seizure activity spreads. Not every unusual movement or change in awareness is a seizure, so proper medical assessment is important rather than relying on appearance alone.
Key Takeaways
- A seizure does not always involve shaking or falling.
- Your child may stare, stop responding, stiffen, jerk, make repetitive movements or suddenly lose muscle tone.
- Not every staring episode, unusual movement or night-time event is a seizure.
- Repeated episodes that look very similar each time should be medically assessed.
- Call 999 for a first seizure, a seizure lasting longer than usual or more than five minutes when the usual duration is unknown, another seizure before recovery, serious injury or breathing difficulty.
- If it is safe, noting the duration and recording what happens before, during and after an episode can help your child’s medical team.
What Exactly Happens During a Seizure?
A seizure happens when there is a temporary burst of abnormal electrical activity in your child’s brain, which can affect movement, awareness, sensation, emotions or behaviour. This is why one child may become stiff and experience jerking, while another may simply stop talking and stare.
Your child may remain aware during some seizures but lose awareness during others. Rather than trying to identify the formal seizure type yourself, focus on what happens before, during and after the episode so you can describe it clearly to their medical team.
How Different Seizures May Look in a Child
| Type of seizure | What you may notice | Awareness/recovery or other features |
| Tonic-clonic | Stiffening followed by repeated rhythmic jerking; your child may fall | Consciousness is typically lost, followed by sleepiness or confusion |
| Absence | Sudden staring, brief pause in activity, possible eyelid movements | Brief loss of responsiveness, usually with rapid return to normal |
| Focal | Jerking, stiffening, unusual sensations, repetitive movements or behavioural changes | Awareness may be preserved or impaired |
| Myoclonic | Very brief, shock-like jerks, sometimes causing objects to be dropped | Awareness is often preserved |
| Tonic | Sudden stiffening of the body or limbs | May lead to a fall |
| Atonic | Sudden loss of muscle tone, head drop or collapse | Usually brief but can cause injury |
| Epileptic spasms | Brief bending or stiffening movements, often occurring in clusters in babies | Require urgent specialist assessment when suspected |
What Does a Tonic-Clonic Seizure Look Like?
A tonic-clonic seizure can involve loss of consciousness, sudden stiffening and repeated jerking movements. During the tonic phase, your child may become rigid or fall, while their breathing may temporarily sound different, which can be frightening to witness.
The clonic phase then causes rhythmic jerking as the muscles contract and relax. Your child may bite their tongue, dribble saliva or lose bladder control, and afterwards they may feel confused, sleepy or upset while gradually regaining awareness.
What Does an Absence Seizure Look Like?
Absence seizures can be difficult to recognise because they may look like daydreaming. Your child may suddenly stop what they are doing, stare blankly and may not respond when you call their name, sometimes with subtle eyelid or facial movements.
The episode is usually brief, and your child may return to normal activity immediately without confusion or remembering what happened. If these episodes happen repeatedly, they can affect learning, but daydreaming and tiredness can look similar, so proper assessment is important.
What Does a Focal Seizure Look Like in a Child?
A focal seizure begins in networks on one side of your child’s brain, so its symptoms can vary depending on the area involved. Your child may have jerking or stiffening in one part of the body, unusual smells, tastes, sensations, visual changes or sudden feelings of fear.
Your child may remain aware and remember what happened, or their awareness may become impaired. They may appear awake but not respond normally, and younger children may simply seem frightened, confused or unsettled.
Can Repetitive Movements Be a Sign of a Seizure?
Yes, some seizures can cause automatic, repetitive behaviours called automatisms. Your child may smack or lick their lips, chew, rub their hands, fiddle with clothing or objects, mumble or wander while appearing confused.
These episodes can look like ordinary behaviour or distraction, especially when there is no shaking. If the same pattern keeps happening and your child does not respond normally or cannot remember the episode afterwards, discuss it with their doctor.
What Do Myoclonic Seizures Look Like?
Myoclonic seizures cause sudden, very brief muscle jerks that can look like a startle or accidental movement. Your child may suddenly jerk one or both arms and drop an object, and their awareness is often preserved during brief myoclonic seizures.
These jerks may happen alone or in short clusters and usually do not cause prolonged shaking. Repeated or unexplained episodes should be discussed with your child’s doctor.
What Do Tonic and Atonic Seizures Look Like?
Tonic seizures cause sudden muscle stiffening, which may make your child’s body become rigid or their arms change position. If they are standing, they may lose balance and fall with little warning.
Atonic seizures cause a sudden loss of muscle tone, so your child’s head may drop, their knees may give way or they may collapse. Repeated unexplained falls should be medically assessed, particularly because sudden falls can cause head or facial injuries.
What Can a Seizure Look Like in a Baby?
Recognising seizures in babies can be difficult because normal movements such as startling, stretching and trembling may look similar. Possible seizure signs include repeated jerking, unusual stiffening, repetitive eye movements or sudden changes in responsiveness.
Some babies develop epileptic spasms, which can cause brief bending, stiffening or sudden movements that may occur in clusters. If you notice repeated, similar episodes in your baby, seek urgent medical assessment rather than waiting to see whether they stop. If it is safe, a short video may help the medical team understand what happened, but do not delay seeking medical help in order to record it. If infantile spasms are suspected in a child under 2, NICE recommends that, within 24 hours, clinicians seek guidance from and urgently refer the child to a tertiary paediatric neurologist for rapid assessment.
Evidence Note
A 2024 clinical review of infantile epileptic spasms describes these seizures as brief events that may be difficult to recognise from appearance alone. Spasms can occur repeatedly and may be seen in clusters, which is why recognising a repeated pattern can be important. This is why repeated bending or stiffening episodes that look very similar each time should not simply be assumed to be normal behaviour and need urgent specialist assessment.
Can a Child Have a Seizure While Sleeping?
Yes, seizures can happen during sleep, so you may not always see the whole episode. You might notice unusual noises, repeated jerking, stiffening, repetitive movements, disturbed bedding or confusion when your child wakes.
However, normal sleep behaviours such as sleepwalking and night terrors can look similar. If episodes keep happening in a similar pattern, record what you notice and discuss it with your child’s doctor.
How Can You Tell a Seizure from Daydreaming or Other Behaviour?
It can be difficult to tell a seizure from ordinary childhood behaviour, which is why doctors do not usually diagnose epilepsy from one symptom alone. During daydreaming, your child will generally respond when you call their name or try to get their attention, whereas some seizures can temporarily affect their ability to respond.
A sudden start and stop, or repeated episodes that follow the same pattern, can provide useful clues. If you notice unusual movements or changes in awareness, record exactly what happens and share these details with your child’s medical team rather than assuming it is a seizure.
Are Febrile Seizures the Same as Epilepsy?
A febrile seizure happens when a young child has a seizure associated with a high temperature and is not the same as epilepsy. They can involve stiffening, loss of consciousness and jerking movements, followed by sleepiness or confusion.
Febrile seizures most commonly affect children between six months and six years of age. Although they can be frightening to witness, most do not cause long-term problems, but your child should still receive medical assessment, particularly after a first seizure.
What Does a Child Look Like After a Seizure?
After a seizure, your child may feel very tired, confused or sleepy, and may have a headache or aching muscles. Some children may also become upset or experience temporary weakness or difficulty speaking.
Not every seizure causes a noticeable recovery period, and some children return to normal quickly. When speaking to your child’s doctor, describe what happened afterwards, as this can provide useful information.
What Details Should You Notice During a Suspected Seizure?
If you witness an episode, your observations can help your child’s doctor understand what happened. Note what your child was doing beforehand, whether they felt unusual, and whether they stopped responding or appeared aware of you.
Try to remember how their eyes, head, face, arms and legs moved, how long the episode lasted and what happened afterwards.
Clinical Tip
If it is safe, use your phone timer to record how long the episode lasts and note which part of your child’s body moves first, whether they respond to you and how they behave afterwards. A short video can also be useful, but your child’s safety and any need for emergency help must always come first.
What Should You Do While Your Child Is Having a Seizure?
If your child has a convulsive seizure, focus on keeping them safe rather than stopping the movements. Move dangerous objects away, protect their head with something soft and note when the seizure starts, but do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth.
When the movements stop, place your child on their side in the recovery position when it is safe and monitor their breathing. Do not give them food or drink until they have fully recovered, and follow their individual seizure plan if they have diagnosed epilepsy.
Myth vs Fact
| Myth | Fact |
| Every seizure causes violent shaking. | Some seizures cause staring, brief unresponsiveness, subtle movements or sudden changes in muscle tone rather than obvious convulsions. |
| If my child is staring, it must be an absence seizure. | Daydreaming, tiredness and other behaviours can look similar. Repeated episodes that look very similar each time need medical assessment. |
| You should hold your child still during a convulsive seizure. | Do not restrain them. Move dangerous objects away and protect their head instead. |
| You should put something in your child’s mouth. | Never put anything in their mouth during a seizure because this can cause injury or interfere with breathing. |
| One seizure means my child has epilepsy. | No. A single seizure can have several causes, and specialist assessment is needed to determine whether epilepsy is present. |
| A normal EEG means my child definitely does not have epilepsy. | No. NICE says EEG should support diagnosis and should not be used alone to exclude epilepsy. |
When Should You Call 999 for a Child Having a Seizure?
A first seizure needs urgent medical attention, so call 999 if your child is having a seizure for the first time. You should also call 999 if the seizure lasts longer than usual, lasts more than five minutes when you do not know their usual seizure duration, another seizure starts before your child has recovered, or they have breathing difficulties or a serious injury. NHS epilepsy guidance also advises calling 999 if your child has three or more seizures within 24 hours. Different emergency advice applies to febrile seizures: if your child has more than one febrile seizure within 24 hours, seek emergency medical help.
If your child has diagnosed epilepsy, they may not need an ambulance for every familiar seizure. Follow their individual care plan, but seek urgent help if the seizure is significantly different from usual or your child does not recover as expected.
What Happens After Your Child Has a Suspected Seizure?
If your child has a suspected seizure, their doctor will want a clear account of what happened. Your observations, information from other witnesses and a safely recorded video can help explain changes in awareness, movements, breathing and behaviour.
After a first suspected seizure, assessment should include a 12-lead ECG to help identify heart-related conditions that can sometimes mimic an epileptic seizure. Depending on your child’s symptoms and clinical assessment, their specialist may also recommend an EEG, brain imaging, blood tests or genetic testing.
UK Guidance Note
If your child has a first suspected seizure, they should be referred urgently for specialist assessment. NICE recommends that people with a first suspected seizure are seen by a clinician with expertise in epilepsy within two weeks. If an EEG is requested, it should be performed as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours. An EEG can support the diagnosis, but a normal EEG does not rule out epilepsy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does a seizure look like in a child?
A seizure can look very different depending on the type of seizure and where the seizure activity begins or spreads. Your child may stare blankly, stop responding, stiffen, jerk, suddenly lose muscle tone or make repetitive movements.
2. Can a child have a seizure without shaking?
Yes. You may notice your child staring, briefly becoming unresponsive, experiencing unusual sensations or behaving differently without any obvious shaking. Because these episodes can look like daydreaming or ordinary behaviour, repeated or concerning episodes should be medically assessed.
3. What does an absence seizure look like?
Your child may suddenly stop what they are doing, stare blankly and may not respond when you call their name. The episode is usually brief, and they may immediately return to normal without confusion afterwards.
4. What does a focal seizure look like in a child?
A focal seizure can cause unusual movements or sensations affecting one part of the body. Your child may experience jerking, stiffening, unusual tastes or smells, visual changes or sudden emotions, and their awareness may or may not be affected.
5. Can a child have a seizure while sleeping?
Yes. You may notice unusual movements, stiffening, repeated jerking, unusual noises, disturbed bedding or confusion when your child wakes. However, sleepwalking, night terrors and other normal sleep behaviours can sometimes look similar.
6. What does a seizure look like in a baby?
Seizures in babies can be difficult to recognise because many normal baby movements can look similar. You may notice repeated jerking, unusual stiffening, repetitive eye movements, changes in responsiveness or brief bending or stiffening movements that occur in clusters. If you notice repeated episodes like these, especially if they occur in clusters, seek urgent medical assessment.
7. How can you tell a seizure from daydreaming?
During ordinary daydreaming, your child will generally respond when you call their name or try to get their attention. Seizures may instead cause sudden, repeated episodes where your child temporarily cannot respond normally, although medical assessment is needed to determine the cause.
8. What should I do if my child is having a seizure?
Keep your child safe by moving nearby hazards away and protecting their head with something soft. Do not restrain them or put anything in their mouth, and when the movements stop, place them in the recovery position when it is safe to do so.
9. When should I call 999 for a child’s seizure?
Call 999 if your child is having a seizure for the first time, if it lasts longer than usual or longer than five minutes when you do not know their usual seizure duration, or if another seizure begins before they recover. You should also call 999 if your child has breathing difficulties, a serious injury, does not recover as usual afterwards, or has three or more seizures within 24 hours. Different emergency advice applies to febrile seizures: if your child has more than one febrile seizure within 24 hours, seek emergency medical help. If your child has diagnosed epilepsy, follow their individual seizure care plan.
10. Does having a seizure mean my child has epilepsy?
No. A seizure does not automatically mean your child has epilepsy, as seizures can occur for other reasons, including febrile seizures. Your child may need further assessment to determine what caused the episode and whether additional investigations are appropriate.
Final Thoughts: Understanding What a Seizure May Look Like in Your Child
Seizures can look very different from one child to another, and recognising the signs is not always straightforward. If you notice repeated changes in your child’s awareness, movements or behaviour, recording what happens and sharing those details with their doctor can help guide the right assessment and care.
If your child needs specialist children’s epilepsy treatment in London, you can contact us at London Paediatric Clinic for support.
References:
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (2022, updated 2026) Epilepsies in children, young people and adults. NICE guideline NG217. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng217
- NHS (2025) Epilepsy. Page last reviewed: 6 March 2025. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/
- NHS (2023) What to do if someone has a seizure (fit). Page last reviewed: 19 December 2023. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/what-to-do-if-someone-has-a-seizure-fit/
- NHS (2023) Febrile seizures. Page last reviewed: 21 June 2023. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/febrile-seizures/
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) (2020) Safety-netting information following a first seizure without a fever in children and young people. Available at: https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/safety-netting-information-following-first-seizure-without-fever-children-young-people
- Beniczky, S., Trinka, E., Wirrell, E. et al. (2025) ‘Updated classification of epileptic seizures: Position paper of the International League Against Epilepsy’, Epilepsia, 66(6), pp. 1804–1823. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40264351/
- Park, J.T. and Fernandez-Baca Vaca, G. (2020) ‘Epileptic seizure semiology in infants and children’, Seizure, 77, pp. 3–6. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31708348/
- Kessler, S.K. and McGinnis, E. (2019) ‘A practical guide to treatment of childhood absence epilepsy’, Paediatric Drugs, 21(1), pp. 15–24. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30734897/
- Erdemir, G. and Moosa, A.N. (2024) ‘Electroclinical features of infantile epileptic spasms syndrome’, Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, 27(3), pp. 227–235. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11232823/
- Minardi, C., Minacapelli, R., Valastro, P., Vasile, F., Pitino, S., Pavone, P., Astuto, M. and Murabito, P. (2019) ‘Epilepsy in children: From diagnosis to treatment with focus on emergency’, Journal of Clinical Medicine, 8(1), article 39. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6352402/