What do infantile spasms look like, and

Call your baby's doctor or the children's hospital today and ask for an urgent appointment that includes an EEG (a brain-wave test) and a paediatric neurology review — ideally today or within 24 hours, not a routine slot next week.

I can't tell you what your baby's episodes are, and this is not a diagnosis — only a clinician who has seen the baby and read an EEG can say what these episodes are. But suspected infantile spasms are one of the very few things in babies where the clock matters, so making that call today is the whole right move. No video or photo reached me this turn, so I'm working from your description; if the clip comes through here, I'll look at it.

What these episodes often look like (American Academy of Pediatrics parent page, checked 2026-11-04): each spasm lasts only a second or two, but they come in clusters, one every 5–10 seconds. The body suddenly stiffens — the back may arch and the arms, legs and head bend forward; sometimes it's just the eyes rolling up or a small tummy crunch, which is why they get missed. They usually happen just after waking and rarely during sleep. Around the same time parents often notice losing a skill the baby had (rolling, sitting, babbling), losing smiles and eye contact, or being more fussy or oddly quiet. They can look like hiccups, reflux or a startle — which is exactly why the check is an EEG, not a guess. Early recognition matters: the same page notes that waiting to seek treatment can raise the risk of lasting harm.

1) What you've tried → what works better

Tonight or today, in about 20 minutes:

1. Log (5 min): date, clock time, what you saw, how long each episode lasted, how many in a row, and what the baby did straight after.
2. Video (5 min): one good clip of a cluster, plus keep the old ones — do not delete anything.
3. Pack (5 min): the log, the clips, the immunisation card, notes on feeds / sleep / wet nappies for the last 24 hours, and every medicine or supplement given.
4. Call (5 min): use the phone script below.

2) Constraints and the avoid list

• No medicines, hormone creams, powders, supplements, or anything bought online for this. The treatment for spasms is a hospital decision, and what matters is that the right one starts early — not what you give at home.
• Don't try to provoke an episode (no loud startle test, no flashing lights) and don't skip a feed or a nap to "catch" one. It rarely produces a usable recording and upsets the baby.
• Don't start, stop, or change any prescribed medicine without the prescriber.
• During a cluster: hold the baby safely, keep them away from hard edges, put nothing in the mouth, don't restrain the limbs, and give nothing to eat or drink until they're fully back to themselves.
• Don't let the log replace the appointment. Logging is evidence for the clinician, not treatment.
• If the baby is under 3 months, has any fever, is feeding poorly, or is passing less urine than usual — don't wait for a clinic slot. Go to the children's hospital emergency department today.

3) Red flags — stop DIY and get help now

Call your local emergency number now, or go to the nearest children's hospital emergency department, if any of these happen:

• A fit that does not stop, lasts 5 minutes or more, or fits repeat with no recovery in between.
• The baby is blue around the lips, struggling to breathe, grunting, or pausing in breathing.
• The baby will not wake properly, is limp and floppy, or doesn't come back to their normal self after an episode.
• The baby cannot feed at all, or is passing very little urine.
• A baby under 3 months with a fever, or who feels unusually hot or cold.

While you call: stay with the baby, note the time it started, put nothing in their mouth, and if they are unresponsive but breathing normally, roll them onto their side. Say clearly: "My baby is having a seizure." Have the video ready to show.

Decision tree (screenshot this)

```
Is the baby having a fit RIGHT NOW that isn't stopping,
or are they blue / struggling to breathe / unresponsive?
→ YES: call your local emergency number now.
Start timing. Nothing in the mouth. Side-lying if
unresponsive but breathing. Say "my baby is having a seizure."
→ NO:
Are the episodes brief and REPEATED in clusters
(seconds apart), mostly after waking — and/or has
a learned skill gone quiet (rolling, sitting, babbling)?
→ YES: urgent same-day / within-24-hour paediatric
review WITH an EEG. If under 3 months, fever,
poor feeding or few wet nappies → children's
hospital ED today.
→ UNSURE: still book the urgent review this week and
ask for the EEG — it is a cheap test and a long
wait is the thing you cannot undo.
```

Scripts to screenshot

To the clinic (phone or reception):
> "I'm the parent of a [age] baby. We're seeing brief repeated episodes where the body stiffens and the head drops, several seconds apart, mostly after waking, and there may be a loss of [skill]. I have video. I need an urgent appointment with an EEG and a paediatric neurology review — what is the earliest slot, and if nothing today, where do we go?"

To the sibling's school / the relative at home:
> "Taking [baby] to [hospital] today for an urgent brain-wave and neuro check. [Sibling] is with [name] until about [time]. If you see an episode, film it and write down the clock time — that's the most useful thing you can do for us today."

Night note for whoever is on the baby:
> "If a fit doesn't stop or lasts 5 minutes, or the baby doesn't wake up properly, or they go blue or stop breathing normally — call [local emergency number] straight away and say 'my baby is having a seizure'. Note the time it started. Nothing in the mouth."

What success looks like in 24 hours

Not a cure, and I won't promise one. Success in a day is:

• Your baby has been seen by a clinician who has ordered or reviewed an EEG — not just a phone advice call.
• The video and the log are in their hands, with the clock times.
• You have a named follow-up and a named number to call at night if the clusters change or get longer.
• You have stopped guessing and started logging — so the next decision is easier for everyone.
• The other child at home is safe and accounted for through the appointment, not left to fend for themselves.

A printable one-page episode log + visit sheet is in your inbox as `baby-episode-log-visit-sheet.pdf` — print it or fill it on your phone, and bring it to the appointment with the video. If you cannot open the file, use this plain version:

Episode log — one row per cluster

Also note, on one side: age today (and gestational age + birth weight if born early), when the episodes started, feeds and wet nappies in the last 24 hours, sleep and temperature, any skill that has gone backwards (rolling, sitting, pulling up, babbling), every medicine / supplement given, allergies, and your questions: *Can we get an EEG and paediatric neurology review today or within 24 hours? What would tell us this can't be managed at home? Exactly what should bring us back, and which number do we call at night? What must we not do at home while we wait?*

One thing I need from you: which country and city are you in? I'll point you to the nearest children's hospital and its urgent paediatric / EEG pathway, and give you the correct local wording — I won't guess a number from your language. And if your Wednesday appointment has a fixed time, say the time and I'll set a reminder so it doesn't get lost in the school week.

No coverage: I have not checked any local hospital or emergency contact for your area this turn — no place was named, so I have not picked one for you.

Source: medlineplus:healthychildren https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/seizures/Pages/Infantile-Spasms-What-Parents-Need-to-Know.aspx