This page covers your child’s development, in stages, 0–3 years old, in the areas of communication, cognition (knowledge and understanding) and learning, and motor skills (moving the muscles to perform specific tasks).
Routines
Having seizures in early life may have an impact on your baby’s development, but this doesn’t have to be the inevitable result.
Just like any other baby or young child, you should encourage your child’s development through play and stimulation.
Often, parents of young children with epilepsy are anxious about triggering seizures through excitement or distress. This is a very natural concern, but it’s highly unlikely to happen.
We don’t always know why seizures occur at one time and not another. So, you should have as normal a routine as possible, encouraging your baby to enjoy as many day-to-day experiences as you can.
It’s also important to develop and stick to daily routines as your child develops.
Communication, learning and motor skills
If you’re concerned about your baby’s development, talk to your health visitor, and tell your child’s paediatric (child healthcare) consultant when you see them.
They’ll be watching how your baby develops and assessing their progress at clinic appointments.
They’ll also want to know how your child’s communication, learning and motor skills are developing.
Below, you’ll find information showing the ages, in stages between 0 and three years old, that babies and young children develop skills.
Not all children develop at the same rate, but you can use this information to encourage your child’s skills by looking at what is usual for their age.
This information is based on Mary Sheridan’s From Birth to Five Years, 4th Edition, by A Sharma & H Cockerill (Routledge, 2014)