What parents need to know about nosebleeds

Nobody likes a nosebleed, that includes kids and parents. They can be alarming, messy and disruptive when you’d much rather be doing anything else. That said, nosebleeds are extremely common. In fact, 3 out of 4 kids will experience at least one nosebleed in their childhood. Thankfully, they are often easily treated at home with proven methods. Read on to learn more about why kids’ nosebleeds happen, what you can do about them and when to seek medical care. 

What causes bloody noses? 

Most bloody noses are caused by common environmental factors, illnesses and behaviors. These are some typical culprits for kids’ nosebleeds: 

• Dry air outdoors and indoors, particularly in dry climates or in buildings with dry heat systems 
• Common colds and upper-respiratory viruses 
• Allergies 
• Medications that dry out the nose 
• Blowing the nose frequently 
• Picking or scratching inside the nose 

One or more of these factors can create the perfect conditions for a nosebleed.  

How to prevent bloody noses 

The best way to deal with nosebleeds is to prevent them before they start, or at least reduce the chance they will happen.  

• Use a cool mist humidifier in your child’s room while they sleep if indoor air is dry or if your child has any kind of sinus symptoms. Keep the filter clean. 
• Keep your child’s nose clean and free of irritation by keeping their fingernails trimmed and encouraging regular hand washing. With young children, nose picking is inevitable.   
• Use a lubricant inside the nose if the nostrils are dry or irritated. Saline gel and saline mist are available over the counter and can be used twice a day to reduce discomfort. 
• Encourage the child to avoid picking any scabs that form in the nose. 

How to treat a bloody nose 

Sometimes, nosebleeds are unavoidable. The best thing to do is stay calm and help your child stop the bleeding with some simple steps. 

1. Tilt the child’s head slightly forward. 
2. Using a clean tissue or cloth, pinch closed the fleshy part of the nostrils for 10-15 minutes. Use gentle yet firm pressure. This can feel like a long time for a young child to sit still. Screen time can be useful here.  
3. If the nose continues to bleed after the first 10-15 minutes of pressure, try another 5-10 minutes. If the nose still continues to bleed, seek medical care. 

When to seek medical care for a bloody nose* 

• If a child under the age of 2 has a bloody nose, get medical care. Nosebleeds are uncommon in kids of this age, and it is best to exercise caution and see a medical care provider. 
• With a child age 2 and up, if you have held firm pressure on the nostrils for up to 20-30 minutes and the bleeding has not stopped, seek medical care with your child’s primary care physician, urgent care or emergency department. 
• If an adolescent boy has a single-nostril bloody nose, a physician might check for a condition that can affect children of this age, a benign tumor that grows in the nose. 
• If your child has recurring nosebleeds along with easy bruising or cuts that take a long time to stop bleeding, it is a good idea to check in with their physician. 

*In rare cases where nosebleeds are frequent and distressing enough and a child is of an age that can tolerate it, an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist may cauterize the vessels in the nose to reduce or prevent bleeding. 

Hopefully with these tips and guidelines, you feel more equipped to handle kids’ nosebleeds. With a little practice, we are confident you can make the best of a less-than-ideal situation.