Nosebleed: How to Care for Your Child

Nosebleeds are common in children and are rarely serious. They can happen from nose picking, scratching, injury, dry air, or having a cold that irritates the inside of the nose. Most nosebleeds can be treated at home.

• Remind your child not to blow, rub, or pick their nose for at least 12 hours after a nosebleed.

• For the next 2–3 days, your child should avoid lifting or straining.

• If the health care provider packed your child's nose with gauze, be sure to schedule a visit to get it removed.

• To prevent nosebleeds: 

  • Keep the inside of your child's nose moist with saline (saltwater) nasal spray or gel, or dab petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment gently around the opening of the nostrils.

  • Try not to overheat your home.

  • Use a cool-mist humidifier in your child's room and clean it every day to prevent mold from growing.

  • Keep your child's nails short to prevent scratches inside the nose. 

  • Your child should use protective equipment during sports to avoid injuries that can cause a nosebleed.

• If another nosebleed happens, follow these instructions:

1. Stay calm and comfort your child.

2. Have your child sit up and tilt their head slightly forward to keep blood from running down the back of the throat. It might help for your child to lean over a sink or pail to catch the blood.

3. Have your child pinch the bottom of the nostrils (soft part of the nose) together using the index finger and the thumb. Hold it without stopping for 10 minutes.

4. After 10 minutes, check for bleeding. If the nose is still bleeding, pinch the nose closed for another 10 minutes.

Your child:

• has blood going down the back of the throat even with the head tilted forward. This could be a more serious problem called a posterior (back of the nose) nosebleed that needs a doctor's care.

• keeps having nosebleeds

• gets a nosebleed after starting a new medicine

• has nosebleeds along with bruising of the skin or a red or purple rash

Your child:

• still has bleeding after pinching the nose for a total of 20 minutes

• is bleeding heavily or has lost a large amount of blood 

• has a new nosebleed after an injury or blow to the head or face

• feels weak or dizzy

What causes nosebleeds? Nosebleeds happen when the tiny blood vessels that line the inside of the nostrils are injured. When a blood vessel in the nose tears, blood may come out of the nostril. Blood coming from the nose often looks more serious than it is.

How does a nosebleed stop? A nosebleed stops when blood forms a clot (clump of cells and protein) that plugs the torn blood vessel. Then, a scab forms on top. Nosebleeds can start again if the scab comes off.

What tests are done for kids with nosebleeds? Kids who have nosebleeds once in a while don't need medical tests.

Health care providers will order tests for a child who:

• has nosebleeds that last longer than 30 minutes when pressure is applied 

• has nosebleeds more than 2 or 3 times a week 

• is younger than 2 years old and gets nosebleeds often