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First with Kids: Bloody Noses

Bloody Noses

Parents have been a little nosy lately, asking questions about why their children seem to get so many nosebleeds during the winter. Well the clot thickens, so to speak, so let me provide some information on this topic.

First of all, nosebleeds are about as common as colds during the winter. They are usually caused by nasal passages being exposed to dry air or by recurrent colds and allergies which make the inside lining of the nose quite raw.

Most nosebleeds can be easily managed at home. Stay calm and reassure your child that the bleeding will stop. Tell him or her to sit up—lying down will only cause increased blood pressure in the head, increasing the bleeding. Have your child blow his or her nose first, to free up any large clots. Then simply apply direct pressure to the soft part of the nose for 10 minutes without interruption. Also, have your child lean forward slightly, to prevent blood from draining into the throat. A cold compress or ice pack on the nose can also help stop the bleeding.

To help prevent nosebleeds from occurring in the first place, keep the air in your home as humid as possible by using a humidifier. It will also help if you apply a little Vaseline to the inside of your child’s nose, keeping the lining moist and preventing dryness and irritation. And tell your child to quit the nose-picking, perhaps amending the old mantra: You can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your nose, or your friend’s nose.

The time to be concerned about nosebleeds is when bleeding occurs through both nostrils, when the bleeding continues for more than 15 minutes, if prolonged bleeding also occurs from other areas like the gums, or if they happen more than three or four times a week. If any of these occur, talk to your pediatrician.

Hopefully tips like this will stop up any concerns you have the next time your child’s nose bleeds.