How to Stop Your Child's Nosebleed
Nosebleeds are rarely a cause for serious concern, but they do arise often in children under ten years old. Therefore, knowing how best to stop a nosebleed is important. Often the most difficult part in stopping a nosebleed is calming your child down and cleaning up the mess. Read on to learn how to stop a nosebleed on your own and how to identify if it actually is something that requires a visit to a Pediatric ENT specialist.
Stopping the Nosebleed Step-by-Step
- Step one is similar to step one with other problems your child has, calm them down and tell them they'll be okay.
- Have your child stand up or sit in a straight up position.
- Do not have them tilt their head back or lay down. This can cause the blood to enter the stomach where it can cause nausea.
- Pinch the tip of their nostrils together and hold for 5 to 10 minutes until the nosebleed stops.
- Pinching the nose for those few minutes will allow a blood clot to form and stop the nosebleed. Do not allow your child to pick at or blow their nose as it may dislodge the blood clot and start the nosebleed all over again.
- If you're able to, apply ice or an ice pack to your child's nose bridge.
What Can You Do to Help Prevent Nosebleeds?
Nosebleeds are usually more common in the winter due to the dry air. The dry air causes the nasal membranes to dry out and crack, which can lead to nosebleeds. If your child excessively picks at, scratches, or blows their nose, they can damage these membranes causing nosebleeds.
In the winter, keep your home from having extremely dry air by using portable humidifiers or a central humidifier if possible. You can also use a saline nasal spray or water-soluble gel to help moisturize the inside of your child's nose to help prevent nosebleeds.
When Should You Call a Doctor?
Most of the time a nosebleed can be stopped in 5 or 10 minutes and a doctor isn't necessary. However, if the nosebleed persists for 20 minutes or more, if your child faints, feels dizzy or weak, take them to a doctor as soon as possible. If your child suffers from frequent nosebleeds, visit an ENT specialist so that they can help to determine the root cause, recommend proper preventative measures, and prescribe treatment options.
