When your little one comes crying with a bloody nose, don’t panic! Have your child sit or stand up to reduce the blood pressure in the veins of their nose, so the bleeding slows down. Let them lean forward and spit most of the blood out of their mouths and gently pinch their nose shut near the tip either with a tissue or a clean wash cloth. Use your thumb and your index finger to keep it closed. Remind your little one to breathe through their mouth and if there is any blood in their throat to keep spitting it out. Apply constant pressure for at least ten minutes, but be sure to hold their nose gently. Blood usually scares toddlers, so keep on assuring them that everything is going to be just fine!

Things to Avoid:

• Never tilt your Buddy’s head back, this forces the blood down their throat and could cause vomiting.
• Don’t put cotton wool in the nose. It can stick as the blood dries and cause the wound to open again by injuring the new blood clots that formed to congeal the blood.
• If the nose starts bleeding again, let your child blow their nose to remove any blood clots and repeat the previous steps mentioned.
• If a nosebleed does not stop, call your doctor immediately. Especially if their nose begins to bleed after a fall or a blow to the head!

Preventing Bloody Noses:

If the air in your home is very dry, your Buddy might get a bloody nose when they are sleeping, so use a humidifier in the room at night. A tiny bit of Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly inside the nose can also help relieve dryness. Some kids pick their noses and long, sharp finger nails can also hurt the nostrils, so keep those nails trimmed short!