Nosebleeds are far more common in children than you might think, and the vast majority are completely harmless. The network of blood vessels at the front of the nose is superficial and delicate; it can bleed even with minor irritation.

Common Causes

  • Nose picking (by far the most common cause)
  • Dry air — central heating in winter especially dries out the inside of the nose
  • Colds, allergic rhinitis, and nose blowing
  • Minor blows to the nose
  • Long-term use of nasal sprays

The RIGHT First Aid When Bleeding

  1. Stay calm; sit the child down and tilt their head slightly FORWARD
  2. Using your thumb and index finger, pinch the soft part of the nose (just below the bony part) continuously for 10 minutes
  3. During this time, have the child breathe through their mouth; do not keep releasing the pinch to check "has it stopped?"
  4. A cold compress can be applied to the bridge of the nose

What You Should NOT Do

  • ❌ Tilting the head back — blood runs into the throat; if swallowed it can cause vomiting, and it may go into the airway
  • ❌ Plugging the nose with cotton or tissue — removing it tears off the clot and restarts the bleeding
  • ❌ Lying the child down
  • ❌ Blowing the nose right after the bleeding stops (no nose blowing for at least a few hours)

When to See a Doctor

  • Bleeding that does not stop despite 20 minutes of correct pressure
  • Bleeding after a blow or accident
  • Very frequent recurring nosebleeds + easy bruising of the skin and bleeding gums (an evaluation for clotting problems is needed)
  • A nosebleed in a baby under 2 years of age
  • Bleeding accompanied by pallor and fatigue

Preventing Recurrence

Keep nails short, gently discourage the nose-picking habit, humidify the room, and apply a moisturizer inside the nose on your doctor's recommendation. In a child with allergic rhinitis, treating the allergy also reduces the nosebleeds.