Although nosebleed is a common complaint in children, it can be a horrifying experience for the child and for the parents as well. Learn why it occurs, how to stop it, how to offer comfort to the baby, and how to prevent it.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Stop the Bleeding
Step 1. Assess the situation
If the nosebleed is due to a fall or other injury, make sure there are no other serious injuries, especially if the baby fell on the face or was hit in the face.
If he has hit something with his face and there is swelling in addition to the blood, you must take him to the pediatrician as soon as possible, as he may have a broken nose
Step 2. Transfer it to the most suitable place to manage the bleeding
If possible, take it to the bathroom (or some room with no carpet, as blood can stain it). If you are in a public place, it is best to keep the child out of sight of people: he may get agitated by seeing people staring at him or some people may faint or feel sick at the sight of blood.
Step 3. Place the baby in an appropriate position
The head must be higher than the heart, to avoid exerting additional pressure on the nose and increasing the flow of blood; for best results, have him sit on a chair or keep him on your lap.
If you put him in a reclined position, blood can flow down his throat, causing him to feel sick and vomit. it is much better if you sit with your back straight
Step 4. Have him spit out the blood that enters his mouth
Grab a tub, handkerchief, or place your baby in front of the sink and ask him to carefully spit out the blood. For most people, the taste of blood is unpleasant and if a lot of it is ingested, it can cause vomiting.
Step 5. Help the baby to lean forward
Whether he's in a chair or on your lap, you need to get him to lean forward a little to reduce the risk of him ingesting blood.
- If he is on the chair, place your hand on his back and gently push him forward;
- If he's on your lap, have him lean forward, pushing him gently.
Step 6. Clean up any blood you see
Use a handkerchief, towel, or some other soft tissue and wipe away any visible blood.
Step 7. Invite the baby to gently blow his nose
If he is able, help him get rid of the excess fluid in his nostrils.
Step 8. Keep his nose stuffed for ten minutes
Use your fingers to pinch his nostrils; do it gently; if you squeeze too tightly, you can put him in trouble and if you cause him some injury, you can aggravate the situation.
- Resist the urge to clear your nose before ten minutes have passed, as this could break the clot that is forming.
- Be careful not to cover his mouth at the same time - he must be able to breathe freely.
- Distract him. Depending on his age, he may need some distraction while you are keeping his nose blocked; an effective idea is to show him the TV show or book of his choice.
Step 9. Check for bleeding periodically
Once you have closed your nose for the allotted time, check if it is still bleeding; in this case, continue pinching the nostrils for another ten minutes.
Step 10. Apply a cold pack
If the bleeding continues, put something cold on the root of the nose; in this way, the blood vessels narrow, reducing bleeding.
Step 11. Let it rest
When the nose stops bleeding, let the baby relax; ask him not to touch or blow his nose.
Step 12. Determine if you need to call your pediatrician
If the baby is injured, you need to seek immediate medical attention; you must call your doctor even if any of these situations occur:
- You have performed all the steps described so far, but the blood continues to come out;
- The child suffers from nosebleeds several times a week;
- You feel dizzy, faint or pale
- He has recently started taking a new drug;
- There is a suspicion or certainty that you have a bleeding disorder;
- Experience a severe headache;
- You have bleeding in other parts of your body - for example your ears, mouth or gums - or you notice blood in your stool
- He has unexplained bruises on his body.
Step 13. Clean the area
Once you have taken care of the baby, you need to remove any blood that has fallen on furniture, floors or countertops using a disinfectant.
Part 2 of 4: Comforting the Baby
Step 1. Stay calm
In most cases, you don't have to worry about a nosebleed episode; if you panic for no reason, you can scare the baby and aggravate the situation; try to stay calm as much as possible.
This rule applies even if you are sure that the blood is due to the fact that the little one has picked up his nose. This is not the best time to get angry or upset, or to scold or embarrass him; keep calm and manage bleeding before assessing the cause
Step 2. Explain what is happening
He might be scared mainly because he doesn't understand what's going on; keep your voice low and calm. As you go through the steps to stop the bleeding, explain what you are doing and why.
Step 3. Reassure him physically
Once the blood stops, show him affection, hug him or cuddle him to comfort him; Explain that although a nosebleed can be scary, it does not mean that he is dying or that he is very ill.
Part 3 of 4: Understanding the Cause
Step 1. Know that the child's behaviors increase the likelihood of nosebleeds
The nose contains many thin blood vessels that are easily irritated when poked or poked. Since babies are very curious and often clumsy, they are more likely to cause nosebleeds; they could stick their fingers or some small object in the nostrils, they can often slip and fall; these are all behaviors that increase the risk of nosebleeds.
Step 2. Be aware that frequent colds can cause this ailment
When the baby is cold, he tends to rub, blow or touch his nose repeatedly, thus irritating the sensitive internal mucous membranes.
Step 3. Be aware that there are some medications that can trigger the problem
If the child is taking antihistamines in the form of a nasal spray, he is at greater risk of suffering from nosebleeds; these drugs dry out the nasal passages, making them more susceptible to irritation and bleeding.
Step 4. Evaluate the weather conditions
Cold, dry weather can trigger a greater number of epistaxis episodes; this problem is often aggravated by internal heating systems, which tend to dry out the nasal mucous membranes, which then become more sensitive and prone to bleeding.
Part 4 of 4: Prevention
Step 1. Ask your pediatrician if the disturbance may be due to a blood clotting problem
Although this is rare, the baby's nosebleed could indicate a condition that prevents the blood from clotting properly. Your doctor may prescribe tests and check for this problem.
In most cases, children with bleeding disorders come from families where some members suffer from the same pathology. If you, your spouse, or other family members have this disorder, you should speak to your pediatrician right away. Also check if the baby has bleeding in other areas of the body or if it bruises easily
Step 2. Keep the baby's nasal passages moist
If you often experience nosebleeds, in the evening you must apply a humectant product such as petroleum jelly inside your nostrils to keep the nasal cavities moist; for the same purpose, you can also use a saline spray, drops or a gel.
You can also turn on a humidifier in his room; this device prevents the ambient air from drying out excessively, preventing possible future bleeding episodes
Step 3. Avoid allergens
You can prevent nosebleeds by clearing the baby's room of dust and other allergens that can dry out the nasal mucous membranes and cause this nuisance. Keep the baby away from smoking; if any family members smoke, make sure they go outside when they want to light a cigarette. Pay particular attention to carpets, curtains and plush toys, as they can retain allergenic substances.
Step 4. Trim the baby's nails
At this age they are curious creatures and tend to pick their noses often; by keeping the nails short, there is less chance that the nose will bleed.
Step 5. Pay attention to the power supply
Make sure your baby is on a nutritious diet, with plenty of healthy, non-industrially processed foods. Avoid artificial sweeteners, as they can suppress the immune system; Include foods rich in healthy omega-3 fats in your diet, which strengthen your immune defenses and make your blood vessels stronger.
Advice
- Avoid putting a handkerchief or anything else inside the baby's nostrils in order to stop the bleeding; when you remove it, you can break the clot that is forming, causing bleeding to resume as a result.
- If you feel uncomfortable about getting blood on your hands, consider wearing a pair of thin plastic or vinyl gloves while helping your baby. you can find them in major supermarkets near patches and other first aid products.
- Blood can stain your clothing, especially if you don't rinse it completely before it dries. Wash as soon as possible the clothes that the child has soiled and do not use the clothes in place of the handkerchief, unless it is the only possibility.
