How to Stop Nosebleeds in Infants

When the protective lining of an infant's nose is dry, injured or irritated, nosebleeds can occur. Breathing dry air, nose picking and a blow to the face are all common causes of nosebleeds in infants. If your infant has one nosebleed, there's probably no reason for concern. However, you should consult your doctor if your baby has more than one nosebleed to find and treat the root of the problem.

Things You'll Need

• Tissue or washcloth

Instructions

1. Find a clean tissue or washcloth.

2. Place the infant sitting up in your lap with his nose pointing towards your knees. Tilting the baby's head backwards can cause the blood to go down his throat and into his stomach.

3. Squeeze your baby's nostrils gently to stop the blood from flowing out the nose.

4. Apply consistent pressure for 10 minutes. If the nosebleed is in both nostrils, be sure you apply pressure to both nostrils. However, if bleeding only occurs in one nostril, you can leave the other nostril open to help the baby breathe.

5. Sing songs, offer toys and provide distractions to help keep your baby calm and help slow the bleeding. Crying can bring blood to the face, making the nosebleed worse.

6. Check the nose after 10 minutes to see if the nose is still bleeding. If bleeding persists, apply pressure for an additional 10 minutes.

7. Set a cold ice pack or a cold washcloth on the bridge of the nose to try to stop the bleeding.

8. Call your doctor if bleeding persists after 20 minutes of pressure or if your baby shows any other symptoms.

References

• iGoBabySafety.com
• Child and Youth Health