Your toddler's nostrils are a veritable hotbed of delicate blood vessels close to the surface of the tissue lining. When those vessels are swollen or endure trauma, your toddler suffers from a nosebleed. Nosebleeds often look worse than they really are and can be worrisome but rarely are they a cause for concern. Help your toddler by staying calm and treating the nosebleed properly, while protecting him from future nosebleeds.
Causes
One of the most common causes of a nosebleed involves the swelling of the blood vessels inside the nostrils, which is common when your toddler has allergies or is suffering from a cold. The swollen blood vessels becomes delicate, bursting when your toddler blows or bumps her nose. Facial trauma causes the same result, which is why your toddler may endure a bloody nose after a bump to the face. Dry air and nose picking are both irritating to the delicate nostril lining and also contribute to common toddler nosebleeds.
Treatment
When you notice your toddler has a nosebleed, stay calm. If your toddler notices you crying, he may begin to cry, pumping more blood into the nostrils and making the nosebleed worse. Act quickly and use a tissue and pressure applied to the bridge of the nose to stop the bleeding. Arrange your toddler into a comfortable position and lean his head forward to avoid swallowing the blood. Should the nosebleed last longer than five or 10 minutes, put an ice pack on the nose to reduce swollen vessels.
Prevention
Preventing nosebleeds begins with anticipating the reasons your toddler suffers from the occurrence in the first place. Nose picking and dry air are remedied through habit reformation and a humidifier, respectively. If your child suffers from allergies or a cold, treat the symptoms using approved, over-the-counter medications and fluids to keep the nasal passages well-lubricated. Since toddlers are naturally clumsy, facial trauma isn't completely preventable.
When to Worry
In the majority of toddlers, nosebleeds are routine and rarely a medical issue. Consult your doctor only if you cannot stop the bleeding yourself, the bleeding is the result of a severe blow to the head or is accompanied with fluid or bleeding in other areas of the body, such as the mouth or ears. Talk to your doctor if your toddler has recently started a new medication or your toddler has begun having nosebleeds with a chronically stuffy nose.
