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Kids Health Info

Nosebleeds

  • Go to first aid

    Key points

    • A nosebleed is when a small blood vessel inside the nose gets damaged and starts bleeding.
    • It is very common for children over two years old to have nosebleeds.
    • They are often caused by minor things like nose-picking, the common cold, or a bump to the nose.
    • Most nosebleeds are minor, painless, and stop in under 10 minutes with simple first aid.
    • Nosebleeds often look worse than they are.
    • If your child is under two and gets nosebleeds, you should speak with their doctor.
    • See a doctor or health professional for treatment if your child’s nosebleed does not stop with first aid.

    What are nosebleeds?

    A nosebleed is when a small blood vessel inside the nose gets damaged and starts bleeding. Blood vessels in the front of the nose are very close to the surface, so they are easy to scratch or damage.

    It is common for children to have nosebleeds. They are rarely a sign of a more serious condition. Most nosebleeds are minor and stop in under 10 minutes with simple first aid. While they are not usually painful, children may get upset about a nosebleed due to the sight of the blood.

    What causes nosebleeds?

    Nosebleeds are often caused by minor things such as:

    • Nose-picking
    • Bumping the nose
    • Viral illnesses in the nose, throat, and sinuses, including the common cold.

    They may also be caused by:

    • Blowing the nose too hard or too often
    • Sensitive blood vessels that burst and bleed in warm, dry weather
    • Nasal allergies, such as hay fever
    • A foreign object in the nose, such as if a child gets something stuck in one nostril
    • Straining due to constipation
    • Some medicines, such as anti-inflammatories or medicated nasal sprays
    • Very rarely, an underlying medical condition, such as blood clotting problems.

    How to care for nosebleeds at home

    Nosebleeds often look worse than they are. The actual blood loss from a nosebleed is usually very small, even though it can look like a lot on tissues and clothes.

    They are unusual in children under two years old. If your child is under two and has a nosebleed, you should take them to see a doctor.

    The following basic first aid steps almost always work to stop a nosebleed at home.

    During a nosebleed

    1. Keep your child calm and reassure them that they are okay. Try to stop them from crying, as it can make bleeding worse.
    2. Sit your child upright and get them to lean forward slightly. If they are young, they can sit on your lap.
    3. Pinch the soft, fleshy part of their nose firmly with your fingers, just below the bony bridge. Do not pinch the bony bridge, as this is usually where the bleeding is coming from. Your child can do this themselves if they are old enough.
      • Their head should be tilted down, not up.
    4. Ask your child to breathe through their mouth while the nose is pinched.
    5. Hold pressure on the nose for 10 minutes without stopping to check if it is still bleeding. This will feel like a long time, so it is best to use a clock or set a timer to make sure you hold pressure for the full 10 minutes.
    6. Stop to check if the nose is still bleeding after 10 minutes. If the bleeding continues, pinch the nose again for another 20 minutes.

    Do not:

    • tilt your child’s head back – this can cause them to swallow blood
    • let them lie down
    • check the nose too soon or too often
    • wipe, blow, or disturb the nose.
      •

    All these actions can stop the blood from clotting.

    Nosebleeds medical illustration. On the left, there is a blue shape of a parent sitting down, with a child sitting on their lap; the parent is holding the child's nose and the child's head is pointed down. On the right, there is a pale-skinned boy with dark hair in a blue tshirt; their head is tilted down, and a hand is holding the fleshy part of their nose

    Other helpful tips:

    • Encourage your child to spit out any blood in their mouth.
      • Swallowing blood is not dangerous, but it can irritate the stomach and cause vomiting.
    • Offer your child a cold drink or an icy pole to get rid of the taste of blood.
    • Your child may find it comforting to have a cool towel or ice pack wrapped in a towel on their forehead or the bridge of the nose. However, you must apply firm pressure on the soft, fleshy part of the nose at the same time to stop the bleeding.

    If your child’s nosebleed does not stop with first aid after 30 minutes, they may need further medical care. A doctor or health professional can stop a severe nosebleed with treatments such as:

    • Cautery (chemically burning the blood vessels)
    • Spray, cream, or ointment
    • Packing the nose with special dressings, such as gauze.

    After a nosebleed

    • Let your child rest quietly for 12 to 24 hours.
      • Calm activities such as reading, drawing, or watching a movie are best.
    • Avoid giving your child hot drinks, hot food, hot baths or hot showers for at least 24 hours.
    • Encourage your child not to pick or blow their nose for 24 hours.
      • If they have had cautery, they should not pick or blow their nose for one week.
    • Your child should not do any intense exercise for at least 24 hours.
      • If they had a severe nosebleed and/or treatment from a health professional, they should not do any intense exercise, heavy lifting, or straining for seven days.
    • If a health professional packed gauze into your child’s nose to stop the bleeding, it needs to stay in place for 24 to 48 hours.
      • Do not remove it yourself – your child's regular doctor will do this.
      • If the packing falls out on its own but the bleeding does not start again, you do not need to take your child back for further care.

    Preventing nosebleeds in future

    To reduce the chance of your child’s nosebleeds coming back:

    • Keep the nose moist – Use a saline nasal spray on your child regularly. When their nose is dry, apply a very small smear of petroleum jelly onto the nostril entrance once or twice a day for several weeks.
      • Avoid trying to put ointment deep inside the nose.
      • Do not use petroleum jelly on children under two years, as they could inhale it.
    • Treat allergies and infections – Try to manage any nasal allergies your child has, such as hay fever. If they have a virus, such as a sinus infection, speak to their doctor or a pharmacist about whether they need any treatment.
    • Avoid cigarette smoke – Keep your child away from cigarette smoke.
    • Reduce straining – Increase your child’s fluid and fibre intake if they are constipated. If your child is straining to poo, speak with their doctor or a pharmacist about a stool softener.
    • Check medicines – Ask your child’s doctor or a pharmacist if any medicines may be causing their nosebleeds. Some examples that can impact bleeding include anti-inflammatory medicines and medicated nasal sprays.

    If these measures do not work and your child keeps getting regular nosebleeds, it is best to speak with their doctor.

    When to get help

    Call an ambulance (000) if:
    • your child is having trouble breathing.
    • your child looks very pale, drowsy, or stops responding.

    Go to a hospital if:
    • your child’s nosebleed does not stop after three or four rounds of firm pressure.
    • your child swallows a lot of blood and keeps vomiting it back up.
    • your child’s nose is bleeding heavily or keeps coming back despite first aid.

    See a doctor or health professional if:
    • your child is under 2 years old and has a nosebleed
    • your child gets a lot of nosebleeds within 48 hours, and first aid does not stop them.
    • your child’s nosebleeds are always from the same nostril.
    • your child has a family history of bleeding disorders and/or bruises easily.
    • your child has other symptoms, such as an ongoing blocked nose or nasal infection.
    • your child’s nose is causing them pain.
    • your child's nosebleeds are heavy, do not stop with first aid, or they get them more than once a week.
    • you are worried your child has an object stuck up their nose.

    Look after your child at home if:
    • the bleeding stops using first aid.
    • they are otherwise well.
    • they do not have any other worrying symptoms.

    Common questions about nosebleeds

    My child gets multiple nosebleeds close together. Is this normal?

    Sometimes nosebleeds happen in clusters, with several bleeds over a few weeks. If this happens, but the nosebleeds stop with first aid, there is no need to worry.

    After a nosebleed, it is hard to get my child not to sniff or pick at their nose for a whole day. What can I do?

    A nose full of dry blood is not a pleasant feeling. It is normal for your child to want to sniff, blow, or pick at it. Try to distract them for as long as possible to give the blood clot time to stabilise – even 15 minutes without sniffing, blowing, or picking will help.

    Can a nosebleed cause anaemia?

    It is extremely rare for children to lose enough blood to cause problems like anaemia unless they have frequent or very heavy nosebleeds over many weeks.

    When should I worry about a nosebleed?

    Most nosebleeds in children are harmless and stop with simple first aid. Talk to a health care professional if your child often gets very heavy nosebleeds that do not stop with first aid, or they are younger than two years old. You should also seek medical advice if their nose is causing them pain; it seems blocked; or you are worried they have an object stuck in there.

    For more information


    Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

    Reviewed June 2026

    Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

Updated July 2025

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