Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds can be alarming; they look like a torrent of blood and seem like they’ll never stop. In reality, they’re generally a harmless side effect of nose picking. Some children are more prone to nosebleeds because their nasal blood vessels are slightly brittle. Warm weather and dry air are also contributing factors. After Jimmy has one nosebleed, you’ll probably see a few more. The blood dries into a crust, which stanches the bleeding, but the crust is brittle, itchy, and bothersome, so kids pick at it, as they would a scab. Result? More bleeding.

To stop a nosebleed, pinch Jimmy’s nostrils at the base for at least five minutes and tilt the head slightly forward. Rest assured, even if the bleeding starts when Jimmy is asleep at night and you don’t perform this maneuver, it will still stop on its own. Moisturizing the nostrils with petroleum jelly so they become less itchy can decrease the frequency of these episodes. If nosebleeds occur very frequently and are profuse, especially before a child is coordinated enough to pick his nose, you may want to bring it to the attention of your doctor.