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| |    Preventing Nosebleeds by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. No matter what you do, your child is going to have nosebleeds at one time or another. There are several measures you can take, however, that might help prevent some of them. Limit activities. Vigorous exercise can cause nosebleeds to start up again, so it's best to keep your child occupied with quiet activities like reading or drawing for a few hours after a nosebleed. Use petroleum jelly. A little dab of petroleum jelly placed over the irritated area on the inside wall of the nose for a few days may help break the cycle of recurrent nosebleeds. Invest in a humidifier. Since one of the most common causes of nosebleeds is dryness of the lining of the nose, breathing well-humidified air may help protect against some nosebleeds. Central home humidifiers are highly effective, but can be quite expensive. A more affordable alternative is a portable humidifier for your child's room. The best time to run a humidifier is at night while he sleeps. If you live in a dry climate, you may need to keep it running year-round. In temperate climates, the air usually is dry only in winter when the heater is on, so you can limit its use to that season. You also can help moisten the inside of your child's nose with saline nose spray. Encourage gentle nose blowing. If your child's nosebleeds are related to his frequent nose blowing during a cold or bout of hay fever, you can teach him how to blow his nose gently into tissues. An older child may also try gently blowing his nose at the end of a warm shower. The humidity in the air helps loosen secretions, and he can blow his nose into his hand, and then rinse before turning off the water. Discourage nose picking. Although this suggestion is not realistic for young children, try to discourage nose rubbing and picking in your older child. If he has a tendency to pick his nose while he is sleeping, you might consider putting gloves or socks over his hands at night. Also, try to keep your child's nails cut short to minimize damage. Avoid certain medications. Drugs like aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin) can cause a propensity to bleed. Remember that children and teenagers should only be given aspirin under very special circumstances, and then only under the close supervision of a healthcare provider, because of the risk of Reye syndrome.
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