My daughter gets frequent nosebleeds. Any idea what's causing this or how to make them stop for good?
- Val

A nosebleed once in a while is common, and can occur in kids for many reasons (including having a dry nose or nosepicking). To help prevent nosebleeds, keep your child's nails short to prevent injuries from nosepicking, keep the inside of the nose moist with saline nasal spray or dab petroleum jelly gently around the opening of the nostrils, and humidify your child's room using a cool mist humidifier (which must be cleaned frequently).

However, if your child gets frequent, heavy, or hard-to-stop nosebleeds, contact your doctor. Frequent nosebleeds in some cases can be the sign of a more significant problem, such as a bleeding disorder. Even if your child only has occasional nosebleeds but also bruises easily or bleeds easily from other areas, like the gums, let the doctor know.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: August 2011