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My child's nose is bleeding - how do I stop it?

Emergency numbers: 108 ambulance · 112 national emergency · Poison centre (AIIMS, 24x7): 1800-116-117

Quick answer: Sit your child up leaning slightly forward - never back - and firmly pinch the soft part of the nose for a full 10 minutes without peeking. Most nosebleeds stop within a few minutes. If it is still flowing after a second 10 minutes of pressure, call your doctor or go to the emergency room.

🟢 GREEN - You can usually manage at home when

  • Blood comes from one nostril, started suddenly, and stops within 10 minutes of proper pinching - this is the usual childhood nosebleed, common in dry weather and in children who pick or rub their nose.
  • Afterwards, keep your child quiet for a while - no nose blowing, picking, or rough play for a few hours.

🟡 YELLOW - Call your paediatrician today if

  • Nosebleeds keep coming back, or routinely last longer than 8-10 minutes - your doctor may check the nose lining and, if needed, test for a blood clotting problem.
  • Your child also bruises easily, bleeds from the gums, or there is a family history of bleeding problems.
  • Dryness seems to be the trigger - ask your doctor about a simple saline (salt-water) spray, and be cautious with medicated nose drops or sprays unless your doctor has advised them.

🔴 RED - Call your doctor or go to the emergency room NOW if

  • Bleeding has not stopped after a second full 10 minutes of correct pinching.
  • The bleeding started after a blow to the nose or a fall.
  • Your child is pale, weak or dizzy, or the bleeding is very heavy.

🆘 SOS - What to do right now, step by step

  • Sit your child up, leaning slightly forward, and let the blood drip out - give them a bowl or tissue to catch it.
  • Pinch the soft part of the nose (below the bony bridge) firmly between your thumb and finger. A cold compress on the nose helps if you have one.
  • Keep the pressure on for a full 10 minutes. Do not keep opening to check - that is the most common reason a nosebleed restarts.
  • Still bleeding after 10 minutes? Repeat the pressure once more.

❌ DO NOT

  • Do not tilt the head back or lie your child down - blood runs down the throat and can make them vomit.
  • Do not stuff tissues or cotton deep into the nose.
  • Do not let your child blow or pick the nose for several hours afterwards.
  • Do not use medicated nose drops or sprays for a nosebleed unless your doctor has advised them.

What is happening and why

Almost all childhood nosebleeds come from a delicate web of tiny blood vessels just inside the front of the nose - exactly where small fingers, dry air and forceful blowing reach. Pinching the soft part of the nose presses those vessels closed so a clot can form, and leaning forward keeps blood out of the throat and stomach.

A nosebleed that keeps recurring or routinely outlasts 10 minutes of correct pressure deserves a doctor's look, because occasionally it signals a clotting problem rather than a local one.

This page is for first-aid education and does not replace examination by a doctor. In an emergency, call 108 or 112.

Sources (last checked 13 Sep 2026)

Approved for publication by Dr Anjana Alekhya, MD (Paediatrics) · Based only on AAP/IAP guidance · Published 13 September 2026