A.M. asks from Duluth, GA on July 26, 2008
Seeking Suggestions for Stopping Toddler's Nighttime Nose Bleeds
hi, my three year old daughter seems to be waking up alot at night with nose bleeds. it usually stops fairly quickly, and i know that in the winter the heater/dry air sometimes causes it, but it's summer...we are using the air conditioner...do i need a humidifier? any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks!
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S.A. answers from Atlanta on July 28, 2008
Lisa,
I really feel for you. I had the same problem with my son. I brought a humidifier and placed it right next to his bed at night. Sometimes I had to wake up in the middle of the night though and refill it with water again. I didn't mind this so much as I did the nose bleeds that would scare me to death. This method reduced the nose bleeds tremendously. If and when he woke with a bleed I would put a cold wet towel on the back of his neck, have him to tilt his head backwards and also put a cold, wet towel on his forehead at the same time, (you talking about multi-tasking) intil it would stop. I thought this would never end but it did as he got older it became less and less also while using the humidifier. So just hang in there.
L.C. answers from San Francisco on July 27, 2008
Hi L.,
My daughter used to wake up with nosebleeds when she was younger. She is 10 now and haven't had any more nose bleeds. We bought a humidifier and it definitely helped. The chiropractor helped as well.
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L.C. answers from Atlanta on July 27, 2008
Hey - My daughter was having nosebleeds and it turned out that she had high blood pressure and this was te body's way of correcting itself. I know it's a long shot, but you might want to get it checked. Good luck! L. C
G.M. answers from Columbia on July 27, 2008
Just some advice from my Ear Nose & Throat Dr. when I had a nosebleed. He said to never use Vaseline, Vicks, Mentholatum etc. in your nose because it weakens the walls of the vessels, causing major bleeds that won't stop, but to use a "clear" ointment like Neosporine, not a cream type. I had only one major nose bleed in my life, 12 hours it bled and they finally had to pack my nose, really uncomfortable to go through, worse when they take it out and it was caused by using Vaseline in the first place for a dry nose.
Just some food for thought! I have never ever had another one since I now use a clear ointment when my nose is dry.
A.M. answers from Spartanburg on July 27, 2008
My daughter has bad nose bleeds. The ped told me there is a otc med you can put up her nose. It is something like vaseline (saline gel). Ask the ped or pharmacy. I cant remember the name. Hope this helps!!!
C.R. answers from Atlanta on July 27, 2008
Your little one may be experiencing "dry nose" membranes. Fingers in the nose can aggravate small capillaries that will bleed. A small amount of Vaseline in the nose before bed moistens the area and usually does the trick. If these are chronic, have them checked by your doctor. My son was plagued by nosebleeds until he hit puberty, then they suddenly stopped.
Try the lubrication and see if that works. Baby Vicks is OK to use also. It is not as strong as the Adult Vicks but lightly medicated.This is especially good with a stuffy nose.
Good luck,
Cathy
S.H. answers from Atlanta on July 27, 2008
This may or may not be what is going on with your daughter, but as a young child, I had many nosebleeds at night. I would wake up every night with them, and often dreamed that bugs were crawling near my mouth (the tickling from the blood running, no doubt). Anyway, that is neither here nor there. Turns out, I had a very thin vein in my nose that needed cauterizing. After much distress over finding me lying in a pool of blood nightly, my mother took me to the doctor who discovered the thin vein, cauterized it, and I had no further problems with nosebleeds my entire life. I am now 59. I still have the thin vein, as it shows up near the tip of my nasal opening, and I have it cauterized now and then just for appearance sake, but it has not bled again in all these years. Hope this may help.
J.L. answers from Atlanta on July 30, 2008
I highly recommend a vaporizer (cool air) but put a bath mat under it to catch the mist and wash rug weekly--to keep mold down. Also if you can my ped. when I was a kid told my Mom to take a q-tip and dip it into vaseline jelly and line the inside of my nose, just a little goes a long way. this keeps the membranes in the nose moist so they don't rupture. works perfectly! good luck!
Johna
V.E. answers from Atlanta on July 27, 2008
Is she eating a lot of grapes? When I was I was getting nose bleeds nearly every day. Now if I eat grapes it's just a very few and never daily.
B.F. answers from Atlanta on July 26, 2008
yes a humidifer is necessary during the summer many times for people of all ages. The air conditioner takes humidity out of the air yes and it's very drying to the sinus's I used to put a little vasiline around my middle childs nose holes and use a humidifer in his room to help him with not just bleeding but sinus infections yes even in the summer months he got them. If the inside of the nose gets to dry it's a great way to get sinus infections as well. My best wishes to you hope the little one feels better soon with no nose bleeds.
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