Why does my child get nosebleeds?

Q: My four-year-old daughter gets frequent nosebleeds. We attributed it to dryness and put a humidifier in her room, but they still occur. What's going on?

A: Dry air is most often the culprit when it comes to nosebleeds, and a humidifier is a good idea. (Make sure it is a cool-air humidifier and not a hot-water one, to avoid scalds.) Nose picking is another cause, despite parents’ attempts to discourage this habit. If you make sure your child’s nails are kept short, often the nosebleeds stop. See your doctor if these measures don’t do the trick, or if your child has other excessive bleeding or bruising (beyond the banged-up shins common with little kids). Nosebleeds alone are not a sign of a bleeding or clotting disorder.

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