How to Treat a Bloody Nose While Babysitting

Bloody noses are one of the most common first aid situations babysitters face — and they look a lot scarier than they are. This Babysitter Boss episode walks you through the doctor-approved way to treat a bloody nose so you can handle it calmly and confidently every time.

I’m not going to lie; I sort of love horror movies. The shocks, the screams, the blood everywhere. But, in the real world of babysitting, blood everywhere is downright gross. Not as gross as poop, but still gross. But if you’re a babysitter you need to be prepared to deal with blood because sooner or later, you’ll come across a bloody nose.

Bloody noses are pretty common with young kids and if you’re babysitting a kid gets a bloody nose, they’re going to come to you to fix it. Forget what your mom made you do when you had a bloody nose. This is the Babysitter Boss, doctor-approved way to treat a typical bloody nose.

How to Treat a Bloody Nose: Step-by-Step

Have the child sit down and lean forward so the blood doesn’t drip down their throat (do not tilt the head back). Grab a tissue or paper towel. Even a washcloth or hand towel will do in a pinch. Now squeeze the outside of the nostrils with your thumb and first finger for five minutes. If you’re babysitting an older child, they can do this themselves.

Make sure they sit quietly until the bleeding stops. That’s it! Pretty easy, huh.

When to Call the Parents About a Bloody Nose

Now if for some reason the bleeding doesn’t stop or is really heavy, contact the child’s parents for help. And if you have access to disposable gloves, you should always use them before handling blood or any body fluids.

How to Clean Up After a Bloody Nose

Finally, always properly dispose of used tissues and towels that were used to treat a bloody nose. If Kleenex tissue was your go-to blood absorber, throw that thing away in the garbage. But if you had to use Grandma’s antique tea towel, just put it in a plastic bag, tie it up nicely, and let your employer know about it when they get home.

Check out more Babysitter Boss videos and find out what to do when things go wrong.