They may seem scary, but are generally common among children.

Nosebleeds are a common part of growing up, especially in young children between the ages of three to ten years.

A nosebleed happens when the blood vessels on the septum (the firm tissue which divides the nose) break. It can happen out of the blue, but the most common causes are forceful sneezing, nose blowing, nose picking (a favourite of many kids) and infection.

While it may shock you, it's usually nothing to panic about.

Taking care of a nosebleed:

• First calm your child and sit them down comfortably, tilting their head slightly forward. This stops the blood from running to the back of the throat, which can cause coughing, gagging or vomiting.
• Encourage your child to breathe through the mouth.
  
• Next, softly pinch the soft area of the nose (just below the nose bridge) with a clean tissue or your fingers for 10 minutes (don't stop too soon or the bleeding will start again).
• Reassure your child.

However, you should take your child to a doctor if your child:

• suffers from frequent nosebleeds
• has inserted something up the nose
• bruises easily
• bleeds heavily from minor wounds or places like the gums
• is taking new medicine.