Small cut on finger 4m old wont stop bleeding?

[fabbledabbles]

help! I was cutting my 4m olds nails as he was scratching himself bably, tiny, tiny nick on one finger. Half an hour later is still bleeding (like a heelprick amount but constant). I am a bit concerned as doesnt seem to be slowing down (half an hour ago). On an adult or child you wouldn't worry about it but I am worried about this blood loss as he is so tiny - is it ok to leave it to stop as you would in an adult?

Fingers bleed a lot. Can you put a plaster on it?

I'm not sure, can you tape it up somehow with some little strips of tape?

I have bundled it up with tissue paper and put 2 socks over it as that was the only way to contain it. he was waving his arms around as was going to bed and is normally swaddled. he is going off to sleep ok now I am just not sure whether to leave it or open it all up and see if still bleeding. Shit what a nightmare. am on my own with 3 children, sure am over reacting, just seems a lot of blood.

I would take that lot off, try to tape it together and leave it open but maybe with something on to keep him from nibbling it - have you got any scratch mitts? Sock would probably do it actually.

Don't panic. I'm sure it'll be fine

Without meaning to be rude, you could do with taking a first aid course. The St Johns Ambulance do them.

Do you have any sterile dressings? Steristrips? Clean the wound with some sterile gauze, wiping away from the cut, then apply some pressure on the finger. Once it's stopped bleeding then put a plaster on it.

You can peel their nails to make them shorter, they shouldn't be cut. If you can't do this then use some baby scissors.

I have done a first aid course for each of my 3 children. I was using baby scissors. I tried peeling/biting but it was hurting him. He has excema on his face and was scratching himself to bits. Are you serious about dressing the wound and applying a plaster? He is 14 weeks old, his finger is tiny! Pressure seemed to make it bleed more.

I know I am over reacting I am just panicking that he has a clotting disorder or something!! (why? I don't know - just freaked out by amount of blood I guess). It is the tiniest of nicks, he didn't cry and wasn't bothered by it - I only noticed when went to swaddle him and there was blood on the blanket. He is asleep now, I will wait for a bit then check it I think, no blood coming through the socks so it will be fine I think, thanks all, was contemplating hospital at one point!

I can't see why you are posting on here if you've done 3 first aid courses, it's the same care no matter where the cut is or what age. I certainly wouldn't leave a child to bleed. He needs some scratch mittens.

Sorry if I said the wrong thing. I hope it stops soon if it hasn't already.

I thought you were concerned that it should have stopped and maybe there was something wrong, iyswim, rather than being worried about your first aid skills.

I think, and I could be wrong, that cuts can just bleed more than you'd expect sometimes.

But that is just the sort of thing I would panic about with a teeny baby. I am a bit rubbish with overreacting myself.

x posts, ah I thought that was what you were worrying about. See we are two of a kind. My first thought would have been Oh Gosh he has haemophilia.

Hopefully he doesn't..!

Interesting first thread

fabbles - a very little blood goes an awfully long way - its probably nowhere much as it seems.

If its still bleeding in the morning get him checked, but almost certainly it'll be fine.

Belle, I doubt that will help restore calm.

yes I was, thanks.

I wasn't asking what to do for first aid I was asking whether it was reasonable that it hadn't stopped bleeding after half an hour and whether it was dangeroud to let such a young baby lose such a relatively large proportion of their blood (not that it is a lot just seemed a lot coming from a baby). I was hoping a medical person might tell me whether or not it needed medical attention as I was in 2 minds (despite my first aid training). I was over reacting though I think - has been a v stressful day and was feeling bad about nicking him. Am going to check it now.

Not my first post, have name changed as am feeling bad about cutting him

Give it time Ingrid.

Most of us have sliced bits off/dropped/bashed against door frames (delete as applicable) and usually within the first three months or so.

It is normal and natural to feel guilty about it.

and welcome, if you are new here

ah you're not, well, welcome anyway!

Sorry fabble. There's a great blood supply to the fingers, this is why diabetics use them to test blood sugar etc. If you've applied pressure to the top (where the cut is) and it's still bleeding after 10 mins then I'd take him to be checked. Is there a walk in centre?

I trained as a paeds nurse and have seen other parents do this. It's very common.

Thanks all for your help I was just feeling a bit alone and unsure what to do for the best - thanks for talking me down, believe it or not, he is my third and i have been on here for about 5 years, I should know what i am doing! I think it is just the psychological thing of a bleeding baby.

Anyway, he is sound asleep, I have taken the dressing and socks off and, whilst there is a lot of blood on the tissue, it has stopped bleeding now and you can't even see it. I have put a clean sock over it again so he doesn't start it again in the night. (His scratch mittens are in the bloody car which my DP has)

So he clearly does NOT have a blood clotting disease ...... Thanks.

It's really easy to panic. Here, have some It's good that it's stopped bleeding. I appologise for being short with you.

Thanks, don't worry, I fully expected it. Unfortunately I don't drink at the moment as am bf but DP might have left a bottle of beer in the fridge ......