Motion Sickness For Kids

Motion Sickness For Kids | Medication, and Tips

Growing up, I was not too fond of traveling. When my parents would enthusiastically ask me to get ready because we were going somewhere, it made me grumpy! Well, I love the outdoors, and I love going to places. But what I do not like is the journey heading to the destination! I suffered a lot from car sickness, making it even close to a traumatic experience for me every time we travel. Goof thing, I was able to outgrow it! Now, I can fully enjoy all the adventures without having to worry about car sickness.

But how about those children who seem to go through this phase? I know that this is also difficult for them, and if we can do something to make them more comfortable, we should do something.

What is Motion Sickness

Motion sickness, also known as travel or car sickness, is a condition in which the child’s brain signals conflict with the motion-sensing part of the system, such as the eyes, ears, and even the nerve extremities. The inconsistency of the signal received by the child can trigger motion sickness. For example, when a child is seated at the car seat at the back, they can hear the movement, but her eyes cannot. So, this leads to confusion about the signals being received by the body system.

Motion Sickness For Kids | Medication, and Tips

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms include an upset stomach, producing cold sweat, loss of appetite, and extreme fatigue. When not appropriately managed, vomiting occurs. The child may have these feelings if they keep on yawning, crying, or changing from natural color to pale.

Motion Sickness for Kids | Medication, Tips

What are the causes?

A lot of research suggests that motion sickness or car sickness is more evident to children than to adults because it is the counterpart of migraine. So, it is technically the same feeling, but on a different level. A cause of this may be riding a car, boat, or plane, anything that entails moving. The motion paired with the waves or turbulence will be the primary trigger factors for car sickness.

Motion Sickness For Kids | Medication, and Tips

What to do | Travel Tips

If it is possible to give the child some moments to re-gather their strength, then do so. If driving, stop in a safe place and let the child rest for a while. This will help the nauseous feeling subside a bit.
If it is a long trip, dedicate some time for stop-overs. This will help the child rest in between the long journey. Plus, you can also get the chance to buy some freshwater or head to the comfort room if they need to urinate or vomit.
Before the trip, let the child eat light meals or snacks only. Overeating could trigger motion sickness since there would be a lot of content to vomit.
Entertain the child! As awkward as it may sound, letting the child be entertained for some time through music, singing, or story-telling could divert their attention from the nauseous feeling.
Let the child see the movement outside. Focusing on one object while moving could trigger ill-feeling. So, let them watch the activity.

Motion Sickness Medication for Kids

If you think that your child is prone to motion sickness, ask the pediatrician for proper medication. Most of the time, these medicines are available over the counter and are easy to purchase. Fifteen to twenty minutes before the travel, make the child drink the mixture. The only downside of this is that it might make the child too tired later on.

Motion Sickness for Kids | Medication, Tips

When to consult a doctor?

Suppose there are times that the child experiences motion sickness even when in a steady position or even lying in bed. In that case, this is an indicator something is going on within the system of the body sensors. So, consult the medical professional.

Helping the kids go through car sickness is easy! In return, we will be able to enjoy the journey free from crying and vomiting moments.

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Motion Sickness For Kids | Medication, and Tips