snowrooster

The thread about traveling w/children made me think of this and thought perhaps someone might have some advice to offer. My 4 year old daughter cannot keep anything down if we travel by car (actually SUV) for more than an hour. Even if we don't give her anything to eat before the trip, she still goes through the motions (don't want to be too graphic, but your stomach is never completely empty it seems). Evidently I was like this as a young child (according to my mom) but I outgrew it. However I'm concerned because now she expects to get sick so I worry her expectation of it may be prolonging the condition. Any suggestions? My 5 year old son has said he is going to save money so we can all just fly on our next trip (though the on time we did fly w/her, she got sick on the car ride from the airport to the hotel!).

annesherrod

I had motion sickness as a child too until about age 12. I remember vividly and it was miserable.

My son got sick on the way to Scotland this past march. It was bad, went through many vomit bags. on the leg home we bought dramamine. it worked like a dream. Give that a try.

angethereader

I'm lucky, I don't get car sick, but my mom and two of my sisters do. They ALWAYS sit in the front seat while traveling.
It's more difficult nowadays because a child cannot sit in the front seat. If possible, put her car seat in the middle of the back seat. Looking forward rather than to the side with scenery rushing past helps.

GoTravel

I used to get car sick also as a child and eventually grew out of it. I know that doesn't help you now but maybe it will give you a little peace of mind?

What does your ped say to do?

The motion sickness medicine sounds like a good idea!

lizziea06

I get boat sick, not car sick, but here are some of my strategies. Dramamine, of course, but it can make you drowsy. If she starts to feel sick, lying on your right side can help. Also, fixing your eyes on the horizon helps as well. Ginger ale, crackers, and lots of distractions.

snowrooster

Good point, GT, I will ask my pediatrician. We had planned to move her carseat to the middle but quickly realized that due to the design and the way the carseat is attached with seatbelts, it would not work.

It's so sad when it happens because she is miserable, but sometimes dh has to laugh. DS turns away from her and hides his eyes and yells "Leah's getting sick, grab the towel" I start throwing the towel back there and encouraging her to breathe (you would think she was in labor). We're driving from Cincinnati to Philadelphia in a couple of weeks so my fingers will be crossed!

FainaAgain

I was and still am like this, my kids are like this too.

Now that I know about ginger, no problem. You can buy capsules to swallow, start them the day before the trip. This is the spice, the root sold in chinese stores. Dried and put in a capsule, sold in all pharmacies like Walgreens, Rite Aid, supermarkets.

I've heard for small children ginger ale is enough, but can't confirm that, never tried.

Give her something to eat before travels, and keep her stomach full. Don't allow her to look at something close, like pictures in the magazines (I assume she can't read yet?) or electronic games.

Can she count? Make her count something she can see far away, like how many white cars?

Of course, there are meds like Bonine and Dramamine, but they make you drowsy, and who knows what other side effects.

kansasmom

My daughter suffers from this too. Dramamine is great and works well for her. She never falls asleep after taking it, but it calms her down and prevents the motion sickness.

jlm_mi

Bonine is non-drowsy, and dramamine makes a non-drowsy formula. There are also prescription anti-motion-sickness meds available. I'm not a very pro-medicine person, but I do religiously take dramamine when flying, as I also experience great motion sickness. I never have outgrown mine, but at least I can usually contain it in a car if I can look out a window, keep from getting too hot, and don't ever, ever try to read, watch a movie, etc.

If you're not comfortable using OTC meds like dramamine on your own (not sure what the package labels say for a child her age) definitely check with her pediatrician. But do consider them as an option - they can be a real lifesaver in these situations.

heymo

Another alternative is a product called "Sea-Bands". Basically they are wristbands with a patch that acts as a pressure point. My stepson constantly got car sick, and these were a lifesaver! Can be purchased in most drug stores. And no drugs...

gail

Bonine and Dramine Less Drosy are the same medication - meclizine (also called Antivert). Regular Dramamine is a different medication. Ask her pediatrician which s/he recommends and try it out on a trip close to home to see which she tolerates better.

I do not know if they make Sea Bands to fit kids, but I also get sea sick and it really does become a self-fulfilling expectation for me - wish I could control my mind. Not sure if Sea Bands actually work physiologically on me or if it is my expectation that they will - but might have same effect on her.

Some people get less sick if they have something bland in their stomach like crackers.

suze

snowrooster, I can't believe you forgot the experience!!!

anyway, our family rules included, facing toward, no reading, things like that. both my sister and i were horribly affected. we outgrew it but not for a LONG time (i still can't do boats!).

girlonthego

My daughter occasionally gets carsick. She is best riding with a full stomach. The early morning rides with an empty stomach are what gets her the most ill. She is 12. She does feel better riding in the front seat. Now that she is older, this is easier to allow. Of course, this means I am squashed in the back! We need a bigger car

She has never gotten sick on an airplane.
We have taken snorkel cruises and she is fine. I have often wondered about a large cruise ship and whether any of us would get sick.
I would agree with talking with her pediatrician for recommendations. It is a shame to have to puke every time you are going on a trip.
Good luck

Devonmcj

One thing for sure I can tell you not to do is give her red Hawaiian Punch and hot dogs during the trip. What a disgusting mess! You can tell your little girl that my 9 yo son thinks puking on every vacation is the funniest thing in the world. Maybe that will cheer her up. No matter how prepared we try to be, he always manages to find a time we forgot to bring a barf bag. It does seem to help if we make him stop reading and look out the window in mountainous areas. We still haven't found anything that works on car rides following a plane trip. Next time, we'll give the Sea-Bands a try

snowrooster

Funny. We found out early on the hard way that BBQ & French Fries aren't a good idea either! I tried sea-bands when I was pg and had morning sickness & didn't think they really helped. But it might be getting to be a mental thing for my daughter - she announces she's going to get sick along the way before we even get going. Maybe if I convince her the sea-bands will stop it from happening it will be a self fulfilling prophecy!

suze

Pea Soup is not good either (at Anderson's on a California road trip one summer... my sister SAID she didn't want that soup!!). That story became family legend.

hdm

If all else fails...bungee cords and roof rack?

padams421

Our 10 year old still gets carseat butnot as muchas whenhe was younger. Don't let her look down during a car ride- no books, lap toys, etc. On long car rides, I read to the family for entertainment while hubby drives. Looking out the window games such as counting cars also works.

LoveItaly

Hi snowrooster, I use to get carsick as a little girl too. Not fun for anyone.

In that you can not let her ride in the front seat a few suggestions. Make sure the driver of the car drives smoothly. My father was a great driver but he had the habit for some reason of speeding up on mountain curves and even when going around corners. His father drove the same way. That after a bit made me carsick.

Also, my father never wanted to stop. If you could perhaps let your little girl get out of the car say every hour and walk around a bit that might help. My father started doing that after I leaned over him to tell him I was going to be ill and consequently threw up all over him and his beautiful suit, lol.

With morning sickness dry french bread sure helped..maybe that would be something to try. My Italian nonna told me to eat the bread as it absorbs the acid. At least with morning sickness it really worked. Best wishes.

pepper131

My son, now 13, always got sick in the car - you never knew when it would strike!! I always has gallon size freezer bags in the car for him.

Plus, he'd eats lots of saltine crackers and drink Coke (something about the phosphoric acid calms the stomach).

For plane rides and some car rides, he'd take non-drowsy Dramamine. Thankfully...he has out-grown it.