No one enjoys motion sickness. It’s an awful experience that can ruin a holiday you’ve been eagerly anticipating for months. Whether on a ship, in a car or on an airplane, everyone can experience the motion sickness, including children. Young children aged two to 12 are most sensitive to motion sickness, especially if they encounter shaky motion like rough waters or turbulent air. The good news though, is that their sensitivity to motion sickness diminishes as they grow older.
Motion sickness occurs when our brains feel motion that our eyes can’t see. This causes our brain to become confused. This sensory imbalance causes dizziness, fatigue and nausea. Often times, it results in vomiting, which contrary to belief, does not alleviate the sickness.
While we are familiar with motion sickness, our children may not be able to identify it or express their discomfort accurately. To prevent things from getting messy, keep an eye out for certain tell-tale signs while travelling. Fortunately, it’s easy to tell when our little ones are starting to get sick. You’ll notice your rambunctious little scamp becoming restless and bad-tempered, refusing any food, drink or even play. They may start to yawn frequently from feeling fatigue settle in. And when they start to look pale and sweaty, there’s probably a bout of travel sickness on the way.
Prevention is better than cure
Preventing motion sickness starts before the journey even begins. Avoid feeding your children heavy meals that are more difficult to digest. This includes fried, greasy, acidic foods and dairy products. Make sure they stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water as well. It will mean more trips to the bathroom, but this does help to keep your journey vomit-free.
When travelling, remind your children to look out of the window and far into the horizon. Looking down is known to aggravate motion sickness, so avoid letting your children read or play with handheld devices. To entertain them, try using audiobooks or car games like “I Spy”. If possible, make frequent stops so your critters can stretch their legs and get some fresh air.
Anti-nausea tactics can change with the transport you’re on. When travelling by air, it’s all about location, location, location. Thanks to online check-ins, we can now pick and choose the seats we want. Select a seat as close to the front as possible, failing that, near the wings of the plane. These areas feel the least amount of motion during a flight. If your little one does start to feel unwell, don’t suggest they lie back, instead, get them to stand up and walk around. This helps their body establish a sense of balance and counteract the giddiness.
If you’re taking out into the open waters, acclimate your children to the motions by spending as much time as possible on deck. With the fresh air and the horizon to help maintain their equilibrium, your kiddos will find their sea legs in no time. As a general rule, rough waters are less likely to be felt on a larger seafaring vessel, so you may want to let your child’s first time out on sea be on board a ship rather than a yacht. Also avoid staying in a small windowless cabin, and spring for a stateroom with a balcony they can escape to.
Don’t tough it out, treat it!
Over-the-counter anti-nausea medications suitable for kids are widely available in pharmacies. Some are even available in kid-friendly chewable form. Treatments such as dimenhydrinate and benadryl are safe for children to consume. If you know your child is prone to motion sickness, prep them for the journey by giving them anti-nausea medication one hour before the ride. For a more natural alternative, try ginger capsules. Suitable only for children over the age of six, these contain ginger root powder and won’t cause drowsiness.
Some even swear by anti-nausea bands. Worn around the wrists, these snug band have a round stud that presses against a point in your inner wrists to mimic acupressure treatment and relief nausea. The best part is that anyone can use it regardless of age, and most brands make smaller child-sized versions.
Tried and true remedies
Don’t despair if your child does start to experience the queasy feeling of motion sickness. There are many remedies to ease the symptoms and prevent them from throwing up. Start by passing out the sweets. Yes, you’ll be surprised at how effective sucking on lollipops and sweets can be at alleviating nausea. If you can, press a cold towel on their foreheads or at the back of their necks. The cool sensation helps them stay calm and takes their mind of the dizziness. It also helps to massage their temples gently with essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, ginger, or grapefruit. The relaxing pressure coupled with the soothing scents will help your little one feel better instantaneously.
When our children feel queasy, our first reaction would be to withhold food and drink. However, an empty stomach can worsen the effects of motion sickness. Instead, offer them plain, dry crackers and warm water. If your child likes, she can have some flat ginger ale, which will keep her hydrated while the ginger eases her discomfort. Lastly, remind your little one to breathe slowly and deeply, as quick, short breathes worsen giddiness. Help them to do so by taking them through a few rounds of deep breathing exercises.
Motion Sickness Emergency Kit
10 Items every mama needs to tackle this messy ailment.
- Sick Bags
- Wet Wipes
- Ziplock Bags (for dirty clothes)
- Sweets
- Crackers
- Sea-bands
- Twinkle Multi-purpose Baby Balm
- Hand Sanitiser
- Anti-nausea medication
- Fresh clothes
