Travel with Children - Travel Sickness
For me, travel with children conjures up memories of school trips and that poor kid who had to sit at the front of the bus, who inevitably ended up vomiting everywhere except in the tiny sick bag...and the stench...
Now, as a parent, I have a whole new perspective on travel with children and motion sickness - since I'm now the one holding the sick bag and cleaning up the mess!
Travel Sickness Explained
In my own (non-scientific) terms, travel sickness is the result of our brain becoming confused by mixed messages. Our fluid inner ear tells our brain that we are moving this way and that, but our eyes (focussed on something different, like a book) tell our brain that we are still. The result in many children (and adults!) is the onset of motion sickness symptoms.
Apparently, it is quite uncommon when you travel with chilidren under the age of two, for travel sickness to occur. However, our daughter became irritated, pale and then vomited watching her lap DVD player on winding mountain roads at 20months, so it can happen. Under the age of two, the best and only options you have are Non-Medical preventatives as opposed to the Medical Treatments available for older children and adults.
Travel Sickness Symptoms
If you’ve had motion sickness before, you will know how it begins and ends, but if you’re among the lucky few with iron clad stomachs, here are the usual symptoms to look out for in your child.- First you get a funny tummy, feel a little squeamish – your little one will likely display irritable unhappy behaviour.
- Next you get a watery mouth, salivating more than usual – look for dribbling.
- You then feel really hot, but actually turn pale (or in my case green) - this is your sign to get a carrier bag!
- This is usually and quite rapidly followed by retching and vomiting and crying (yes, me included!)
If this a common occurance in during your travel with children family trips, our shared sympathy. |
If you haven't already done so, it’s handy to note what it tends to set off the motion sickness - winding roads, focussing on a book or handheld game, certain foods – then you can plan in advance or simply try to avoid them in the future.
- Temp and air flow. This makes a big difference to the onset of motion sickness. Hot stuffy environments don’t help - fresh air does.
- Food. Avoid acid inducing meals before you travel. Dry biscuits and bread sticks are better than oranges and apples.
- Sleep. If you child sleeps, they are unlikely to get ill – try to coincide the journey with nap time.
- Focus. Encourage your child to look up, rather than down. Avoid anything handheld (games, books) use a headrest attached DVD screen instead.
Or even better, play games that involve looking out the window.
- Headrest Support. If you have a particularly susceptible child, get them a secure headrest/better seat. This could reduce the movement of their head which can help stabilise the inner ear (which of course is the root of all evil when it comes to motion sickness).
- Take a break if you can, when travel sickness does set in. Grab a snack and some fresh air. If that’s not possible then be sure to have some wet wipes, a towel and a change of clothes to hand.
- Be prepared. Prepare for the worst when you travel with children by packing sick bags and wet wipes close to hand.
Kids tend to grow out of travel sickness. Probably not because they suffer from it less (I'm a perfect example), but more likely because the older they get the more warning they can give you of the symptoms – giving you more time to intervene with a preventative.
So what are my treatment options for motion sickness in children? Click here to find out.
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