Calling all Moms..best remedies for car sickness???

Question

I would really like to hear any success stories on treating car sickness in an older child. Any experience with the wrist bands, ginger gum, natural remedies?

My youngest who is 8 gets car sick a lot. I've had her eyes checked, thinking that might be causing it. They were perfect.

We live in the country, so windy roads are just a fact of life here. HELP!

Answer 1

When I was little, I threw up almost every time my parents put me in a car. Rolling down the windows didn't help, but sitting in the front seat did. The front part of the car bounces and shakes less, so motion sickness is less acute. Also, some cars have better suspension than others--the poorer the suspension, the worse the motion sickness. As a side note, to this day, I am more comfortable riding in cars that are higher off the ground. I don't know why.

For long trips, why not try packing bubbly mineral water and some freeze-dried ginger capsules? Don't pack soda--sugar just makes nausea worse. You can get the ginger pills at a health food store, and they sometimes help me when I'm feeling nauseous or motion-sick (they're not fail-proof, though). Mythbusters did a segment on ginger and motion sickness, and it was found to be remarkably effective--it might be what your daughter needs.

Answer 2

I would defiantly give the "Sea bands" a try...they worked for my morning sickness and they come in kids sizes...But nothing works for my 3 year old but Dramamine!

Answer 3

Make sure the temperature in the car is cool.  A little crack in the window and inhaling through the nose out the mouth will relax her.

*Have her look in the direction of travel.  

*Don't look at the road, look out at the furthest point she can see.  (No sitting up front, safest place for a child under 12 is in the back seat).

*Sit up straight so the body is comfortable and her spine is not under any stress.

*No reading/video games/TV while traveling.

*Medicine is not the answer!

*Are you on a hill?  Even the slightest elevation and combination with the winding road will make one get sick.  If so, reduce your speed a little going around those bends.

*Consider contacting a Licensed, Professional Acupuncturist.  It does not hurt, I've had it done myself for both motion sickness and migraines.  I thought, "yea right, what a joke".  Glad I did it because I spend a lot of time patrolling on land and water!)  Costs between $75-$130 (takes about 1 hour) depending on where you live-more closer to larger cities- anything more they are over priced.  Only took me one visit but that was me it may differ for her.

*Have her eat light if you forsee a trip in the car.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I have been suffering for carsickness since I was very young. I have tried everything from pills to wrist bands, with very little luck.

Wrist Bands didn't work at all, but I suppose they couldn't hurt to try with your little one. They are very easy to use, just slip on both wrist and make sure they are in the proper place.

Car sick pills worked the best for me, however they would make me so tired(even no drowsy), that about 5 hours after taking them I would be falling asleep. Last summer I was a nanny and would help the mother take her children to places once or twice a month. I would take the pill at about 8:00am, and by 1:30 I would be falling asleep. I literally needed to go to bed and I would sleep from the afternoon until the next day(so be sure your child doesn't have a reaction like that before embarking on a trip).

I have heard that ginger pills work well, I am trying those next.

Another thing that helps me is to not look out the side windows. You may want to try a portable dvd player to keep her attention focused away from the windows(as the movement can cause sickness).

Answer 5

I live in  west Virginia, we have the curviest roads in the country, and my cousins all used to get carsick when they were younger, the best way we found to help is those bands that go on their wrist and press the little pressure point there on the wrist, they actually WORK and have no medicine, or chemicals in them to be harmful.

Answer 6

my 8yr old son does this too he is okay when he has a drink in reach, also he always lays down when it gets too bad he lays on his stomach.

Answer 7

Sitting in the front seat works the best. OOps, sorry I just reread that she's 8. Having fresh air helps a lot.

Gravol tablets can help, but that would be for a longer trip.

Answer 8

My parents always remedied it with a sing along ( yes stupid) or playing a count the cars or count the color cars game.. I was terrible when I was little.. the ginger altoids and a little bottle of water with me helped too.

Answer 9

Well, I was the same when I was a kid. If we just went five blocks to the store I'd yak everywhere. What helped me was sitting really straight up in the front seat and looking at nothing except for the center line. Also, keep some air moving in the car, because the warmer I got, the more I wanted to puke. Good luck, I know it's a crappy thing to have to deal with.

Answer 10

I also had major motion sickness as a kid, and still do to an extent as an adult.  I agree looking straight out the front window is the way to go.  (Definitely don't let her read or anything in the car; that makes it worse).  I've tried wrist bands with no success whatsoever, but it certainly can't hurt to try.

The only thing that really helped me was Dramamine, though I'm sure you don't want to medicate your child every time you have to drive to the grocery store.  It may be worthwhile for long trips, though.  I'd suggest talking to your pediatrician.

Answer 11

try to get them air and look outside dont look down