My 21 month old Daughter gets motion sickness. Any suggestions for our long car rides? HELP!?

Question

My 21 month old daugher gets sick about 80% of the time on car rides over 1 hour long. I am so tired of her suffering when we travel and I am not excited about cleaning any more messes. I am looking for any solutions. I know medications are limited because of her age. I am open to any suggestions that you all might have. We are going on a 4 hour car ride tomorrow and I am dreading the thought of another bad road trip.

HELP, HELP, HELP!

Thank you!

Answer 1

Dramamine can be used for 2 years and up.  I would use it for your daughter.  She's so close to 2 years.  Just give her the lowest dosage.

The bonus is she will probably sleep most of the ride...

Answer 2

My neice has this problem and when they were going on a long trip the doc said to give her childrens benidryl (spellin?) It will make her drowsy and more calmed and relaxed. they said she did great the ride there and back. But ask her doc first before giving any medicines!!! Good luck!!!

Answer 3

Kids Drammamine is for ages 2 and up. Ask your pediatrician if it would be alright for her to take it. He may suggest a lower dosage than on the package. Just check, it doesn't hurt.

Rear facing seats are NOT recommended for car sick children actually.

Try to keep her window open as much as possible. Fresh air helps prevent motion sickness.

Stop frequently. This will allow her stomach to settle.

Have a clean spray bottle filled with water and a hint of mint extract. Spearmint helps to reduce car sickness. Spray it in her mouth once in a while.

Keep things like saltines and flat white soda on hand.

Try Seabands, I heard they work wonderfully.

http://www.familytravelgear.com/page/FTG...

Try Queasy Pops.

http://travelingwithkids.com/proddetail....

Just in case of accidents keep large tubs with covers on them, wipes, extra clothes, and Febreeze on hand.

Have fun and Good Luck!

Answer 4

one of my sons was this way as well.  It is very hard to see them so sick and be able to do very little to help them.  When we were making a very long trip(from Utah to Illinois) I decided to ask my dr what I could give him to help him through the trip.  I was told he was too young for Dramamine (he was only 14 months old).  But he did say that I could give him some Benedryl.  He said the idea behind this is that he will be drowsy and more relaxed.  He said he may even sleep during the ride.

I feel this really helped as he slept other than when we stopped for breaks.  Because he slept he did not get car sick.  This made the trip easier for my whole family as the car didn't smell and my oldest daughter didn't throw up when the baby did (she did that a lot when he did).  

It would be best to contact your doctor and see what they recommend this way you get the correct dosages.  Mine had me giving my son only a half a dose just enough to relax him some.  I would also suggest you try the medicine at least one time before the trip.  Some kids have the opposite of the normal effect from medicine.  meaning that it may make him hyper rather than the normal relaxing side effects.  Better to know before that the medicine is reacting as it should.  Than have a crazy kid because you didn't check before hand

Answer 5

Make sure her car seat is a rear facing car seat (so she is looking out the back window) and not a front facing one, since most car sickness is caused by the sensation of objects moving toward you, not away.

Answer 6

My daughter gets car sick too, we just got back from a trip.  10 minutes into the drive home, she threw up all over.  It's so sad and so awful to clean up!  I had to pull over and completely change and wipe her down and wipe down her seat too.  It not very convenient when you are so far from home.  

Definitely don't play a movie for your daughter, I feel that makes it even worse.  I put my in the middle in the back, so she could see out the front window, it seems to help some.  Try giving her crackers to munch on during the drive, it will help calm her tummy.  

I also agree Dramamine might be the way to go, you would only give her 1/4 of the tablet, and that should help her tons.  

Benedryl might be a good choice also, but for my daughter, it doesn't make her sleepy, so what's the point.  Unless you have tried it before and know she gets tired when taking it, I don't suggest it.  You want something to help, not give her medication for no reason.

Unfortunately the only thing you can do, is cover the bottom of the seat with a small towel, take extra clothes, tons of wipes and plastic bags to wrap up the dirty items in.

Good Luck on your trip!!

Answer 7

At the drugstore, they have these things that go around your wrists.  I guess it sits at a certain pressure point and is supposed to help.  My daughter wore those until she was about 10.  The things that added to the problem were a car (shorter, closer to the road).  She also does better in a higher up vehicle, even if it's just a minivan).  Also, if she gets too hot or hungry.  Maybe plan on making lots of stops as well.  Or get a portable DVD player and have her watch a movie.  Usually kids get sick because they're watching stuff outside the windows.

Answer 8

Dramamine IS the right choice. But don't give her the tablets that are in gas stations!

The active ingredient in Dramamine is Dimenhydrinate. It is the same ingredient in Benadryl.  You could give her the children's kind, of course the right dose for her age/weight. Check the box, i am right!!

Answer 9

Hey there... The rearward idea is interesting, but not quite sure it would work with a typical toddler car seat. Plus her legs would be quite cramped!

As for medications, children's Benedryl has some (but not much) efficacy in preventing nausea. I've included a link below showing dosing for children, but you should really talk this over with her pediatrician before giving her any drugs.

Aside from drugs, you can give her ginger. This has an antiemetic property, and is not bad for kids.

I really hope the trip goes well for you... Four hours is a rough ride with a cranky, sick tot!