Avoiding Child Motion Sickness

While traveling the open road with kids in tow, there is always the possibility someone will get carsick. In the confined, close quarters of a family car, that is not a pleasant experience for anyone. By taking a few simple precautions, parents can help their child feel better, and make everyone happier.

For an older child, consider speaking to your doctor about one of the many medications for motion sickness. Use caution, though, the medicine is likely to make the child sleepy.

If possible, travel at night. A sleeping child is less likely to become ill.

Keep the child as cool as possible. Open a window or run the air conditioner. Parents in the front may be chilly, but the child in the back will feel better. Hand held fans that spray water may help, as well.

Have the motion sick child sit in the front passenger seat, they're less likely to have problems there. If that's not possible, the next best place is the middle of the back seat an look through the front window.

Plan to stick to freeways and major straight roads, when possible. Twisty, bumpy roads will aggravate motion sickness.

When you figure travel time, allow for frequent stops. Know how long your child can ride in the car before getting sick, and try to stop before then.

Some children can avoid motion sickness by eating small, frequent snacks during the trip. Other children shouldn't eat all while in the car.

When packing snacks, choose small, easy to digest foods. Crackers, bananas, apples, and ginger cookies are good choices. Ginger of any kind is known to help ease the stomach, but stay away from carbonated drinks, the bubbles will most likely make nausea worse.

Try to keep the child occupied to help keep his mind off his turning stomach. Consider bringing along hand held video games or a portable DVD player.

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