Travel sickness in children: treatment and prevention

Motion sickness (also known as motion sickness) is caused by repetitive movements while driving, such as jumping up and down in a boat or driving over bumps and curves in a car. The inner ear sends different signals to your brain from what your eyes see, and these can make you feel uncomfortable. Many toddlers and children suffer from motion sickness, but a few simple tips can help minimize the discomfort.

Dr. Roger Henderson examines the symptoms of motion sickness in children, along with tips for prevention and treatment:

What is motion sickness?

Motion sickness is caused by the brain receiving conflicting signals from the eyes and ears. When we move, our eyes send messages to the brain about our position, but the centers of equilibrium in our inner ears send different signals. So if you read a book in a moving boat, your eyes see a standing book, but your balance mechanisms tell you are moving.

It doesn’t always have to be exercise that triggers symptoms, as other possible causes of motion sickness include:

• Smells.
• Frequent head movements, e.g. B. when driving on winding roads.
• Focus on nearby objects such as books or screens.

Many children suffer from motion sickness, although it often does not start until around two years of age and usually occurs between the ages of 2 and 12.

Motion sickness symptoms

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:

• dizziness
• Not feeling well
• Excessive saliva production
• a headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Eructation
• sweat

For most children, the common pattern is that they feel uncomfortable and have some stomach discomfort, followed by an increase in saliva that makes them trickle. Then they feel hot, turn pale, and eventually vomit. This can happen very soon after a trip or after an hour or two.

Motion sickness in children prevention tips

Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can make the trip much less stressful for you and your child:

1. Plan your trip

Try to plan your trip carefully as there is less chance of motion sickness when your child is asleep. This may take a very early start, but many parents find it worth it! Try to get your child to bed before driving, and then put them in the car without waking them up. If you are out and about during the day, try to coordinate the start with your child’s nap, as they will often fall asleep after a few minutes on the way!

2. Do not feed your children just before the trip

If possible, try not to feed your child right before the trip.

3. Keep the car ventilated

Keep your car cool and well ventilated – open the windows if possible – and make sure your child is not too warm.

4. Eyes on the horizon

While it can be tempting, try not to distract your child with books or computer games, as reading or looking at a screen can make motion sickness worse. Instead, try to encourage them to focus forward on objects on the horizon by playing games like I Spy.

5. Avoid strong smells

Always avoid strong smells (including food) in the car. Do not wear strong perfume or use car air fresheners, and never smoke in the car with your toddler, even with the windows open. Not only does this expose them to the risks of secondhand smoke, but it can also make motion sickness worse. The Children and Families Act 2015 made smoking in cars with children a criminal offense – the law makes it clear that it is illegal to smoke in a private vehicle in the presence of anyone under the age of 18.

6. Use sunscreen

Try to protect the window on the side of your child’s car with a sunscreen so that they not only look ahead, but also from bright sunshine.

7. Use music as a distraction

Music can be a big distraction here. If your toddler is familiar with certain pieces of music, they are more likely to be distracted by the feeling of illness – even if you’ve heard it hundreds of times!

8. Headrest is key

Try to keep your child’s head from moving too much by making sure they are well supported.

9. Make your travel arrangements

If you have a child who regularly suffers from motion sickness, you should always be prepared by bringing towels with you on your trip and placing one over the car seat and one over it before you start your journey. Make sure to pack a set of spare clothes and some plastic bags to stow soaked clothes and towels, as well as towels to freshen up when needed.

10. Persistent Land!

As tempting as it may be, try to resist the temptation to stop traveling whenever possible. There is evidence that motion sickness symptoms appear to decrease with frequent travel exposure, and the majority of children grow out of motion sickness.

Motion sickness in children treatment tips

Usually the most effective drug for motion sickness (also known as scopolamine), hyoscine works by preventing confusing nerve messages to the brain. There are several brands of medicines that contain hyoscine, including soluble forms for children. These can be bought over the counter at the pharmacy for children from two years of age and are very effective. Ask your pharmacist about these and they will advise you which ones are suitable for your child.

Other remedies, such as ginger supplements (like cookies) and acupressure bands, may help, although these may not work in all cases.

last update: 24-06-2021

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source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/travel-sickness-in-children-treatment-and-prevention/