Children & Travel Sickness

What Is Travel Sickness?

Travel sickness occurs when the eyes send a message to the brain about the  position of the body, while the delicate inner ear balance mechanisms are reporting something different. This results in the brain receiving mixed messages that result in a feeling of nausea, sometimes vomiting and feeling clammy and sweaty.

Many children grow out of travel sickness as they grow older.

What Causes Travel Sickness?

• Motion
• Smells – these can include food and petrol
• Reading a book or map

What Can Be Done To Reduce Travel Sickness In Children?

General Advice

• Avoid heavy and rich meals
• Encourage your child to sit still
• Consider anti-sickness medicines from the pharmacist. Follow the advice on the packaging.
• Consider ginger and peppermint remedies - ginger biscuits or peppermint sweets might be helpful

In The Car

• Sit in the front if the child is old enough.
• Young children should sit in the back seat with a clear view of the road
• Looking out of the window is better than reading or playing games that involve looking down.
• Ensure that the car is well ventilated
• Try to maintain a constant speed and avoid braking harshly

On A Ship

• Sit outside in the fresh air for as long as possible
• Focus on the horizon and not the waves
• Inside the ship find a seat in the middle of the ship on a lower deck. This is where the ship moves least.
• If  your child starts to feel sick encourage them to lie down and keep their eyes closed

In A Plane

• Try to request seats over the wings
• Tilt the seat back and encourage your child to keep their eyes closed