ds gets car sick

Hi All,

For a long time now we know that ds gets car sick. He sits in the middle of the back seat of our Mazda 323.

Just wondering if any of you give your children medication for motion sickness?

We got home Friday from a long road trip to Sinai, Eqypt... 7 hours... and due to a bad start - the taxi ride from the boarder crossing to our car - all the way home Noam was suffering.

I'll have to ask our pedi next time... but was wondering what you all do.

Thanks

 

I know that one of Marieber's girls gets car sick, I'll point this out to her! I don't have any personal experience!

 

awww, that must be very rough! I hope you get some great advice!
Can you move him near a window?

 

Oh god, we did have the worst car sickness. Melissa in particular couldn't make it three blocks in the car without getting sick. We tried window shades, and liquid Benadryl when they were younger (a histamine blocker can help and I get that because I am also prone to car sickness and also really sinusy). But she HATES liquid medicines. So I was really really happy when we could start using Dramamine chewables for long trips. Those unavoidable family commitments. For short trips, well we stayed home a lot but we also got in the habit of carrying lots of extra clothes around.

So in short, the Benadryl never really worked for us because she wouldn't take it and got so upset by it it wasn't worth it. The Dramamine did work.

BUT...here's the good news -- well for us and maybe hopeful news for you. She got over it, mostly. She's been receiving OT for sensory issues for a year, which is probably helpful. I think it's helped her get in touch with her body in space. We also got a new car -- a minivan with tinted windows. I think the space, the big front window, the air circulation in the car, everything has helped. But actually she doesn't get sick in the old car much anymore either.

I haven't given her a Dramamine since March.

And this was a bad bad bad case.

I know getting a new car might not be an option, so I don't know how helpful this is. But I'd definitely try the Dramamine, or whatever similar product you have available over there.

QUOTE(Amanda @ Oct 7 2007, 09:26 PM) [snapback]439900[/snapback]
awww, that must be very rough! I hope you get some great advice!
Can you move him near a window?


Actually, I think having the center view of the horizon is better. Side window views can be really carsickness-inducing.

 

My oldest son has carsickness and Dramamine worked wonders for us. Before then we had him sit in the center, look out the windshield or sleep, and hold a towel and a bucket on his lap. Sounds gross, but if you know he's going to puke anyway you might as well come somewhat prepared. I agree with Marie that a van seems to be better since his carsickness decreased after we got our van as well.

 

Thanks for the advice.

I wasn't sure if Dramamine (which I need to take for plane rides) was safe for children. It isn't sold here, but I'm sure his pedi can perscribe something. I can always have my mom send me some Dramamine if needed.

Stop and go traffic sets Noam off too. I've found that he does best in the middle of the back so that he can look out the front.

 

FTR, we used Dramamine only after getting the advice of our pediatrician. I just gave them 1/3 of a chewable tablet, which is what he recommended.

HTH! Best wishes. I know how horrible it is to experience your child in such discomfort.

 

QUOTE(marieber @ Oct 8 2007, 01:38 AM) [snapback]439926[/snapback]
Actually, I think having the center view of the horizon is better. Side window views can be really carsickness-inducing.

As a motion sickness sufferer, I can tell you that there is NOTHING better than sittting next to an open window. The fresh air works wonders.

I suffered terribly as a child and dreaded entering the car. What worked was:
open window for fresh air
spicy foods sometimes calmed my queasy stomache, so I'd take along some spicy potota chips or the like
sitting toward the front, never put your child in the back seat of a van. It is TORTURE. I still become sick today in the back of a van. If it's possible have him sit in the front, but I don't think at that age, you can. Just remember as he grows a bit older that that's a solution.

 

The most important: I forgot about these!!!

Sea Band These truly worked for me. It basically presses the accupuncture points that help with nausea. I really couldn't travel without them.

Good luck

 

I haven't noticed any issues yet, but I think it will be inevitable. Both my mother and I suffer from car sickness. I can't sit in any backseat to save my life.

Both kids are sitting on the sides now, but I'm prepared to move one into the middle if necessary.

I will feel awful if I passed this onto one of the kids. It's just horrible.

I think they started giving me Bonine around 5 years old. Back then we weren't in carseats for long and didn't have airbags, so I spent most time in the front seat with the window rolled down or the vent blowing on me. I could handle being in the car for no more than 1 hour.

Triggers for me are quick movements - like braking suddenly, last second lane changes, windy mountain roads, stepping on the gas, letting off the gas, repeat (these kinds of drivers can make me sick within 5 minutes!).

 

I'm so sorry to hear that your DS get motion sickness. I've been suffering from it since I was a few months old and for some reason it has gotten worse post-pregnancy. My children do not get carsick so I don't have any advice for young children, but I do agree with the PP's suggestions like sitting in the front and getting fresh air. Other things that have helped me are: taking Bonine (it tastes much better than Dramamine), sipping 7-Up, eating saltine crackers, sleeping, and chewing gum. I found the following things make it worst for me: traveling on a full stomach, doing any activities (i.e. reading), doing things with my hands, being near strong fragrances (i.e. perfumes, leather or that new car smell), and turning my head to talk to other passengers. I did try Transaderm (a patch you put behind the ear) years ago and the only thing I remember about it is that it made my mouth dry. The SeaBands have helped some of the time. Also, be aware that motion sickness medications make you drowsy (I take the absolute minimum dosage). Good luck!