How can you make a trip as pleasant as possible for children with motion sickness?
What causes motion sickness? Travel sickness is the name for carsickness, airsickness and seasickness all in one. Motion sickness is caused by your eyes seeing something different than what your body is experiencing. The balance organs, which normally give signals to the brain and muscles to keep your balance, get confused as a result. As a result, you may become nauseous. Other complaints that can occur with motion sickness are yawning, sweating, a listless feeling, headache and dizziness. The condition appears to be more common in children than in adults, probably because the vestibular system in children is not yet fully developed. Moreover, they are often in the back of the car, so they cannot see the horizon, which means that motion sickness strikes faster.
How can you prevent motion sickness?
To prevent motion sickness, it helps to eat something like yogurt, sandwiches or fruit just before a car ride. Not too much, it is better to eat smaller portions more often. It is also useful to open the car window slightly for fresh air. As a driver, you can take into account someone who has motion sickness by not braking too much and not accelerating too hard. Also try to find distraction by, for example, playing a game. Before you know it, it's time for a break. It is recommended to stop approximately every 2 hours. Walk back and forth during the break or kick a ball.
The most important tip:look outside
Don't let your child play on the tablet, game console or phone, as staring at the device can make him or her nauseous. It is better to look outside and fix your gaze on the horizon. That way you have a fixed focus point that does not upset your vestibular system. Make sure that your child can see outside during the car ride. If necessary, use a booster seat and do not cover his window with towels or sunscreens.
What medicines for motion sickness are there?
There are several over-the-counter medicines available that help to reduce the symptoms of motion sickness. Most drugs contain cinnarizine or meclozine, which reduce dizziness and nausea. A lower dose applies to children than to adults. Be well informed about this. The tablets can be broken so that children can easily receive the correct dose. Take the tablets on time. In addition to being a travel sickness drug, cinnarizine is also an antihistamine and can be used in allergies such as hives or local itching. A handy remedy for the travel pharmacy.
