Car Sick Child

When I was a child I used to get car sick. It helps to sit in the front seat rather than the back. Also, loud noises made my sickness worse. A quiet car helps. We always took some saltine crackers that helped to settle my stomach. Try these ideas and see if she has better luck traveling.

I am a new member to this site, so forgive me for adding my 2 cents so late. My daughter suffered (and still does from time to time) motion sickness. The absolute remedy for her was taking her to an acupuncturist for ACCUPRESSURE. This Dr. simply selected an ingredient/seed a little larger than a mustard seed and using medical tape applied it to her upper ear in a specific spot. The "seed" had no medicinal value, he supplied me with quite a few, and I reapplied as necessary. She wore it all the time for a little over a year. We had instant solution to the problem & today she will pinch her upper ear in that spot to help alleviate queasiness. Total cost $10 (10 years ago in CA), no medications and she traveled the USA with no problem!

My daughter has gotten motion sick since she was an infant (I just didn't know at the time, I thought she was eating to much). She is 8 1/2 years old now.

I have found that she gets sick most often if A) she doesn't eat first - especially in the morning, and B) if we are going somewhere that has a lot of turns on the way. These don't have to be at the same time.

She is old enough for Dramamine now, but if we forget to bring it with us, the following has been a life saver.

What I have done is made "sick bags" like on an air plane. I purchased the rolls of "scented diaper sacks" and keychain dispenser. Safety 1st is one of the companies that makes them, or if you have a dog (or even if you don't) then you can buy the cute patterned ones at the pet store. Buy the ones you find are less expensive and use them for both needs if you like. I'm the only one who knows the difference (my dog doesn't "do her business" on walks so I haven't used them for her). I misplaced my last roll just before a long trip and couldn't find any in the "baby" department so I went to the pet store. The bags were a different size and wouldn't fit the hoop I had, so I had to buy a new hoop, too. Buy an embroidery hoop from the needle point section of Wal-Mart, Michael's, etc., that fits the opening of the bag and fits around her nose and mouth but not too big that the vomit can splash back in her face. I bought the bags and then took one bag with me to "try on" the embroidery hoops to get one that fits. Open the embroidery hoop by separating the two hoops (inner hoop and outer hoop), open the bag, place the bag INSIDE the INNER hoop, fold the bag OVER the OUTSIDE of the INNER hoop, place OUTER hoop on top of the INNER hoop & bag, secure the OUTER hoop to keep the bag from slipping out. I prefer the spring-style of hoop instead of the nut-&-bolt style because it's easier to put together. You now have a ready-to-use "sick bag".

I always keep one ready in the pocket behind my seat. If my daughter feels ill she can grab the bag, let me know, and I can safely get to a place where I can pull over instead of racing to get off of the highway or out of traffic to avoid a mess. The hoop keeps the bag open for her so that all she has to do is concentrate on throwing up IN the bag, not holding all of the sides up to her face, and it is easier to hold on to something solid than just a limp plastic grocery bag as it gets heavier with vomit. This has caused the grocery bag to slip out of her hands and make just as big of a mess. She was always so sorry for making a mess AS IF SHE COULD CONTROL IT. This gives her control and dignity. The scented bags have the added "baby powder scent" benefit. I keep twist-ties from bread bags in the car and just close the bag and am not bombarded with the vomit smell while I get to a trash can. As soon as one is used, I refill the hoop.

If you have the ability to turn off the passenger seat airbags, then maybe she can ride up front with you when there isn't another adult riding with you. She can look out and y'all can point things out to each other and she has the added benefit of the air vents being adjusted to her.

Hope this helps others. I love this site!

Donna K

P.S. I found my original one after the long trip, so now I have a set for each vehicle.

I glanced over the postes and didn't see anyone suggest this. I may have missed it but it worked great for my daughter. It is a homeopathic over the counter called Highlands. They have remedies for a number of things. I gave them to my daughter as an infant. We could not get three blockes from home without her vomiting. Their teething tablets work great also. You can find them at Henry's or a store of that kind I am sure. They just disolve in their mouth. Good luck!
D.

I think the driver is part of the problem usually.

My 6 yr old tells me she hates it when I drive. I would imagine that I don't stay straight on the road.

Also, when my parents drove me when I was little, two things made me sick. My dad, put the gas on, and took the gas off, and put the gas on and took the gas off.

Also, smoking in a car with a kid isn't too smart, which made me so sick!

Both my daughters (7yrs. & 11 yrs. old) have this problem. Thankfully my 11 yr. old seems to be outgrowing it. YEA! I completely understand how they feel b/c I have always been extremely sensitive to motion sickness. Here's what I've learned from personal experience:
1. Position her in the middle of the back seat if possible so she has an unobstructed view of the road.
2. Encourage her to keep her eyes looking straight ahead toward the horizon in terms a 3 yr. old can understand.
3. Don't provide any toys, books, or activities to play with as this requires her to take her eyes off the horizon which is what promotes the motion sickness.
4. Be sure there's adequate ventilation and she doesn't get too warm - particularly once she begins to feel sick. Keeping her cool is key.
5. Once she complains of feeling sick, your best way to avoid getting sick in the car is to pull over immediately and let the feelings subside. Coke is known to calm upset stomachs so while my children do not normally drink soda, this is the one time they get to have one. It usually helps.
6. We have empty coffee cans, baby wipe boxes, etc. on hand and within reach so when she can't avoid vomiting there's not a huge mess to cleanup.
7. Dramamine is a GREAT product. On long trips I use the regular formula b/c it causes drowsiness and they also have a non-drowsy formula. Ask your pharmacist about it if you're unsure.

Hope this helps. Happy travels!
S. W.

I didn't have time to read all the responses, so maybe you already heard about this: motion-sickness wristbands. They are avaiable in most pharmacies, have NO medication (hurray), and, amazingly, work! I bought them for my daughter who was always carsick, and after a couple of trips, she didn't even need them anymore. They work by applying pressure to the wrist (lightly), like acupressure, that works on the part of the brain that suffers from the motion sickness. No meds, no pain, no mess! It was win-win for us!
Good luck!

I have never seen so many responses! Just to let you know, you can find the wrist bands at AAA offices and at some travel agencies. You can also get the homeopathic "No Jet Lag" & " No Seasick" pills there, too. They REALLY work! I get dizzy AFTER flying or boating and these have stopped it. Went to Italy and back without getting jet lagged or motion sick while I was there.
Here's something else that just happened. I went on a school field trip last week. The 5th grade classes went to the Pacific Science Center and then on the Argosy Boat Tours in the Puget Sound (which was AWESOME by the way). The teachers gave the kids ginger snaps before they got on the boat. It was a beautiful sunny day & the water was flat & calm. The only movement was when the ferry boats went by. Everyone was doing great- no seasickness. I went down below and there were a few kids looking queasy. We had them nibble on the ginger snaps, drink a little 7-up, hard candy or suckers to suck on (they thought that was great!) and I put my bands on their wrists. Then we went up above to the sunshine & fresh air and they were good as new. No puking on this trip!

Dear L.,

I was not going to respond - with 105 (to date) responses, I am sure you are overwhelmed. I have not read them all, but skimmed through quite a few of them and didn't see the bracelets we used for my daughter - they are elastic and have a plastic "bubble" on them that you position to put pressure on a certain part of her wrist (pressure point/accu-pressure) - it worked for my daughter - and no drugs! (I see everyone saying to use Dramamine - but if your pediatrician said no, I say err on the side of caution!)

Good luck!
B.

My daughter did the same thing from about age 2 to about 6 years old. We would give her crackers right before we drove anywhere- something bready to soak up the tummy acid. This helped A LOT!! No milk right before driving - up to 2 hours. For longer trips, we had to give her dramomine (over the counter medicine for car sickness). I think it was a half a pill when she was really little and then by 5/6 years it was 1 pill. On the box the ages started at 6 years old.

ok, this might sound odd... I have never dealt with a car sick child, luckily, but I did have a car sick dog... The advice I was given was to attach a leather strap to the underside of the car somewhere, so it touches the ground while driving. I don't remember the logic behind it, but it did work. My dog rode in the car for 3 hours and didn't get sick. She would normally not make it after 10 minutes.

From About.com:

Preventing motion sickness on road trips

For so many families, summer vacation means loading up the car and heading out on the highway... But what if your child gets motion sickness?

Fortunately, a number of simple tricks can help.

What is motion sickness, anyway?
Basically, motion sickness results from a conflict between the eye and ear: the inner ears detect that the car is moving, but the eyes-- focused within the car-- do not. The brain gets conflicting signals, and nausea results.

Usually the child will first complain that she feels queasy-- allowing some time to fix the situation before actual vomiting starts.

As always, prevention is best.

Tips to prevent motion sickness in the car

1. A Far Horizon

encourage your child to focus on a distant point outside the car
play car games like "I Spy" that get the child to look outside
bring along books or songs on cassettes or CD's; your child can listen while looking out the window
limit activities such as reading or playing hand-held video games, where the eyes stay focused within the car
for toddlers in car-seats, position the seat so that the child can see outside
2. Avoid Rear Seats

many families nowadays have mini-vans, and kids seem to feel the van's motion more in the rear seat
facing backwards is to be avoided too (Some station wagons have back-facing seats in the rear)
3. Fresh Air

a child on the verge of queasiness may feel better if the window's open
Also, no one should be smoking in a vehicle with kids inside!
also avoid strong-smelling foods or snacks
4. Settle the stomach

a child fighting queasiness may feel better if he munches on a dry cracker
An empty stomach is notbest for avoiding motion sickness
avoid greasy and hard-to-digest food
5. Smoother Driving

the less braking and swaying the better
a suspension system in poor shape can make things worse
6. make FREQUENT STOPS!

plan enough time on your trip to stop and let your child(ren) get out of the car
7. Watch for early signs of motion sickness

Make sure to listen, if your child says he's feeling sick or dizzy. Also, pay attention if she loses her appetite, or appears pale or sweaty.
8. motion sickness drugs

over-the-counter drugs are available for motion sickness, as are some alternative-medicine remedies. Remember that alternative medicines can be as potent as drugs. It's best to be cautious and always seek a medical opinion before medicating a child.

to be effective against motion sickness, most drugs need to be taken beforethe trip starts.

For more on medications and alternative remedies for motion sickness, see Tiny Travelers, or Canadian Driver.

Frequent stops are key for motion sickness
Stop at free playrooms at fast-food restaurants, or stop for picnics, or stop at rest areas and toss a frisbee or ball... and the more stops you make, the less you'll have to deal with fidgety kids and "are we there yet?"

Fortunately, infants seldom get motion sickness. Toddlers and preschool ages are most susceptible.

Remember: it's in everyone's interests to stop the car beforethe child actually gets sick!

My children get that way from time to time. They are a bit older, 9 and 7 so they are no longer in car seats. I have them move to the middle of the back seat so they can see the road ahead of them. My optomotrist told me once that motion sickness is caused by weak eye muscles so that when you are moving and trying to look at a fixed object, your eyes can't focus steadily and that can cause motion sickness. So, I don't let them look at books in the car. He said that people with motion sickness should either drive or ride in the front seat so they can see ahead of them. You just can't exactly do that with children. We also crack the back window if it is cool outside to give them fresh air. Hope that helps!!

I was never carsick until I became an adult. I take 3 ginger capsules when traveling and can ride on carousels or ferris wheels as long as I've taken the ginger about 20 mins beforehand. The dog would get carsick riding for an hour, just laying his head on the floor. I started giving him 3-4 gingersnap cookies before his ride and he sits up in the seat now looking out the window. Try giving your daughter a couple gingersnaps and sipping gingerale before the ride. There are also tablets from the health food store for motion sickness.
Be well,
C.

I have this(37 years old) and my daughter does too....it has improved in both our cases, since we no longer read in the car and no movies in the car...we tell her to look out the window and that helps. Also might want to try the SeaBands that are recommended for cruises. You can get them at any pharmacy...they worked for me on my last cruise...good luck
T.

My daughter has always had this problem....chewable dramamine works wonderfully. You can get it at walgreens, cvs, etc.

This can also be related to mild congestion or inner ear trouble - try a decongestant (suitable for her age/size) just long enough to take effect before heading out. If it works, you might want to talk to your doctor to see if she has allergies or inner ear trouble.

hi L.,
my children don't get car sick, but i did when i was little. car sick, bus sick, boat sick! i learned the best thing for my tummy was to keep it as empty as possible prior to long car rides etc.. i also learned having my window cracked open to get a bit of fresh air helped. another thing that helped is sucking on a piece of peppermint hard candy, it settles your stomach. oh, and one more, i found if i read in a movie car it definitely got worse!! hope these ideas help. sincerely, L.

Google "homeopathic remedies for motion sickness" there are several and I know of friends that have had good success with them.

If she's old enough to tell you her tummy is hurting, she should be old enough for medicine. Our little one did this from when she was very small. She could barely make into town and we were constantly stopping by the side of the road.

Our doc put her on promethazine and it's a life saver. It works wonders, but does make them sleepy. We make sure she eats before we leave, then takes the medicine.

Try again with your doc...there's not much more disgusting than cleaning up vomit on a long trip!

Okay, I have an 18 yr old that when he was younger, no matter where we went, He would get sick. so then one day I told my Mother in Law about this and she told me to stick a brown paper sack against his stomach tucked into his underware and under his shirt. since then We have never had a problem! and now he is 18 yrs old and a major book worm so when he is not driving, He reads in the car! infact, he now prefers to read and not drive!! so he lets his 16 yr old brother do the driving so he can read. We have tried this trick with neices and Nephews and it really does work. so give it a try!!

Hello,

My daughter would get car sick in the car regularly at that age and she started when she was around 2 yrs. old getting sick on the trip to church, about 40 minutes away. I would carry a container in the car, that helped contain the mess. In the meantime, my pediatrician said they usually grow out of this, but she will still get nauseated on occasion. My daughter still can't read or play gameboys in the car, it makes her sick. You can also break the trip up into two shorter segments, stop, get out and get fresh air about half way through or as soon as she complains that her tummy hurts. Rolling down the windows helps my daughter. Your pediatrician should have some good advice on this as well as let you know if there is anything you can give her when you have to take the trip to your parents.

Hi L.,

I have the same problem with my 3 yrs old son, he vomits every time he is in the car no matter how close we go, the only thing that it works for him is the Dramamine, I tried different things from different doctors from a Neurologist to Ears Nose & throat Dr. but it seem like nothing works for him I feel really bad cause most of the time he is home, he is a happy kid but he needs to socialize more, every time we are going out I give him the Dramamine 1/2 of a pill I have to smashed and put in juice 1 hr. before we go He is been like this since he was 8 mos. Old.

Sometimes driving in the far back of the car will do that to me (still). I don't know if you have a car with three rows of seats or two, but if she sits in the far back, try moving her to the middle section. It helps when I can see the road and not just be subject to the motion without knowing what is next. Hope this helps. Because she is so small, of course, don't sit her in the front seat.

go to your local pharmacy (cvs) and you will find a bracelet that very young children can wear to help with motion sickness. there is no oral mediaction. I have heard that it works quite well. Also, a teaspoon of benadryl will probably help cuz it might make her sleepy.

Hello L.,

My daughter not only gets the tummy ache but vomits all the time. No milk products at all no yogurt, cheese, milk 3 hours before and carry ziplock bags and wipes

I know for me I would fall asleep in the car, and then would arrive at the destination feeling fine. You might try scheduling trips near naptime so she can sleep through it. The other thing I have noticed is it helps me to have the cool air blowing on me. My oldest still has problems with car sickness, and when we go on vacation, we have to have blankets in the car to keep warm because we have so much cool air blowing in the car. But no sickness. I find dramamine works only because I am asleep and can't feel the sickness.
R.

L.,
Is moving her carseat into a different position an option? (If she it outboard, move her to the middle, or if she is in the middle move her outboard?) I know this can make a huge difference for some kids.

I have a little girl who has been getting car sick since she was about 7 months old. I can not tell you how many times I have cleaned out my car seat because she has thrown up in the car. I went to our dr's office and was told to try Benadryl or a half of a motion sickness tablet crushed up. I know that they both have an antinausea effect~ I gave them a try. It did indeed work for her. I also made sure that she had a little bit of food on her stomache before we got into the car for an extended period of time. I also had her ears checked ~ she had frequent ear infections and when she had an ear infection, it seemed like the vomitting was worse. Once we had tubes put in, the vomitting stopped.
I can appreciate your frustration. Try the benadryl or the motion sickness medication.

Best of luck to you and your little one. Let us know how things go!

Poor thing...I can relate! I grew up getting car sick daily on the winding road to school and the problem continues even now (I can't even swing since it goes backward!). Since she's too small to ride up front, make sure she's on the passenger side of the car in the seat right behind the front since it's easier to see out. Also, no looking down (reading, watching movies, etc.). if she keeps her gaze out the front windshield that should help. I've heard ginger works, but I'm not sure about for little kids. And you hate to drug her at such a young age.

Good luck! Hopefully she'll grow out of it ;)

Drammamine!!! I had car sickness from the time I was a little kid until adulthood I can't even go to the movies I get such bad motion sickness but drammine helps alot!! I even give it to my oldest son who has this problem as well, also sitting in the front seat helps too I can't sit in back seats or I get car sick and wes is the same way. Ginger oil also helps nausea you might try that too!!

Ok i read several of your responses and lots were good, but i was surprized that no one mentioned motion sickness bands! They are drug free and you can buy them in walmart at the pharmacy!. They are little sweater type bracelets that apply pressure to the nausia (sp) pressure point! I use them to fly and cruise and they are a life saver! At three years old i think if you explain to her that she has to leave them a lone as they will keep her from being sick, she will probably comply! They are pretty much guarenteed to solve your problem without giving her drugs! Yes it takes a yoga teacher to give you the homeopathic remedy!! Lol!! Try it and good luck!

I use Bonnine - - which I like even better than Dramamine. Usually my kids need it for field trip rides on buses or airplanes - - and sometimes in the car.

I started them at 1/2 a pill and then more as they grew. It didn't taste great after splitting the pill - so we would put it in a piece of a poptart (which we then would keep the rest in a baggie for the return trip).

This product works 12 hours and doesn't make me feel anxious after I take it (which Dramamine did).

I ditto the advice already given: cool air, riding in the middle and closest to the front. Travel close to naptime or bedtime since sleeping will deter the motion sickness. And no she is not too young for meds. Every dr. is different. Some say its ok, others say no way. Just adjust the dose properly and you can always ask a pharmacist. You can always try it once and see how she does.

Sorry I am replying so late. I have one of my triplets that gets motion sickness in the car all the time. He throws up within the first 30 minutes of driving. We actually give him a half tablet of Bonnie's or of Dramamine. I have talked with my pedi and they said that was fine. It does make him drowsy but have not had any other side effects. Goodluck!

I don't know if anyone said this (I didn't see it). I don't get car sick, but I get sea sick. I tried these wrist bands from Walgreens. They have two little "buttons" that press very, very lightly into the area underneath your wrists. The idea is that these are doing accupressure on the spot that keeps you from getting motion sick. I cannot tell you how great these are for me when I'm on a boat. Since your child is too young to medicate, I would say these are definitely worth a try!

motion sickness is common. It's the swaying that'll do it. There should be something a Ped. could give you.
If you don't want to medicate, try 2 things- stopping every 15 to let her settle. or get her a high enough car seat to where she can look out straight ahead.

Just looking at all your answers, and surprised no one mentioned chiropractic treatment. It almost always cures motionsickness, rather than just disguising the symptoms. Birth is hard on babies, as well as all their falls and tumbles, and getting an adjustment from a kid friendly chiropractor is about the best you can do for them. Hope this helps.

This is commonly known as car sickness and lots of kids get it. My youngest (who is 23) still has it. There is medication you can give her about 30 minutes before she travels and it will take care of it. Also, they say if she will chew a little ginger root while she is riding, it will also stop the vomitting. The ginger root did not work on my child. She is now able to go short distances without getting sick so your child might grow out of it.

Hope this helps.

I was just 'invited' to join this site - and am so happy I did. The first thing that popped up was this site, and I have been dealing with a 5 year old child that gets very car sick. She is very 'brave' and sits with her purple bunny bucket just waiting, because she knows she always gets car sick if we are in the car more than 20 minutes.
I have already ordered some of the wrist bands to try, as I would rather not go the medication route if possible, however if the wrist bands don't work, I will try the motion sickness medications. Thanks again for all the good suggestions.

When I was young my brother used to get car sick. It wasn't the best experience for anyone else in the car either. My great-grandmother, she passed away 30 years ago- well into her 90's then, told him a story about how she used to get sick on the train when she was young. Her mother took a piece of brown paper bag and cut out the shape of a heart. The paper heart was placed under her shirt over her heart and would prevent motion sickness. She cut a paper heart for my little brother and gently placed it under his shirt. Gave him a kiss and sent him on his way. We drove in the family car - three abreast in the back seat from CT to ME and he was fine!! My Mom saved the paper heart and he used it on long trips for years until he didn't need it any more.

I understand! I'm 40 and still get sick on windy roads and can't read unless the road is completely straight. A little fresh air helps but I think the best thing is the motion sickness pressure point bracelets. They're often called sea bands. You can find them in most drugstores by the dramamine and they make them in child sizes now too. Drug free, works while pregnant too. It takes some learning to get them positioned right and they both need to be on at the same time. Believe it or not but when I was a toddler, my parents put a little cream de menthe in my bottle per the dr. Boy have times changed!
T. in Delaware
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I used to get car sick really bad as a child, and could not go more than 15 minutes without getting sick. I found out for me it had to do with the smell in the car (leather seats in particular) One day I went with a friend and they had peppermints. The smell of it and eating one made me feel much better. Also cracking the window a bit helped. I did not get over this till I became an adult and was able to sit in the front seat.
Good luck

I used to get carsick so bad, but it has pretty much passed. I can't sit in the back seat for very long, but usually don't anyways. One thing I know always worked for me was making sure that I didn't get too warm. Every time I got carsick I was a little stuffy. It would be worth a shot to turn the cool air up for your child on those trips. And make sure she is hydrated.

There are some motion sickness wristbands that are made for kids. I just saw them the other day in a catalog - One Step Ahead. Here is the link: http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/search.jsp?N=0&Nt...

I know that some adult friends of mine have this issue and these wristbands (adult version) worked great for them during pregnancy and such. They are worth a try for $8.95 and not having to take medication.

L.

Hi L.,

I used to get car sick as a child and an adult. I started using a magnetic pad on my stomach and I do not get car sick. I tried it on my 5 year old granddaughter and she did not get sick when she started to feel her tummy hurt. I also make sure we do not eat before we go on a long trip.

If you want more info check out www.nikken.com/ninamarie

Wish you well.

N. Marie

I see that you have gotten lots of good advice regarding this issue. Our oldest daughter (3-1/2) has the same issue ... we have cleaned vomit out of car seats more times than I would care to think about. We bought a spare seat because of it.
We always keep crackers in the car for, give her ginger ale(1/2 water 1/2 ginger ale) & for long trips do dramamine. Since she is older now we have also started keeping a little bucket in the car to get sick in. Works nicely!!!!! I just dump it & rinse.
Good luck! We are in hopes that our daughter will out grow this!

GET HER SOME EMETROL!!! I have been carsick since I was a child and still suffer from it. I keep a bottle in my car, my purse, beside my bed... She is not too young to take it. You can find it in your local grocery or drug store. You can get the generic for nearly half and it works just as well. It goes by the name Anti-nausea Liquid. You can get it over the counter and it works! Here is a link so you can see what to look for:
http://www.brands2liveby.com/product.aspx?id=407

Hi L.,

I've just checked the topics and saw your request for help. Many of you come up with great symptom treatment ides but I haven't seen any advice treating the root of the problem. Sensory processing. Information from our environment and own body constantly being sent to and processed in our brain. If there is a slight over/under sensitivity to any of these information and our brain and body starts playing trick on us.To some degree we can overcome these hurdles. For car sickness and such I would recommend some "heavy work" before entering in the car like jumping, running,marching, stomping, climbing stairs,carry heavy items, squeze hugs or deep pressured back rub, etc. In the car give them a fidgety toy(silly jelly balls, stretchable fabrics,like ACE bandage)that she can play(push,squish,pull) with during the ride. Observe safety precautions though!Like attach it to something close so she can't hurt herself.Ask her to make "sandwich" for you and the whole family by pressing her hands together(kind of like praying position) as much/strong as she can(10reps). That should last the amount of drive you take her. For longer ride when you would stop anyway repeat it.
Give it a try, you might be suprised! And if this safe, medication free approach doesn't work for her you still can turn to more invasive methods.
Take care!

I was with my first child and was easy to get very car sick. my mother in law would have me eat some raw potatoes before we traveled and it worked for me. Try it! hope it helps
E.

My daughter also gets car sick and she will take Dramamine sometimes for really long trips. We also use a homeopathic pill that comes from People's Pharmacy, Hylands Motion Sickness. She disolves it under her tongue and it helps relatively quickly. It doesn't make her sleepy like Dramamine so I do like it better for short trips. Also, sitting her in the middle of the backseat, instead of behind one of us, where she can see out the front window seems to help. I was car sick as a child and it is a miserable feeling so I can relate to your daughter and mine.

L.,
I know you've spoken with your Dr about it, but if the non medication suggestions do not work out for you, I greatly encourage you to go buy some chewable dramamine. It IS safe for children. They give dosages for children 2 years and older. So your 3 yo daughter is old enough. I have severe motion sickness myself and my daughter gets it as well. I eat one tablet myself and divy out a dramamine tablet to all 3 of my kids every time we go anywhere that takes longer than an hour. I know how misserable it makes a trip when you start to get motion sick... So I never chance it.

I hope the other advice you received helps... if she's still getting car sick if those things don't work the chewable tablets are available at walgreens and cvs. I can't remember if I've seen them at walmart or target yet.

All of us have motion sickness. My husband & I get sick on planes. We take ginger pills! Fantastic, non drowsy, non medicinal. Now for the kids: At Whole Foods I got a little bottle of ginger tincture (I think it's called that). We dropped 10-12 drops in a 1/2 cup or so of water, and our girls drink it. Good tasting and it works!!!! The only time it hasn't worked was on one of those horribly windy roads in the canyon for over 20 minutes. Planes and regular car rides are no longer a problem. Started this when our youngest was 5, so with a 2 or 3 year old, I'd start with maybe 4-6 drops and see if that's enough. Ginger won't hourt you! Try it.

Some times it helps if you right wit the window down a little so that she can get some fresh air. Remember the furms still come in side the car even with the A/C on, just not as much. I hope that helps. And try not to ride on such bumppy roads either.

Here's one more - crystallized ginger, available in the spice section. You are never too young to ingest it and it works great. Even for adults - it is a natural remedy for morning sickness, motion sickness, and general queasy feeling that can accompany flu or colds. Many people report it works quicker and lasts longer than Dramamine and it's NOT a medication, which means you can use it as often as you need.
G.

Hi L.,

Our 4 year old has done this since he was about 4 months and thus we created our car seat slipcovers. Please check out our site www.babblechic.com and contact me if you would like one. It makes life so much easier with being able to take your slipcover off to wash after every episode. Also, no dairy the morning or hours before traveling and carry the small cans of ginger-ale with you in your car. We have even given him pepto children's crews a couple of times and it worked. Good Luck with everything I totally understand.

Ginger is a natural motion sickness remedy. You can find ginger candy and gum at some grocery stores, in the international foods sections. If not, try ordering it online, or try to find crystalized ginger or candied ginger in your whole foods or health food store. The gum gets a little hot when you chew it though, just so you are fore-warned.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

I didn't read through all the posts but the few I did didn't mention these bands. I bought myself a pair when I was pregnant with my first child and having a lot of nausea. They work. I wore them with my second pregnancy and use them other times now when I feel queasy. They're worth a try at least.

I just saw your mail and I hope you are still looking for responds!

I have heard about a seat that has been helpful to other parents with car sick children.

I will send you my email address private!

Hope to hear from you,
M.

When our daughter was that age, she had a lot of ear irritations, which turned out to make her car sick. Now she is 9, and we haven't seen any more issues once we kept her ears clear, and put her on allergy medication to help keep her clear.

Dear L.:

I hope you're still looking at replies ... I was a car-sick child (and young adult) and have dealt with the problem with pets as well.

A little bit of candied ginger and peppermint is an excellent way to calm a tummy -- best started 15-minutes or so before travel. Gingerale is excellent, also. Doesn't take more than a few sips now and again, but the carbonation combined with the healing properties of ginger is great.

Pretzels were also my snack of choice ... for some reason the salt seemed to work well with the other homeopathic solutions to maintain a calm stomach.

Good luck!

V.

Our simple solution to our boys being car sick was that we discovered they were fine as long as they didn't have milk before we got in the car. It seems to be the only time they do through up is when they have had milk on a mostly empty tummy. We've eliminated that and we've been fine since.

Sorry I hope you have another L. P because I don't have any children. Thanks
I am aware of 3 in the Oregon City Area and 2 are married.

However I do work with all ages of children.

I didn't read all the many responses, but I did see someone recommended Sea Bands (which put a little plastic piece onto the pressure point to reduce nausea). I have used them during pregnancy as well as on my husband's boat and they work great. I saw at West Marine on Gulf-to-Bay Blvd that they have some for kids. They are on the display in front of the registers.
Maybe this can offer some relief.
Good luck!

I have been motion sick my entire life in cars and boats (although never on roller coasters which I love - go figure!) and have learned a few remedies over the years. First, try some Bonine which is similar to Dramamine but does not make you as sleepy. Second, if you can ride in the front seat, do so - which may not be possible with your child. Third, no reading.

Another interesting thing I have discovered is that if I have an empty stomach, as in my husband is taking me out to dinner - I am more prone to this. If I have eaten something salty beforehand (not while riding, but before), this helps a LOT. Try potato or corn chips. Works for me!

On the other hand, I rarely throw up from motion sickness, so if your child has that issue, keep a bag handy for those "tossed chips"! I have no idea if this would happen, of course, until you try it. All I can say is that for me, it works - and well. I don't even get car sick in the least with a full tummy.

Finally, we switched cars about ten years ago from a small sports car or sedan type, to a large SUV-type truck. We figured out that the wider wheel base on this (i.e. larger more stable axle between wheels) does not make the car move around as much. It's simply not as flexible. Therefore, none of our kids got motion sick any more, and neither did I as much! Wow, what an expensive solution...not one we recognized would happen, but something we were thankful for! I did notice that in our smaller sedan, I am more prone to the motion sickness. I also have to remind my husband to drive with his brain instead of going on auto-pilot, i.e. not slow down-speed up-slow down unnecessarily. Sometimes he does things like go in a circle while looking for a spot in a parking lot, which is no fun for me. This takes some practice, but he remembers most of the time to drive more carefully.

Hi L.,
My daughter went through this when she was that age, and sometimes still does. The only thing I can say is I know how you feel. We kept a puke kit in the car. I know that is a yucky word, but that is what we called it. Also make sure she is not reading, playing a gameboy, or watching DVDs. My doctor told me that those things make motion sickness worse. Not allowing those things when I know we are going to be in the car for a while helped. Sometimes we would get out of the car for a short time as soon as she said her tummy hurt if able. I also found that if I made sure I was keeping the same speed that helped. It does get better. Fresh air and a wet cloth. Oh, also do not let her eat a whole lot before leaving. I still to this day can not eat toast. If you need anything else let me know.

I just happened to see this. my daughter used to get very sick in the car and throw up several times during a ride. We finally found out that it was the lactose she was ingesting prior to car rides that would upset her stomach. Once we eliminated any milk based product before driving, she was fine.

PLEASE READ:

All of my life I had trouble with "motion sickness" and more than the stigma of being told "its in your head", it prevented me from going out in the boat with my family, riding amusement rides, reading or playing games in the car....etc...etc.

It was not until my 40's through a test by a Ear Nose and Throat doctor for some problems with my ear did I find out that I had a "true" physical problem with motion sickness. I went through a test call an Electro Nystagagram (ENG) and from the data he asked "do you have a problem with motion sickness"....AND I HAD NEVER SAID ANYTHING TO HIM ABOUT THIS. And when I said yes, he told me that what the ENG revealed and after examination he told me that my bones in my ear were not shaped normally and due to their shape and pressure that my equilibrium would be affected all of my life. Even through the diagnosis was not great....I ended up crying tears of joy because I finally understood and it "was in my head".

I asked him why I did not get sick or as sick when I rode in the front or drove a car....and he said that when I could see and let my brain anticipate the next movement (like a curve, bump, etc.) that my brain compensated and helped my equilibrium.

So if your child continues to get sick, you may want to get her checked.

Additional helps....keep the car cool, only let her eat light items and sip on carbonated beverages...milk is OUT!....and play games with her that make her look out of the car while riding. If she tries to play or read anything in the car...IT WILL WORSEN IT. I personally drive or catch up on my sleep when I am in the car.

Lastly, the reason Benedryl works is because it has "anti nausea" propertie and you can buy it over the counter. I personally keep it with me at all times. I would rather be sleepy than nauseated and throwing up.

I agree with another response that Ginger works and also have the child close her eyes for just a little while then open again you will be surprise had that works. Once, while riding an amusement park ride I was really getting sick and my friend said close you eyes just for a short time then open them and it really worked and continue to do that.

When we were little we often had to make a car trip over the Columbia Gorge highway or "Cabbage Hill" to the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon, both of which at that time (more than 60 years ago!) included horrible hairpin turns. My sister and I always threw up, until someone told my mother to put a penny in each of our shoes, and to tell us that it would keep us from getting sick. It worked! I now know that the "magic" was concentrating on the penny in my shoe rather than the "swooping" of my stomache. I use the same technique now to control my gag reflex at the dentist's office (without the actual penny!).

Try Hyland's brand homeopathic motion sickness tablets. You can find them at CVS, Rite Aid and so on. I have used the Hyland's teething tablets and they work wonderfully without any harmful side effects and work better than tylenol or ibuprofen!
Give it a try, I bet it will help. I have not tried them yet but I have wondered if my son (16 mons) gets car sick but I don't think so. I have been monitoring it and he doesn't always get cranky in the car just when he is really tired. But if I notice he gets worse I will try them.

Also they have "sea sick" bands that they can wear on their wrists that are supposed to work well. I have not tried it yet though & I am afraid my son won't keep them on. You can get those at onestepahead.com Good luck to you all!!!

My two nephews 11 and 15 always get car sickness and you hate to medicate them everytime because it can make them very sleepy. They say that if they are looking at something like the dvd they are fine it is worse when they are looking outside watching everything go bye so fast. I would try getting a portable dvd player. They also said it gets worse when they try to read in the car so make sure not to let her look at books or write in the car. I hope this helps if not then I guess medication is your next route, but talk with you doctor before you do anything.

One of my daughters used to get car sick all the time too. Our doctor recommended giving her a small dose of Benadryl before long trips. She used to throw up everytime we were in the car for longer than 20 min. We drove to nebraska and iowa and she didn't throw up once - it really works. She has since grown out of it.

Hello L.
Just to a note to say that my grandson got car sick when he was 2 yrs. and my daughter called his doctor and she had her give him childrens benadryl liq. a half hour before we did any long distant driving. That really helped him be able to travel without getting car sick. He is now 10 yrs. old and does not get car sick anymore. But you might ask your daughters doctor about childrens benadryl before you try it.
Hope this helps.
My name is also L.

go to any "Motherhood" store and buy Preggie pops. They are a life saver!!! Also Ginger snaps work well.

I can't remember the brand name but there is an amazing homeopathic tablet that taste a bit sweet, dissolves quickly and works like a charm. I would give one to my son a few minutes before we would hit the road or air and one every 45 minutes to an hour depending upon how rough the traveling was. Since he's taken the tablets he's never had another bought and snacks on whatever I'll give him without any problems.
Best to you and your lovely baby.
Mama T.

I give my 2 y o a quarter pill of dramamine. I don't think she's too young.

how cute we are both L. P....anyway I got motion sickness so bad when I was pregnant and you know you can not take anything when you are pregnant....what I found was the root of the ginger plant...its called ginger root and you get it at the health food store.......when you think about it...ginger ale is for upset stomaches....try giving her some of the ginger root pill........

I was the same way when I was a little girl and then I became afraid of the car so there was a psychological component too. Children at that age really respond to magic medicine (studies have shown that it is often as effective as real medicine).

My mother would give me a special magic pill for car sickness (an M&M or a tic tic) and that helped enormously. She also said that if I looked far away in the horizon I wouldn't get sick. Being told that the pill and my looking far off work protect me really made me think that it was impossible for me to get sick. It worked great.

Dear L.,
I can relate. I was one of those kids who would get car sick all the time and still do if I am not driving. I always keep Dramamin in my car (they make them in a chewable), and there is liquid over the counter medicine you can buy for motion sickness, also there are the little wrist bands you can buy that will put pressure on a point on the wrist and this helps also. I dont know if they have these for kids though.

When i went on a cruise I had to use the patch, Dramamin and the little bands, but I had a great time.

FYI. If you are not excited about giving your child drugs on a regular basis you might want to consider Sea Band wrist bands. I recently bought some for myself because I didn't want the drowsiness that comes with dramamine. I am not sure how they would work on a 3 year old but it might be helpful to look into whether or not they have a smaller size for children. They are worn on your wrist and a small plastic part puts pressure on a point on your wrists that reduces nausea. Best wishes.

I would get a second opinion from a different pediatrician. My three year-old had the same problem and our pediatrician said to give her a quarter of a regular dramamine pill. She was fine the rest of the trip (we went from Texas to Utah without knowing she was motion sick until she threw up four times). I also know that benedryl is safe for kids three years of age, you just give one quarter to a half of a teaspoon depending on your daughters weight for her age...that dries up fluid in the eustacian tubes and helps ward off the motion sickness.

Hi L.,
My son got car sick from the time he was about 1yr. old. My ped. told me to give him Benedryl. He told me nothing else could be given. I did not want to give him Benedryl for car sickness. His idea for that would be it would knock him out. Well, we talked to a Pharmacist and he said Dramamine would be fine for him. We started him off with 1/4 of a tablet about 1/2 hr. before we drove any distance that was 1/2 hr. or longer. It help TREMENDOUSLY. Without the Dramamine for our car rides he would vomit EVERY TIME if the ride was 1/2 hr or longer. He FINALLY grew out of it this past year. He is 9 yrs. old now. He never had any bad reactions. I trust the Pharmacist as they know alot more about the drugs than the docs most of the time. We started out with 1/4 of a pill and at about 4-5 yrs. old we started giving him 1/2 a pill. If you decide to try the Dramamine check with your Pharmacist for dosing. Good luck. Car sickness is not fun on trips.

Contrary to what your doctor said, there IS a medicine that is safe for your daughter. It is a homeopathic tablet - you can get them in a health food store. They dissolve in the mouth and are perfectly safe. My daughter in law has been giving them to my grandkids since they were one. And they work as well as dramamine.

One other option to try that as I skimmed through I don't think was mentioned yet is "peppermint oil". My work with therapeutic grade essential oils taught me of many great properties of peppermint including relief from car sickness and enahancing alertness. I place a few drops on an inexpensive diffuser that works in my cigarette lighter and it ends up a "win-win" for all - and my car ends up smelling great as well! Just remember as with anything, sometimes you get what you pay for..be careful with oils as some are very diluted by alcohol.

Hi L.,

This is so hard and I totally understand your pain. My whole family suffers from this. We have 3 boys (all get car sick). My husband and I both suffered from this when we were young as well. It is better for us as adults, but it is still a problem when we ride in the back seat or travel through winding and hilly roads. I can tell you from experience, that it is a miserable feeling!!

First of all, prevention:
Cold air feels good!
Stop and walk around every half hour or so depending upon how everyone is feeling. We can usually go an hour sometimes more.
Travel around naps and bed time.
Eat crackers and drink Sprite.
Medicine if age appropriate (I don't think there are any OTC medicines for pediatric use). You should check to make sure.
Illiminate any activities that make her look down.
Check on her often. (It is hard to prevent the vomiting when they are this young. It gets easier aroungd age 5 or 6 when they will willingly close there eyes and put their heads back.)
Once you get to your destination, stay longer than an hour. It usually take about 30 mins(after a short trip) to get rid of the nausea.

Secondly, I encourge you to simply accepted that this is part of your life. Prepare for the mess!
I keep plastic grocery bags, and old burp clothes tucked into the pockets in front of each seat (kinda like barf bags on a plane. lol!). I also keep a tub of wet wipes and clorox wipes under the seat. Bring a change of clothes or just keep some in the car for emergencies.

I know this does not solve your problem, but I hope it helps to relieve some of the stress of it.

Maybe your mom can come and visit you once a week or so. See if you can create a GRANDMA'S DAY!

We live 4 miles from my mom. Everyone else is atleast 2 hours or more of travel time away. It is hard and we have had to choose who we will go to see each holiday (usually someone who doesn't mind the laundry when we arrive LOL!). Alot of travel is hard on the kids and on us. The longer the ride, the worse the nausea and vomiting and often diareha.

Good Luck
W.

My grandaughter did this and we let her chew 1/2 of a chewable Dramamine. Worked everytime. Before that she would vomit after 20 minutes in the car everytime. And you can find the Dramamine in flavors. We found them in a convenience store.

S.
A loving Nana

I was looking at the responses here b/c I am 30 yrs old and still get sick myself, the one thing I didn't see anyone write down was mint, if you can keep some peppermints (like tic tacs)or sprearmint with you it will help, I ate mints everyday during my morning sickness too b/c it was one thing that would help. I always keep mint gum with me just incase, the ginger stuff doesn't usually taste too good but the mints are a quick,easy-not bad tasting fix. Good luck.

I just thought I would mention that reading a book with colors in it (like a comic book) always did and still does make me car sick. Black and white books are okay.

Just in case you daughter is looking at pretty picture books in the car...

My daughter did the same thing at that age. We thought well we won't give her anything to eat before we go on a trip thinking that may help her with the throwing up. Well we were mistaken. As long as she ate before we left she was OK. Before we figured that out our pedi at the time gave us a medicine call Dytan. It is for allergies, but it worked wonderful. It did not have the same side effects as benadryl (i.e. drowsiness). It comes in a pill and a liquid. She is now 5 and it seems (fingers crossed) that she has out grown it. Hope this helps.

My son gets VIOLENTLY car sick - and my family lives 12 hours away. I dose him with benadryl, and have since he was 9 months old, on my pediatrician's advice. I follow the dosing instructions on the label. He typically sleeps most of the trip - but it's very close to dramamine, which is a motion sickness medicine that ALSO makes you drowsy.

It's worked for us - he's four now, and he's ok for very short trips (15 minutes or less), any more than that and we do the Benadryl.

S.

Hi there
I hope you are still checking emails> I didnt even read all the other responses cuz i have no time today. my daughter has severe reflux. SEVERE. she throws up all the time. especially in the car. we hated going ANYWHERE.
we tried all sorts of things and nothing worked. EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER.. when she was 18 months old, her gastro doc told us something to try. She said "you know, for some reason, a half dose of benedryl often relieves motion sickness for kids"
I couldnt believe it. she threw up in the car after 5 minutes EVERY time we drove. To grandmas, to the pharmacy. whatever.
at her size/age 1 teaspoon of kids benedryl was the dose, so we gave her a half teaspoon 30 minutes (or 20 minutes, but no less) before the car ride. AND LITERALLY she never threw up again in the car (unless we forgot the benedryl.) It did not make her tired, but it did make the car sickness go away. Also, if you are worried about fatigue, you can try a 1/3 teaspoon but not sure if that will work. u have to experiment.
but not more than half a dose (liquid) good luck!!!!

Both of my boys would get car sick even riding two miles to the grocery store from about 2mos- 5yrs. Whenever we would go anywhere I would have to pack a small suitcase because I would end up having to change their clothes several times before we were back home again. I would even wrap them in old towels in hopes of keeping their clothes and car seats clean but they were both projectile vomiters! Our pediatrician, at the time, said to give them Benadryl because it has the same active ingredient as Dramamine and other travel sickness pills but is safer for young children to take under the age of two. It helped somewhat but not 100% - just fewer cases of vomiting! Once my youngest was about 2.5 yrs old we moved to the Chicago area (from Michigan) so we started the Dramamine out of desperation because this was a good eight hour car ride - and it worked wonders! My oldest son was 5 at the time so we would have to give him another whole pill precisely four hours later or he would start feeling nauseous again. We gave my 2.5 yr old a 1/2 pill every 4-6 hours but it seemed to work longer on him.

My boys are now 5 & 7 years old and they are pretty much over the car sickness - we were able to travel to Denver from Chicago by car last summer and neither one had to take anyh Dramamine. Occasionally, my 7 yr old will feel nauseous with local travel - probably due to all of the stop and go and turns we make in city driving. I usually just crack the window and have him eat a few crackers.

Good luck to you and your daughter. I truly know how frustrating this is and how terrible you feel as a parent for having to haul your child around by car knowing that she feels rotten. :( Hopefully, your daughter will outgrow this too and you will be able to travel in peace in a "fresher" smelling car soon! :)

K.

We have also tried the ginger supplements and gingersnap cookies which I believe help with mild car sickness but not for anyone who

If you haven't already, try ginger. It's safe for children and VERY effective with nausea. You could mix up about an 1/8th of a teaspoon in a tablespoon of honey (make sure it's raw, unfiltered so you get all the goodness from it) and either have her eat it right off the spoon or spread it on a piece of bread. Add peanut or almond butter if you have to.

It's a good idea to start giving her ginger about 12 hours before you're going to be in the car.

The good news is ginger is a wonderful tonic for health anyway -- so you'll be fortifying her immune system while you're making her more comfortable : )

Natural ginger ales/beers are also good for her to sip on (they have real ginger, not flavoring and only cane sugar, not high fructose corn syrup).

Also playing games that keep her looking OUTSIDE the car are very good for the inner ear. Counting blue cars or whatever. I'm not sure why it works, but it does. Same thing is true on boats and airplanes as well -- keep looking at the horizon.

Good luck!

M.

I can't remember if there's a children's dramamine or not, but you'll want to double check on the dosage. For our son, when he was 3 1/2 we were told by our pediatrician to buy the regular pills and break them into thirds (yes, it was hard to do since they were tiny!). Give a third at a time until you notice they're getting drowsy but give no more than one whole pill's worth.

Hi L.,
I am prone to get motion sickness when I ride in the car and someone else drives. I still follow advice so I use the advice that my OB gave me when I was pregnant with my son, which is to eat or drink anything with GINGER in it (ginger cookies, gingerale, etc.). This has really helped me, so I thought I would suggest it. I pray all goes well with your daughter.

Do not let her look at books, pictures or read, this does cause vomiting, also keep the care cold or crack the window.

My sister has that same problem with her daughter , I am curios to read what other people have suggested to you ,so I can tell my sister . sorry I don't have any solutions for you , but I hope you get help for your daughter .. ... because I get car sick myself when I'm in a moving car and I turn to look for something or I can't even read in the car while it is moving because I will get sick and it's a horrible feeling that doesn't go away soon ....... Good Luck I hope you get help......

I find it interesting that people have said that kids will outgrow motion sickness. While that may be true, I am 33 and still get motion sick. Riding in the back seat, roller coasters or other similar rides - all no-nos for me! Both my boys have it as well. Here are things that seem to help;
Dramamine works but really makes you drowsy.
SeaBands are also good, but you have to have them on BEFORE you get sick.
Anything with ginger. I give my boys gingerale and gingersnaps for snacks in the car. They think they are getting a big treat having soda and cookies, but the ginger really helps.
Fresh air - when they are big enough to be able to tell you what is happening, roll down a window or stop the car and let them out. Fresh air and no movement for a little bit will definitely help.
Sit them in the middle of the seat so they can see out the windshield; looking at things that aren't moving (the horizon) will help.
No reading in the car, movies don't seem to bother my boys.
The best kind of container for accidents is a milk jug with the top cut out but with the handle in place. I always pack one with a towel inside it to help me with clean-up if necessary. :)
I think that instead of growing out of it, most people just learn to live with it and know what helps them and what will trigger feeling bad.
Good luck! HTH -
L.

? does she do that only when you go to your parents house or every time you get in the car... if so you might want to check into why? she doesn't want to go to your parents house.... also you might check the car itself, maybe there's something in there, the windows being closed, she doesn't get enough air, that sort of thing

I don't know if anyone else suggested it but have you tried "sea bands"? I bought them at Target for $8.99 in the pharmacy. They are bands that go on your wrists with a little bead type thing on the back side that pushes on a pressure point(the directions explain exactly where to place them)and they take away nausea. They worked for me and when my children complain of the same thing I put them on them. You can get them in different colors and little girls like bracelets so it was not hard to get my kids to wear them. There is no medication involved so they are perfect. Also...the are very small...on an adult they would be very tight but they apply just enough pressure on a child's wrist. I would definitely give them a try...nausea is a horrible feeling and these are worth the money for the results.

My daughter is 6 and she gets car sick quite often. I give her 1/4 of a dramamine tablet before the trips starts. Her doctor is the one who suggested it. I hope this helps.

I used to be very sensitive to motion, and I would even get sick and throw up when I was asleep and someone else was driving, so don't knock him out with benadryl. If he is able to see where you are going it will help. If he holds underneath his eye on the cheek bone it will help and if you can occasionally hold the big toes on each side of the base of the toenail it will help. These points by the toenail and under the eye are beginning and ending points of the stomach meridian. So easy and no need for accupuncture. I never need drugs anymore on the airplane or when someone else is driving now. I used to take dramamine until I had a very scary incident with my heart racing after taking dramamine. Then I learned about many forms of alternative healing techniques.

Love, L.

First, she has to be able to see out the window, which will eliminate some of it. Second, have the doctor take a good look at her inner ears and her eyes, otherwise they will pass you over because it is not an urgent matter. Third, you must limit the amount of time she's in a car. My youngest daughter could not stand motion of any kind. No car rides, no swings, no carnival rides. She has one eye slightly turned in that antagonizes her sensitivity to motion. My oldest daughter loved motion of any kind, so I was concerned, like you, about what was going on. You will eventually find the source if you keep looking. Sometimes sinus and inner ear infections (they can take a long time to cure) will upset the equilibrium (it's in your ears) which will make motion hard to take. Whatever you do don't pass it off like others will. She's depending on you to help her.

My niece has been getting car sick since she is 2. One step ahead sells these bands which stop the car sickness. It is not medicine so it is safe for young children. The bands go around the wrist. Tbey have a button which goes against the pressure point on the wrist. These work amazingly well. Drugstores sell this product for adults. The website is www.onestepahead.com. The description reads "Natural relief for motion sickness! No drugs, no drowsiness — these stretchy wristbands utilize the ancient science of acupressure to relieve the nausea and vomiting triggered by motion sickness. How do they work? A plastic nub presses lightly but continuously on the Nei-Kuan pressure point, alleviating sea sickness and car sickness. Starts working in 5 minutes, even after symptoms have already begun. Clinically tested, doctor recommended and FDA approved. Hand wash. Imported. Assorted colors." It is only $8.95

SeaBands!!!!! I saw that a few other people mentioned them. Both my kids started to get carsick around 3 years old. My Mom lives 6 hours away and we make the trip quite often. I swear by the SeaBands. My feeling is that if you can avoid meds then by all means do it!! My kids have outgrown it for the most part but SeaBands are what got us through it. I would buy a few pair at a time. I even had a friend that used them when she had morning sickness!

This actually happened to me a LOT when I was little!

Only took my dear Grammy ONE time to figure out I was NOT joking or kidding about it! (Bless her heart...37 years later, and I can still hear her griping about me throwing up in my new step-Granddaddy's new car!)

Anyway....the only thing that worked for me was to take a Dramamine about 30 minutes before getting in the car for any drives that would be longer than 30 minutes. Also, NO reading books or playing games that required "fixing" my eyes on an object (that's what causes the motion sickness ~ it's a "miscommunication" with the eyes and the nerves that makes one "car sick"). For really long drives, like going on vacations, we would have to stop every so often, and let me get out to "readjust". Usually it only took about 5 minutes or so, and I would be feeling much better.

Your daughter will eventually "outgrow" the motion sickness, but in the meantime, always keep the Dramamine and "sick" bags handy and available!

i'm 34 and have always gotten motion sickness. people have mentioned drammamine - makes you very drowsy, but that is what my parents gave me when little. there's another drug out there - BONINE (meclazine) which is similar to drammamine, but it doesn't knock you out as much. there's a bit of residual drowsiness, but nowhere near as bad a drammamine.
as for the sea bands, i used them to help with my nausea from pregnancy, but they didn't help that much. please don't just assume your daughter is making this up or trying to get attention. i HATE getting motion sick - it's absolute HELL - so please try everything until you find something that helps her!!!

There are some bands that you put on there wrist. I name of them are called Motion Sickness Relief Bands. You should be able to get them any where around the pharmacy. And you can use them over and over. They are also washable,which is a plus. If you have any other questions about them please feel free to email me. ____@____.com
L.

I just saw your response and wanted to let you know that I also have a 3 yr old that gets carsick easily. The pediatrician told us to give her dramamine (caplet form) It is divided into 4ths and we can give her half. It makes her sleepy, but we don't have vomiting on long trips. We started this when she was 2 1/2.

I was terribly car sick as a child (vomiting) and I can tell you one thing that did work. Will sound crazy I know, but I also know it works, is not toxic and you don't have to buy a thing.
Take a piece of an ordinary brown paper bag (no writing) and place it on the bare skin of her stomach during the car ride.
Kat