Helping with Car Sick

Give her gingerale to drink or ginger snap cookies in the car. I don't know if you can use dramomine at her age but it makes them very sleepy so I never used it for my son. I had a 'car sick' kid too.
It'll help if you get her looking outside the car instead of everything that's inside so try playing games like, Do you see that cow? It re-sets their equilibrium or something.

Hi A.,
I have an 18 month old, and we had the same problem. I talked to my pediatrician, and she said the positioning of the seat could have something to do with it, in combination with what we fed him prior to the car ride. She advised I make a diary of what he ate prior to throwing up, and I didn't realize it, but it was usually dairy (milk or yogurt or something thick like that). If the car seat is positioned to far back (so he's laying slightly more then sitting straight up) that could be a problem. Again, talking to the doctor so its okay, I put a small towel under the tail of the car seat to prop it up slightly so he was sitting more straight up. Doing that, as well as not feeding him 'trigger' foods 30 minutes before we left to go somewhere, he hasn't thrown up in almost a month! A trigger could have been when he would cough or burp up a little, and the texture of what he had eaten would come to the back of his throat. That triggered a gag reflex and so he would throw up. Talk to your doctor too - maybe he/she will say the same thing. Better to get a professional's advice if it keeps up. Hope this helps a bit!

Hi A.-
I too get carsick and it started when I was in elementary school. I ALWAYS got sick on the way to church. My mom realized that if I ate something really sugary for breakfast I got sick every time (Froot Loops- those things were TERRIBLE coming back up). Bland toast, etc. were the best things to eat if we were going to be traveling right away.

I also would suggest moving the carseat to the middle if possible. Looking out the side window makes things WORSE, because the movement of objects outside the window is disorienting. Objects in the distance don't "move" as quickly, so it's much better to look out front. Also, if I have an AC vent blowing DIRECTLY on my face, I don't get the sick feeling as much. It has been better the older I get, but turning around as a passenger to hand something to one of the kids is torture, as is looking at a map or digging in my purse.

Also, I would think that having a buckle/straps that are too tight across the tummy would make me (if I were a kid) more likely to get sick. I generally err on the side of caution, but if you've got a kid who is miserable, my instinct is to make the kid as comfortable as possible while still being safe.

As an adult, the Sea Bands have helped me considerably. I know pregnant women who have worn them 24-7 for months to help with morning sickness who swear by them. It's funny, but being on a boat doesn't bother me as much (probably because of the wind off the water). Being on an airplane doesn't bother me until they do the big turns after takeoff and for landing.

Sorry this is long.....

Good luck and keep a bucket and paper towels at hand. Also a bottle of water to swish and spit to get the bad taste out and acid off the teeth....

J.

That has happened to my daughter a few times. It is not everytime she gets in the car. I moved her to the middle of backseat. I also noticed that if she ate something heavy right before we left she got sick or if she had an ear infection. Make sure she can look out of the window. It has gotten to the point with us that I just keep a bucket, bags, wipes and extra clothes in the car just in case.

I used to get car sick all the time when I was a kid- of course, that was when a seven year old could sit in the front seat! Which really does help! A coke will do in a pinch, but has so much sugar, I would only use it in an emergency. However, both ginger and peppermint are natural sources to prevent and help tummy pain. I just don't know if you can give either to a child that age. If you give a child tea made from peppermint leaves, it might prevent her getting sick. It always helped me when I was a kid. It might take a while to get used to the taste, but cold pepper mint tea is really refreshing in the summer. Check it out.

A., all the advice is right on the money. My second daughter who is now 23 gets car sick if she is in the back seat and she always has! Make sure her carseat is as straight up as can be and let her have alittle room in it so she can move just alittle. also the air is a great suggestion, make sure the car is cool and when the car is moving the air blowing in her face will help. I know she can't ride up front yet so do what you can to make sure she doesn't feel like she is laying back and that she can't see out the front or can't see you!Also take the carseat inside the house and put it up agaisn't something where it is straight up and let her sit in it and sorta play some so she can see that it isn't the car seat and she should start getting over her fear of it! Good luck and let me know how she does! D.

This has happened to my 23 mo. old as well,but not when she rides with me when she rides with my sister-in-law. They don't know why it happens but I think I do,they smoke(not in the car but it is still on their clothes) and her husband wears alot of strong cologne I think the combo of both make her sick because when she rides with us(non-smokers)she never gets sick. Do you think it could be a certin smell setting this off? It could be possible. Also I would make sure and love on her a whole bunch afterward because I would imagine it scares her if shes acting that way. Also we have a t.v. for her to watch in the car so that makes the ride much more enjoyable for her,she has 3 dif. movies to choose from that we only have in the car so they don't get old.
Good luck!!!~N. J.
p.s.-totally toddler will help with getting out any smells!

A.,
Poor little sweetie! I can relate, I get the same way in the back seat of cars, always have.
Ginger works wonders for motion sickness with no side effects. Try your local health food store and see if they have a tincture or something chewable for her to take. Also, try putting her window down when you are in the car, I know a little fresh air goes a long way for me when I'm feeling that way. Good luck and I hope this helps.
-K.

A.
My mom gets very car sick to it can be a very short car ride and she gets sick. As long as she can see out of the front window she is fine I dont know what is about seeing out the front window but everyone i have ever talked to about being car sick says they have to see out the front window. Does your daughter ride in the middle of the back seat? If not maybe you should try and move her sit to the middle that way she isnt looking at the back of the front seat maybe that will help cause she will be able to see out the front a little bit. I hope this helps