My daughter seems to become car sick whenever I transport her. I say "possible" car sickness in my post's subject because this does not always happen, it has happened maybe 4 times within the last couple of times but it always happens while in the car. She ends up projectile vomiting a lot, usually milk, so it ends up smelling a lot and her car seat needs constant washing. Just last night she vomitted again, as I was getting her into the lobby from picking her up, she didn't vomit on the car ride like she normally does when she has vomitted in the past though. I am not sure if it is car sickness, she otherwise does not vomit at home which makes me think it is car sickness, or just amazing coincidence. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how to avoid her getting sick in the car? It has happened while driving in highways and also in stop-and-go traffic, so it is not the driving speed/manuevering as my ex thought. Unfortunately, I cannot just *not* drive her around, I share her for visitation with her father and he has the right to see her on weekends, so having her always stay at home is not an option. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for all your responses! To respond to some of the questions, my daughter is 22 months old, she vomitted in the car her dad now drives, which was an SUV, and was also the car I used to drive, so it's not the vehicle or height of the vehicle. Now I am driving a 4-seater coupe, which makes opening the windows a problem, unless I open the passenger and driver ones, the back seat has no windows that can open; since she is so young, I have no choice but to keep her in the back. I haven't tried sitting her next to a window, I have her in the middle, I thought sitting next to the window would make things worse? I have no air fresheners either, I may try increasing the a/c, maybe the heat is making her nauseous. Usually, she will eat about an hour before we leave, I will try to cut out her milk bottle for next time as maybe the milk with the movement makes her sick, and will tell my ex to hold off on a night bottle when he hands her back to me, maybe if she just has regular food it won't make her as nauseous. She has a bit of a stuffy nose, not sure if her trying to get phlegm out of her body is making her vomit, but will try these things before asking the doctor about dramamine, because he might say she is too young, they usually tell me not to give her medicines when she is sick. She used to have a stomach problem as a younger baby, I had to get her on ALimentum as the other formulas made her vomit. I even had to get her prilosec from the baby gastroenterologist. She has been drinking milk for almost 1 yr and never seemed to show intolerance, and doesn't get sick at home or in her stroller, so I still think something about the drive is making her sick :(
Depending on her weight and length she might be able to still rearface and that might make things a little better.
Two very informative videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2DVfqFhseo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI
I had this problem also with my youngest daughter and what I did was always sit her next to an open window. I dont know why this worked for her but it did. The most important thing was that there was no need to medicate her.
Hi N., Have she had any gastro problems before as a younger child? Does she get sick only when you take her to visit her father? I'm not a gastro specialist, but I know vomiting can be caused by stressful situations, ask yourself these questions, perhaps these shared visitation have caused stress or she might be dealing with something when she is with her dad? I do not know how old your daughter is, but if she can talk, talk to her. If she can talk to her dad, if this happens only when she comes back from her dads house. There is alot of info I do not know, Hope this helps.
N. - I never had that problem with my children, but I have that problem myself. It doesn't happen all the time. It has also never happened anywhere but the car. (Not on planes, boats, or trains.) I haven't actually vomitted since I was a kid but I do get nautious. It has happened up north, driving up and down hills and winding roads. I always thought it was sitting in the back verse the front seat, but the last time it happened was last summer, here in Florida. I was in my sister's van and got a massive migraine, dizzy, nautious. As soon as we stopped and got out I started feeling better. Then I realized, she had a Yankee Candle air freshener hanging right next to me. Strong scents like air fresheners and perfumes, in an enclosed area, make me feel ill. I can't light candles in the house either. Maybe it is something in your car or your perfume. If you can't figure it out, try cracking the window for some fresh air. Hope it helps.
N.,
How old is your daughter? Have you discussed this with her pediatrician? Does she get sick on stroller rides? I would talk to the pediatrician as soon as possible to rule out any underlying issues. It could be coincidence...it could be something else or she could be really experiencing motion sickness. Let us know what happens.
N.
Does she do the same in her father's car? Could there be something in your car that causes her any allergy? Have you consulted a doctor? Could this be a manipulation because of something? How old is she? This is the first time I hear something like that, but there could be many reasons for this behavior.
my youngest has car sickness and its a pain. she does the same exact thing that your little girl does. now its not all the time and sometimes she can make it to where we are going but we always are prepared and we always expect it just to be safe. what we have been told to do is give her dramamine. i'm not sure if that is the correct spelling but ask anyone at a plave like cvs they should know what you are talking about. we give our three year old half a tablet and before that it was a quarter of a tablet and it usually does the trick unless we wait too long to leave. we give it to her about a half an hour before we leave. now im not sure how old your daughter is but maybe its something to ask your pediatrician about. hope this was helpful and good luck.
My first daughter did the same thing as a baby and she still gets very car sick in the car. I just try and drive really carefully, try a full stomach and as close to the middle of the car and near the front as possible. Also, toys might not be a good idea since reading makes one feel sick. I am not sure how old your baby is. My daughter threw up as a baby, at 2 and 3. Not very often, but often enough to determine it was car sickness. She most often threw up when she was in the way back, and if we were in a big hurry and driving quickly with lots of turns. Drive slowly and carefully. I hope this helps. My daughter's name is N.!!
Have you checked with the doctor to see if she is allergic to milk?
Z.
Starting at 11 mo, my son had the same issue. It started to happen as soon as the car would stop & eventually would happen during the drive. Yes, stop & go traffic was the worst! No dairy the morning before a car, bus or train ride was my first step. As others have said, a full stomach is helpful as well. Our Ped eventually approved 1/4 tablet of dramamine which always worked although it usually turned him into a zombie. (planning trips around naptime was another way we handled it.)The more he can see the road, the better. When he was 2.5, we got a Toyota Rav4 and he has not been carsick since. Hope this helps. I remember how frustrating & messy it was for everyone....Good Luck!
My son had a similar projectile vomitting episode which started in the car and continued for awhile. Turned out he had suddenly developed a lactose intolerance type situation. It started around his first birthday. He had been breaet fed for 5 months - weaned himself. I changed his formula to a soy equivalent (will be different from what you have, as I am in Jamaica), and he has now outgrown it. He can now eat ice cream, cheese and pizza. He is now 3. Hope this helps.
i can relate to your daughter's problem as i suffered (and still do) from severe motion sickness.....i cannot sit in the back seat of a car.....if i do, a window must be open.....
when my daughter was younger, i used to open a window as well as kee the air on.....i hope this helps....fresh air is surely helpful.......if you happen to go on a long trip, ask the pediatrician if they can recommend something she can take to alleviate the problem.....i do not advocate medicine but even a small amount of benedryl might help.
J.
I would have her ears looked at, may just be an inner ear infection.
I feel for her I still get sick occasionally, when I was young I threw up in a lot of people's cars. First I am not sure how old she is, can she sit in the front? Try keeping the windows open by her the fresh air seemed to help me, also be careful of what she eats before she gets in the car. If she is old enough try some ginger cookies or saltines a little while before she gets in the car. I unfortunately still get every kind of motion sickness there is and I am 30. Also maybe try distracting her with a movie if you have that. Good Luck! www.DiscoveryToysLink.com/LisaRyan LisaM
My daughter and niece suffer of car sickness. My daughter used to vomit up until she was about 2. She is 13 now, but still gets nauseous so we have to open the car windows and let the air get in her face. Smelling a piece of cotton with alcohol also works. Try to limit her drinks and food before you are planning to take her in the car. It also helps.
My daughter had the same problem. When she was about 1year old it began. every time I would take her somewhere she would begin to cough and shortly after that she would vomit. Very frustrating. On more than one occasion I was on the side of the road cleaning vomit and changing her clothes, so I know how it feels. The strange part is she would not get sea sick. We had a place in the keys and went every single weekend. Never did she get sick on that boat!I spoke to her pediatrician and he suggested I take her to a neurologist. I did, had her tested and nothing came of it. She is now 12 and still gets car sick. Ofcourse not as bad. The older they get the better the handle the car sickness. It is very rare that she vomit but if she really feels bad I bring down her window , or pull over and she either feels better or she vomits. When the fair at school comes she rides all those crazy rides and of course she vomits. I carry an extra change of clothes in the car during the fair.
My daughter is an responsible girl and an honor roll student. Other than an occasional car sick issue, she has it pretty much under control.
I would speak to your Pediatrician and rule out other medical issues.
Good luck and carry a gallon of water in the car, a towel and lot of plastic bags!
