Every year at vacation time, the same thing: The child not only comments on the long drive with a constant “Are we there soon? “, but after some time in the car complains of nausea. It’s reassuring when there’s an exit nearby; many parents always have a set of plastic bags with them for safety’s sake. But there are aids, so that it does not come at all so far.
Symptoms of motion sickness
Many people know the sinking feeling in the stomach area, which can disturb the well-being quite significantly during long car trips or on the ship. The brain is confused by the various signals sent by the eyes (“immobile space”) and the organ of equilibrium (“it rocks”) – and reacts with nausea, and in the worst cases vomiting. In children, the organ of equilibrium is fully developed from around the age of 2. From then on, they can become just as motion sick as adults. Swinging and riding a merry-go-round is not a problem, but accelerating and braking hard in a room with nothing moving inside often leads to dizziness, nausea and vomiting, even in children. This effect is exacerbated by activities that are supposed to be distracting – reading or playing, for example.
Prevent motion sickness in children
The most pleasant thing for everyone involved is to prevent such attacks from occurring in the first place. Here are a few general tips on how to prevent them:
- Can you perhaps drive at night? Then often the balance system also takes a break and reacts less sensitively to external stimuli. In the best case, your child sleeps through the critical situation.
- An empty stomach is more susceptible to rice sickness. Therefore, start with a small, light meal. Fruit, rusks and bread are well suited.
- Let your child – preferably in the direction of travel – look out the window, fixing a distant point. Maybe it likes to count mountains or clouds? To distract it can simultaneously listen to a radio play or music (with headphones). Reading? Better not!
- In another means of transport (bus, plane, ship) is best to choose a seat in the middle – there is the least movement.
- Plan enough breaks (at least every 2 hours): to relax, let off steam, fill up with oxygen and air. Against a little something to eat also speaks nothing – but please no large meals.
- The clothes should be comfortable and should not constrict.
- If you are a smoker: Please do not smoke in the vehicle!
- Sleep: Go all rested on a long trip. If you are already tired before the start of the trip, you can get motion sickness faster. And is more likely to be irritable!
- Chew gum or suck candy during the trip. Especially recommended are preparations with peppermint or ginger. Their effect against nausea has long been known.
Tip: Prepare in advance from it a tea – peppermint tastes probably most children better than ginger. The can be drunk sip by sip even while driving.
Travel sickness counteract with medication
If your child is prone to getting motion sickness, medication can also be given as a preventive measure. The active ingredient dimenhydrinate (for example, in Vomex, Vomacur) often works well, is well tolerated, but makes you a little tired. For younger children, it is available in the form of suppositories; older children are given tablets or drops. The preparations are given half an hour before the start of the journey. In the form of chewing gum (e.g. Superpep), dimenhydrinate acts particularly quickly and can even be chewed when the first symptoms appear. In addition, it is also possible to try homeopathic remedies. Classic remedy for motion sickness is Cocculus. Start two days before the trip with five globules three times a day in the D6 potency. If symptoms still occur during the trip, give these globules every half hour. If nausea is accompanied by dizziness and circulatory problems, give Tabacum in the same dosage instead.
Motion sickness acute
Rice sickness despite the above remedies? Here are a few more tips for acute cases:
- Head for a parking lot as soon as possible. At the latest now a long break in the fresh air is announced.
- Let your child breathe deeply in and out: and through the mouth. Tell him something to distract him.
- Give him water and something salty (saltines, crackers) to nibble on.
- If it has severe circulatory problems (pale, cold sweat) put a cool cloth on his forehead and neck and make him lie down (at least when you left the car). As an acute remedy for circulatory problems is suitable Veratrum album (D6, three times five globules within a few minutes).
- Nevertheless, keep some plastic bags ready – in case the next rest stop is waiting.
We wish you a good trip!