Motion Sickness - Portage,MI

my son would throw up everytime we drove in the mountains or went on a long car drive. I tried everything and had to give dramamine :( It made him sleep so that was good. he is now 15 and still can't eat when he flies or drives up to ski. So keep food to a minimum when traveling and reading and tv were not good for my son.... looking out the window and sleeping helped the most.

Hi J., I agree with Ann about making sure that there isn't any other problems going on. That being said, make sure that they get plenty of water so that all of the fluids are in order. This will help the inner ear. There are patches that you can put on the skin near the ear... I am not sure how they work, if they are pressure point related or if they are medicated, double check with your pharmacist or doctor before giving any medicines, even some natural treatments are medicines, so be aware of what you are giving.

First, if I were in your shoes, I would want to make sure there is not a case of Tinnitus/ Vertigo as this is more serious and involves other treatment.

Tinnitus has a 'ringing' in the ears sometimes due to blockage or other ear conditions (such as allergies/ viruses).

Vertigo is more of the 'dizziness' and will set of bouts of nausea/ vomiting, involuntary eye movements and there is difficulty with motion (such as with your little boy now seeing the scenery.)

Ginger does help, as does nutmeg, peppermint and spearmint (essential oils) but I am not sure if this is what you are referring to? If so, you want to be sure you are purchasing 'safe' oils as many are tainted in the stores. (I get mine from France & Hawaii.)

You can try homeopathics, just research a bit further with a reliable book. Mine recommends 'Cocculus' as this is a the most common remedy and preventative. More does go into selecting your remedy, so if you want to contact me privately, I am VERY happy to help you! ;)
(You can find at a good health food store. I have the best luck with them for my own things and my son's colds.)

I would not recommend herbals as the age is too young for my own comfort level.

Acupressure points can help, but not sure in this case as it would need to be done before and after for sure. You could look into 'seabands' (for motion sickness) but something feels wrong about it as they stay on and it may be too much for a small body.

I do hope it is just a simple motion sickness? If that is it, maybe try giving a focal point? Not sure if that would work as well as using the homeopathic, but it could. My son always brings a toy with him and that is his 'focal'. I never did get motion sickness until later when I was a teenager. I cannot read in the car now without becoming ill! (the words move too much for me.)

Good luck!

J. ~
When I was young I wasn't able to read in the car or on the school bus because I'd get nauseaus. I remember actually getting sick one time when we were on a road trip.
Peppermint is good for nausea.
Also, we recently went on a cruise, and I used a scopolamine patch (not my recommendation for a small child), but also the wrist bands. I bought them at a boating store. I'm not sure if they make them small enough for a child, but maybe you can fix them up to fit.
What about a shade or something so that he doesn't see out the window so much?
good luck!
D.

Ginger is always a good stomach settler. As in Ginger Ale, Vernor's, Schwepp's...so is mint. Mind how much food he takes in before going out in the car.

And make sure you have enough barf bags and wipes on hand in the car until he outgrows it.

You could also talk to him on the drive, pointing out exciting things to distract him. Sound excited.

J.
I have a girlfriend who had the same issue with her son. She also felt the same about dramamine but gave it a try anyway. It worked and is still working great for her son who is 4 now. She has been using it for a year now. I would talk with your DOC about dosage though. Good luck ;) S.

I wold check into his ears, sometimes fluid in the ears can cause motion sickness.
Dramamine is no approved for young children so i would NOT go that route at all. What is he doing back there. Does he have something to occupy him or is he sitting looking out the window?

I work for a flight school, so we are familiar with motion sickness....
Here's what we tell our students that get it...
keep a window cracked, so that he gets a cool breeze (even in the winter) stagnant air intensifies it.
make sure he's not bundled too much in the car, when they get warm, it's worse.
make sure he eats before you go somewhere, an empty stomach doesn't help (don't have him eat a feast...but make sure he has something in his stomach)
if you have one of those nets on your window, to keep the sun out...take it off...i know you can't move him to the middle, but the more he can see the better...
if you have a DVD player or something...turn it off...he needs to focus out the window, not in the car.
I wouldn't give him dramamine either...it'll just knock him out and start a dependence to it.
He will most likely grow out of it...my niece did the same thing when she began to ride forward facing...now she can ride a roller coaster! :)

You might try a video. We have a portable unit we use on trips with the grandkids since our car isn't equipped with one. This turned one grandson into a happy traveler.

J., my son went through the same thing. I had to break down and give him dramamine. Only quater of a pill though. My doctors also suggested putting tv's in the car and bring toys and would give him something to focus on. The doctors say its because all they can see at that age is the stuff whizzing by on the side and cannot focus on the objects out the front window. This will get better. My son is almost four and he finally out grew it but when we take our yearly trip to Georgia I make sure I have the dramamine on hand. I hope this helps!

There is some motion sickness bracelets that are sold at drug stores like CVS. Just ask the phamarcy about them. We use them on my niece when we go on long trips because she also gets motion sickness.

My 3yo gets motion sick as well and they only thing that we found that worked was these wrist bands. They are wonderful, they look like sweat bands and have a little pressure button on the back and you wear them on your wrist. I dont remember the name of them, I got them at Walmart and I had to ask the pharmacist for them..something like sea sick bands. Anyway they work wonders, I put them on her (I did have to bribe her at first!)as soon as we get in the car and she has been fine since (she did go out with the babysitter a couple weeks ago without them and threw up all over her car..so they really work!).

Good Luck!

Have you ever had motion sickness? Its awful this is something I deal with as an adult..if none of the natural remedies work please give him dramamine..thats the only thing that makes me feel better and your little guy to have to deal with motion sickness is not right,its awful to feel sick let alone every time to get in the car.
Our dr suggested dramamine so it cant be that bad.
Good Luck