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What causes motion sickness?
The problem begins when your brain receives different messages from your eyes and the rest of your body about whether you're in motion. For example, if you're reading a book while in a moving car, your eyes are sending one signal to the brain — that you're still. But because your body can feel that you're in motion, it sends the opposite message. The result is disorientation in the inner ear, which causes you to feel nauseated.
The same thing can happen on a plane during turbulence or on a boat riding the ocean swells. Your eyes tell you that you're still, while your body can feel the motion of the plane or boat. That's why you may be told not to stay in the cabin of the boat, but to go outside and watch the horizon — that way your eyes will see the motion that your body can feel.
Children seem to be a lot more prone to motion sickness than adults. Is that true?
Not necessarily. Children don't get motion sickness any more often than adults. Still, it may seem that way for a few reasons. According to Katherine Ling-McGeorge, pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, the first time you get motion sickness is usually the worst, and your first time is likely to be when you're very young. By the time you're an adult, your body is likely to have adjusted to a certain amount of disorientation. Also, children tend to throw up more often than adults since they're more vulnerable to viruses, indigestion, and stress. So if your child seems to throw up every time he gets on a plane, it may be because he's anxious about the trip. If he gets sick in the car a lot, it may be because he remembers a particularly bumpy trip that did cause motion sickness, and even a smooth car ride now triggers the same queasiness.
What can I do to help alleviate my child's motion sickness?
If you're in a car, have him look out at a spot on the horizon. An object in the distance will give visual input that you're moving relative to that point on the horizon and will help resolve some of the mixed messages that are being sent to the brain, says Ling-McGeorge. Open the window so your child gets some fresh air, and plan a few stops along the way to help him reset to normal. Since motion sickness is often a state of mind, try to distract him. Offer him new toys that he hasn't played with before or snacks that he doesn't normally get at home. (If he's really green around the gills, you might want to reconsider snacks, however.) Don't let him read or play with puzzles or any visually intensive games, as that will probably increase the disorientation. For younger children, you might try timing your trip during nap time, since they won't get sick while they're asleep.
If you're traveling on a plane or boat and can't pull over whenever you'd like, your options are a little more limited. Try to get some cool air onto your child's face. Turn on the fan in the airplane, or take him out on the deck of the boat. If you can't find a way to get cool air, try putting a cool cloth over his forehead and eyes. Also, if there are any extra seats around you, have him lie down. Otherwise, keep him in his seat. Sometimes, a child will feel fine when he's seated, but will complain of queasiness the minute he gets up to walk through the aisles. Keeping physical activity to a minimum is best.
Finally, try not to get angry — you'll just make your child feel worse. Remember that your child is young and traveling can be hard for him.
Are there any drugs I can give my child in advance of a long trip to prevent him from getting queasy?
If your child is prone to motion sickness, ask your pediatrician if she can prescribe something for it. Dramamine comes in a chewable tablet and liquid form for children 2 years and older, but this drug can cause drowsiness and should not be given regularly.
What causes motion sickness?
The problem begins when your brain receives different messages from your eyes and the rest of your body about whether you're in motion. For example, if you're reading a book while in a moving car, your eyes are sending one signal to the brain — that you're still. But because your body can feel that you're in motion, it sends the opposite message. The result is disorientation in the inner ear, which causes you to feel nauseated.
The same thing can happen on a plane during turbulence or on a boat riding the ocean swells. Your eyes tell you that you're still, while your body can feel the motion of the plane or boat. That's why you may be told not to stay in the cabin of the boat, but to go outside and watch the horizon — that way your eyes will see the motion that your body can feel.
Children seem to be a lot more prone to motion sickness than adults. Is that true?
Not necessarily. Children don't get motion sickness any more often than adults. Still, it may seem that way for a few reasons. According to Katherine Ling-McGeorge, pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, the first time you get motion sickness is usually the worst, and your first time is likely to be when you're very young. By the time you're an adult, your body is likely to have adjusted to a certain amount of disorientation. Also, children tend to throw up more often than adults since they're more vulnerable to viruses, indigestion, and stress. So if your child seems to throw up every time he gets on a plane, it may be because he's anxious about the trip. If he gets sick in the car a lot, it may be because he remembers a particularly bumpy trip that did cause motion sickness, and even a smooth car ride now triggers the same queasiness.
What can I do to help alleviate my child's motion sickness?
If you're in a car, have him look out at a spot on the horizon. An object in the distance will give visual input that you're moving relative to that point on the horizon and will help resolve some of the mixed messages that are being sent to the brain, says Ling-McGeorge. Open the window so your child gets some fresh air, and plan a few stops along the way to help him reset to normal. Since motion sickness is often a state of mind, try to distract him. Offer him new toys that he hasn't played with before or snacks that he doesn't normally get at home. (If he's really green around the gills, you might want to reconsider snacks, however.) Don't let him read or play with puzzles or any visually intensive games, as that will probably increase the disorientation. For younger children, you might try timing your trip during nap time, since they won't get sick while they're asleep.
If you're traveling on a plane or boat and can't pull over whenever you'd like, your options are a little more limited. Try to get some cool air onto your child's face. Turn on the fan in the airplane, or take him out on the deck of the boat. If you can't find a way to get cool air, try putting a cool cloth over his forehead and eyes. Also, if there are any extra seats around you, have him lie down. Otherwise, keep him in his seat. Sometimes, a child will feel fine when he's seated, but will complain of queasiness the minute he gets up to walk through the aisles. Keeping physical activity to a minimum is best.
Finally, try not to get angry — you'll just make your child feel worse. Remember that your child is young and traveling can be hard for him.
Are there any drugs I can give my child in advance of a long trip to prevent him from getting queasy?
If your child is prone to motion sickness, ask your pediatrician if she can prescribe something for it. Dramamine comes in a chewable tablet and liquid form for children 2 years and older, but this drug can cause drowsiness and should not be given regularly.