5 Tips For Travelling with A Toddler Who Gets Motion Sick

Although research does show that motion sickness in children under 2 years of age is quite rare, it still does affect a number of children. If your child is often unhappy while in the car for no apparent reason, motion sickness is a likely cause. This can lead to stress on the parents and the children and can turn even the simplest of day trips into monumental ordeals. 

Here are some tips to minimize the affects of motion sickness on your child as well as a few strategies to help the parents cope.

1. Time your travel carefully- A sleeping child is highly unlikely to develop motion sickness symptoms. Therefore try to plan long car drives that coincide with normal nap times. Some parents have even found success in putting their child to sleep beforehand and then transferring them to the car.
2. Do not use toys, books, etc to try and distract your child. Motion sickness is caused by mixed stimuli being received from the eyes and the inner ear. By having your child focus on nearby objects you are only making the symptoms worse. Instead, if your child is old enough try to point out objects that are far off in the distance such as hills, forests, etc..
3. Avoid strong smells in the car. Strong smells such as perfume or foods can act as a trigger for motion sickness in many children. Even some strong air fresheners in cars can act as a trigger. Instead, keeping the car well ventilated with as much fresh air as possible.
4. Ensure that your child’s head is well supported in their car seat. The more bouncing around the head does, the more mixed signals the brain will receive, and the more likely that motion sickness will occur.
5. Finally, withstand the urge to stop travelling. Research suggests that in most cases symptoms will fade with frequent exposure. As children get older they will be able to recognize the symptoms themselves, and in many cases will find their own personal way to stay comfortable.

Although motion sickness can create anxiety and stress it is important to remain calm and be well prepared for travel adventures. We do not want to rob our children of the experience and opportunities that come with traveling together.

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