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Kids and Motion Sickness
By metropolitanmama | December 8, 2007
I’ve experienced motion sickness ever since I can remember. Something about the bumps and jarring, the lull and the winding of roads upsets my equilibrium and my stomach. I try to tell myself that it’s just “in my head,” but nausea doesn’t want to listen. Although I don’t always experience motion sickness on trips, I know the “triggers” that are most likely to set it off…an empty stomach, reading in the car, windy or roll-y roads, and long daytime car rides. I’m much better off if I have a full (but not too full) stomach and if we’re driving on “straight shot” freeways at night.
My daughter hasn’t experienced motion sickness (as far as I can tell) and I hope she never does. I’d like to spare her that misery - especially because I can already tell that she’s going to be an adventurer. 
If you’re little one experiences motion sickness, here are a few recommendations from the hotelfun4kids website:
- Plan your route along major highways instead of city or winding routes. This avoids the many stops and provides for a more stable ride. Less bumping and jarring may help.
- Plan activities for in the car to take the child’s mind off the travelling.
- Cover the window beside the child with curtains. This helps reduce stress on the eyes and keeps the sun off the child.
- Make sure the car is a comfortable temperature for all occupants. It may be cool up front with the air conditioning, but the back may be hot.
- Individual battery powered fans or spray bottles can cool kids down as they need and are fun too.
- Being hungry can lead to a feeling of nausea and headaches. Have plenty of healthy snacks available and lots of water. Avoid sugary or extremely salty foods - some suggestions include unsalted crackers, vegetables and dip, bananas are great for upset stomachs, fruit especially fresh apples, grapes, ginger snaps or graham crackers - ginger is often touted as a remedy for nausea and have plenty of water on hand (avoid juice if you are pretty certain to have motion sickness occur). Avoid carbonated beverages as these add to a feeling of bloating.
You might also try giving your child a Queasy Pop Kids lollipop. Available in “delicious all natural flavors” (natural cola, sour raspberry, cinnamon, sour lemon, peppermint, papaya, and green apple), the pops are drug-free, non-drowsy, and made from essential oils. Julie Davine, Vice President of Three Lollies (the company behind the product), reminded parents that the pops “should not be given to infants and that they should use extreme caution and supervision when giving a Queasy Pop to a small child due to choking hazards.”
(Photo by: Erik R. Bishoff)
WIN IT! One reader will win TWO boxes of Queasy Pop Kids. To enter, simply leave a comment and your e-mail address before Monday, December 10, at midnight. The winner will be announced and contacted on Tuesday, December 11th. * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
* UPDATED * The winner is #2 miss erica. Congratulations!
Topics: contests, older sibs |
December 8th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
My motion sickness is much worse since having kids - don’t know why. I can barely swing on a swing or rock in a rocking chair without feeling queasy.
I recall a family vacation in which we took some notoriously windy road; there were actually people pulled over on the side of the road vomiting. Thankfully, I wasn’t one of them!
My own daughter gets a little carsick sitting in the back. The pops might come in handy when we take our long trip out to the midwest next summer.
December 9th, 2007 at 12:21 am
We took a giant coffee can in the car with us at all times when I was a kid in case we didn’t make it to the side of the road in time. I must admit my husband has seen me lose my lunch out of his car window on more than one occasion, too…we could use these for the whole family! gumbi1313@msn.com
December 9th, 2007 at 1:01 am
please enter me. i’d pass these along to my sister (my niece gets carsick on long car rides).
December 9th, 2007 at 1:19 am
We could use these at our house!!
December 9th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Your blogged!
http://contestaddict.blogspot.com
December 9th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Count me in please!
blogged ya: http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/12/sunday-edition-of-contests-galore_09.html
December 9th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
If things work out for us, we’ll be travelingi quite a bit in 2008. I’ll be doing my research on these, too. I love all-natural products for my child. Thanks for the heads-up.
December 9th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Yes! Please count me in! Thanks!
cbdulrich[at]yahoo[dot]com
December 9th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Sign me up for some pops.
December 9th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
I would love to win this…my little cousin gets terribly sick in the car.
December 9th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
These would be great to have on hand for when the little ones are sick
December 10th, 2007 at 2:07 am
Sometimes my son is just fine on long car trips. But other times he has to stop and get out literally every fove minutes!!
I would love to have these in my glove compartment!
December 10th, 2007 at 3:15 am
These sound great. We would lobe to have them. Thanks!
December 10th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Memories… I can remember the days when I was too young to realize what I was doing wrong while driving in a car. Not watching out the windows, and reading… Groan… This sounds like a nice product to keep handy.
December 10th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
my nephew tends to get carsik, therefore hates to take trips, even three hours to my house
So this would be a great items for him!
December 10th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I would love to win these. Please enter me. Thank you
December 10th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
me please
December 10th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Oh how I wish I’d had these when I was a kid. My parent’s favorite place to vacation was the Colorado mountains, so family vacations inevitably involved windy road trips. I still can’t here the term “Continental Divide” without getting a little nauseous. I’m happy to say that I grew out of my car sickness, but my younger sister didn’t. I’d love to give these to her.
December 10th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Please randomly select me!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
What a great idea! I have 2 girls who suffer from motion sickness in the car all the time! Thanks for the great giveaway!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
My motion sickness didn’t begin until AFTER having children…crazy. I’d love to keep these around, just in case! Thanks! ( meg.wilson@gmail.com )
December 10th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Ohh wee, we’ll use these!! Thanks!
stbaisch@yahoo.com
December 10th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
What a lovely idea. Thank you for offering this giveaway.
Have a beautiful day,
Lesley
December 11th, 2007 at 1:58 am
This is a good idea. I know kids who often get motion sick in the car and could use these.
sona138(at)hotmail(dot)com
December 11th, 2007 at 2:41 am
I’d pass these along to my sister for my nephews. They get car-sick a lot!
renae18[at]gmail[dot]com
December 11th, 2007 at 3:07 am
This is an awesome product, and it is easy to stash these in the glove box. Love them!
December 11th, 2007 at 3:11 am
Thanks for the giveaway
December 11th, 2007 at 3:28 am
I would love these for myself! Luckily my daughter doesn’t get carsick (she’s still rearfacing with no problems at 2) but my childhood motion sickness returned with a vengance when I got pregnant with her. I’m hoping once I stop nursing it will go away, but because of the nursing I still can’t take Dramamine or anything to prevent the motion sickness. It would be wonderful if these would help.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:35 am
I could use those, what a great thing!
December 11th, 2007 at 4:32 am
With Christmas coming, I know we are about to need those. It isn’t Christmas until someone throws up!
December 11th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I just discovered my oldest gets car sick!