Can I ask another "sea sick" question?

[3dog2kidmom]

I've cruised before so I know I do not get sick and if I start feeling woozy a dramamine helps me just fine. But I'm wondering about my 7- and 9-year-olds. Neither get car sick or sick on rides, and we have even been on a salmon fishing charter on Lake Michigan on a day when the lake was really too rough to be out and they were just fine. So do I give them something to prevent seasickness or just take our chances and give them half a dramamine if they start feeling bad?

TIA for your input/experience!

 

[Cabelle1863]

All three daughters & I started taking Bonine 24 hours before we embarked, I wanted to make sure it was in our systems. Oldest daughter & I felt a little green the first night as we were leaving Port Canaveral but afterward were just fine. We did continue to take it every night right before bed just in case. None of us had any side effects from it.

 

[minniebeth]

It's a double edge...if you take it as a preventative, you might have the side effects from it even if you don't need it...on the other hand, it is very hard to play catch up once you are sick. Neither of my two older kids get motion sickness but felt the effects of the ship the first and last nights. My youngest was unaffected. I say better to prevent than to treat....

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

The first night is the worst. I gave my 12 year old one non-drowsy dramamine and ginger capsules. He took the ginger a few times on our little 4 day, and did just fine. I took the non-drowsy dramamine right when we boarded and at dinner along with the ginger. I really felt it the first night, but got along fine. After that I was fine

 

[ivanova]

Other than recommending the use of sea bands, I would recommend you talk to your pediatrician. Giving any kind of meds, even over the counter ones, should not be done without conferring with a doctor. I've heard too many medical horror stories to recommend otherwise.

 

[logabbmom]

We are cruising in 3 weeks - called my ped yesterday and he prescribed the sea bands for my 9 year old and husband. Hopefully that works fine for her. She gets car sick so I am being more preventive then anything. I don't want her (our) first cruise being wrecked if she doesn't feel good.

 

[jk8]

I had the same questions when we went with ds6. I opted not to give him anything and he had no problems at all.

 

[rahrah]

Your small boat experience is much rougher than anything you are likely to have on a cruise ship. If the kids were fine, they will probably be ok on the ship.

The following things can help if you (or your children) are not prone to seasickness, but are feeling a little odd...

1) Eat something. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but it usually works.
2) Go where you can see the horizon.
3) Go to the stern (back) of the ship (only on motor vessels, not sail boats).
4) Don't lie down.

Notice that most of this is just the opposite of what you want your children to do when they are not feeling well ;-)

 

[pumpkinbaby]

I gave my DS 9 the less drowsy Dramamine the morning of the cruise. As the day went on he never complained of being sick. I just kept an eye out since you need it every 6 hours I think. SInce there was no complaints I didn't give him anymore and he didn't need it.

 

[jakenjacksmom]

My son got sick on our first Disney Cruise he was 2. Before our next cruise I took him to his doctor, she told me to start giving him children's benadryl a couple of days before we leave at night before bed, then continue giving it to them at night before bed on the cruise. We have been on several cruises since he is now 10 and so far so good. It works for us.

 

[lindaso]

If your kids don't get car sick and were OK on the boat, then they will probably be fine and won't need anything. I would only worry about kids who have a problem with motion.

My kids read and play video games in the car and they were absolutely fine on the ship in very rough waters. My DH has had motion sickness problems his whole life and he was a different story.

I think you know beforehand who will have problems and who won't. I wouldn't medicate a child unless they've been known to have motion problems in the past.

 

[DiaLady]

Both my 12 yo and I got very sea sick on our SECOND DCL cruise (go figure!). I just rested in the cabin and ate ginger tables for a few days before I heard you could get sea bands on the ship. Both DS12 & I used the sea bands the rest of the trip and felt great! DS 10 & DH (former Navy guy) had no seasickness.

For our cruise next week, DS12 & I have our seabands ready to go!

 

[Tarabra]

Absolutely do not give them anything if they show no signs of motion sickness. I know so many people who are like, "I got so sick on a deep sea fishing trip, I could never go on a cruise." Those are two different experiences. So if your kids were fine on the fishing trip, they should be fine on DCL too. I've been on 7 cruises, some w/ pretty rough water and was fine, (one where I was first tri-mester preg.) although I don't get motion sickness normally. If I had taken Bonine or something else every day, I would be saying the same thing. I was fine. I just think so many people are over precautious and take them just because. My DH who hasn't thrown up since 1974 and has never shown signs of motion sickness takes a dramamine before he gets on a plane. He is so groggy and has such a dry mouth, all for nothing. It drives me crazy. It's all just because his mom takes one before she flies. She suffers from motion sickness.

 

[sdaniel105]

If they don't get car, plane or sick on rides I would not worry about it. If you are worried though I would go for the Ginger. My wife took 2 - 250 mg capsules a day. Once in the morning and one at night. I would think one a day would be good for your kids. If they can't swallow pills. I think I saw liquid extract as well.

Enjoy your cruise!

Sean

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences. I think I'm going to go with my mother's intuition and not give them anything. I really hate to medicate anyone (myself included) unless it is absolutely necessary. None of the family ever gets motion sickness (unless I try to read in the car -- now that I'm older, that is; when I was young it never bothered me), so I am going to take my chances.

Thanks again!

 

[musicgirl]

logabbmom-if your dd gets carsick, have you tried the sea bands out first in the car? The reason is that if the dot on the bracelet is not in the correct place at all times, it will do nothing. And for a child to be precise about this might make it twice as hard.

I have a difficult time with the regular sea bands, they never really worked for me just for that reason. I did purchase an electronic one that sends a pulse up a certain finger if it is placed correctly. While I could feel with the pulse when it was in the right place, whenever I needed to adjust the placement, usually it was only a teeny bit off.

Point being, if the button is slightly off, it won't work, think about a back up.

 

[logabbmom]

logabbmom-if your dd gets carsick, have you tried the sea bands out first in the car? The reason is that if the dot on the bracelet is not in the correct place at all times, it will do nothing. And for a child to be precise about this might make it twice as hard.

I have a difficult time with the regular sea bands, they never really worked for me just for that reason. I did purchase an electronic one that sends a pulse up a certain finger if it is placed correctly. While I could feel with the pulse when it was in the right place, whenever I needed to adjust the placement, usually it was only a teeny bit off.

Point being, if the button is slightly off, it won't work, think about a back up.

No I haven't yet - we will try it in the car and probably on the plane as well. Thanks for the info.

 

[disneyfan1130]

I have a very weak stomach when it comes to motion. On my first (non-DCL) cruise I used the patch behind the ear. I was soooo out of it that I finally decided to take it off one night and spent the night with my head in the toilet. By the time we got home and I took it off, I spent the next week with double-vision and vertigo so bad. I also have very little recollection of the trip (and no, I was not drinking!!)
When we went on the Wonder in November, I had just learned about ginger tablets. I used a combination of the sea bands and ginger tablets and never felt queezy once. And we were on some very rough seas. I could definitely feel the boat rocking, but it did not affect my stomach at all (except I didn't have much of an appetite, but that may have been a coincidence... not complaining though!!) Now ginger has become my best friend, even back on land to help cure nausea. The best thing about it is I can take it even once I start feeling nauseated and it kicks it out within 10 minutes. I'm never leaving home without it again!!

 

[nancass]

I was just wondering if when you mention ginger tablets do you mean pure ginger capsules that you might get at a health food store? I bought "Gravol" with ginger tablets just in case but for my mom who does get motion sickness I'm looking for what would best help her also.
Also what do your sea bands look like. All I've found are some that are about an inch wide with a small ball on them, and they're not very flattering colours either.

 

[DeloreanGirl]

I have a very weak stomach when it comes to motion. On my first (non-DCL) cruise I used the patch behind the ear. I was soooo out of it that I finally decided to take it off one night and spent the night with my head in the toilet. By the time we got home and I took it off, I spent the next week with double-vision and vertigo so bad. I also have very little recollection of the trip (and no, I was not drinking!!)
When we went on the Wonder in November, I had just learned about ginger tablets. I used a combination of the sea bands and ginger tablets and never felt queezy once. And we were on some very rough seas. I could definitely feel the boat rocking, but it did not affect my stomach at all (except I didn't have much of an appetite, but that may have been a coincidence... not complaining though!!) Now ginger has become my best friend, even back on land to help cure nausea. The best thing about it is I can take it even once I start feeling nauseated and it kicks it out within 10 minutes. I'm never leaving home without it again!!

Hi there,

What was the name of the tablets and where did you buy them? Is it something you can find at your grocery store or CVS? I'd love to try them on our next cruise since I tend to get lightheaded on only cruise ships. Thanks!