...kid/motion sickness

[ljmetro]

My son gets car sick about 2 hrs. into a trip. We are driving from PA (on Nov. 4th - yeah!). I called the pediatrician, who recommended dramamine. Does anyone else have experience with this? Does it make kids sleepy? Does it help? Any other suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Barbers2005]

I get motion sickness a lot, ever since I was a kid, and I take dramamine all the time on trips. I've never really had a problem with drowsiness, and it works great. I even take it when I'm going to amusement parks so I don't get sick on the rides. Hope this helps.

 

[moniot]

I get motion sickness also when traveling. It have gotten so bad that I can't ride most of the rides. The kids joke that my favorite ride at Disney is either the bench ride or the shop ride

Dramamine make me very sleepy and out of it for a while. I saw a new product at Wal-mart. You dab it behind your ears I wonder if anyone has used this and if it works.

Leah

 

[lanicastro]

I have a 4 year old who gets sick on car trips too. We give him dramamine and it makes him sleepy if we give him enough. He won't chew the chewable dramamine, so we use the regular stuff and dissolve it in juice. We have also used the stuff from walmart for behind the ears. You can put that behind the ears as soon as you notice they are getting queasy. The one thing that has helped the most, is our DVD player. We put it in the center of the car, so that he is looking out the front window, and it has helped a lot. It really helps to have them look out the front windshield, instead of out their own side window. Also, we have to keep the car very cool- the warmer the car, the sicker he gets. Good luck!

Lynn

 

[PatricenPete]

I get sick in the BACK seat, so I have remedied that by sitting in the front

I have tried dramamine a few times with no ill effects - I say go for it and have a great trip!

 

[rchristiansen]

We gave our DD 1/4 of a pill for one trip once....however she was just potty trained and I think it made her too relaxed and she kept peeing on herself like EVERY hour! (This was on our return trip - we didn't have the problem going there, but we didnt' give her the pill). So I don't know if that was related or what.

Maybe try driving overnight???? Would that help so he sleeps better?

I can't sit in the back seat either - even on short trips.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

How old is your child?? Ds has had trouble with motion sickness since he was a toddler. The regular dramamine makes most people VERY sleepy. Children even more so. That is not really a problem in the car. I would give the recomended dose and let him snooze away. When he is awake encourage him to munch on salty snack and sip giner-ale. crack a window and stop ever hour or two and let him get out for a few minutes.
The thing is he is quite likely to be prone to getting sick on rides too. Dramamine can make for a sleepy grumpy child in the parks. We could never get the dr to ok anything other than regular dramamine for our son when he was younger. The non-drowsey versions are for ages 12+ and he would not consider the patch so we just gave the smallest possible does and dealt with it.
I have not heard of the behind the ear rub. Love some more info on that.

Good luck.

Jordans' mom

 

[PaulaSue]

I am very sensitive to any kind of medicines even tylenol. I took Dramamine before and it made me sleep each time I took it.

 

[ljmetro]

Thanks for the suggestions. He is 8 and we noticed this since he was about 2 1/2 to 3. We will be leaving in the afternoon, so I am not worried about him being sleepy in the car. I hope he can deal with the rides at the parks. Since it does only happen after an extended time, I am hopeful that he will be fine once we get there. I have noticed that stopping and letting him walk, seems to help some, I just don't want him to suffer if I can help it. Thanks again.

 

[tjmw2727]

Thanks for the suggestions. He is 8 and we noticed this since he was about 2 1/2 to 3. We will be leaving in the afternoon, so I am not worried about him being sleepy in the car. I hope he can deal with the rides at the parks. Since it does only happen after an extended time, I am hopeful that he will be fine once we get there. I have noticed that stopping and letting him walk, seems to help some, I just don't want him to suffer if I can help it. Thanks again.

My youngest is about the same age, 8 turning 9 in December. She gets carsick and airsick but has no problem on rides even spinning ones!

On the airplane we give her 1/2 the recommended dose of chewable dramaminie (ped ok'd) and that works well.

In the car I find if she uses her booster seat (backless booster) she is fine but if she goes without as in dh's car or a friends car she is very prone to carsickness. She is tall enough to sit properly in most cars with only the lap shoulder belt she prefers using the booster seat. I think it raises her enough so she can see out the front as well as the sides and keeps her from getting disoriented. If he his still within the guidelines to use a belt positioning booster you may want to consdier that to help with the motion sickness. DD's has cup holders so that is a bonus for a long ride as well.

TJ

 

[princessbaileigh]

I was reading a package at the health food store that said that Ginger can relieve nausea. It would not make him sleepy, and is natural. But, if you wanted to go with the dramamine I would give him half of the smallest dose.They may even have children's formula.

 

[graygables]

Ginger ale, soda crackers (saltines), ginger snaps, green apples are all good natural remedies. Cool temps and a breeze (personal fan) helps, too. Watch the horizon and take frequent breaks. There is also a remedy by Hylands that is called "Motion Sickness", which I've ordered, but haven't tried myself (stocking up on things for our cruise!)

Dramamine knocks me on my behind. Makes the travelling part very easy, but the getting to the hotel room very difficult!

Our family still laughs about how I've been carsick in all the best places...at the foot of Mt Vesuvius in Italy, at the foot of Masada in Israel, at the base of the Eiffel Tower, on the Berlin Wall...you name it, I've thrown up on it.

Good luck!

 

[pezheadval]

My daughter gets very car sick. We use Dramamine, which does make her sleepy or Children's Benadryl. We use Benadryl during the day or for shorter trips because it does not make her sleepy. But, when driving down to Disney, we use Dramamine because its ok if she sleeps. We also avoid milk products, have lots of lollipops to suck on, play a lot of "I Spy" to keep her looking out the front window and always have a little bucket and some wipes handy, just in case. But luckily we haven't had any problems lately.