Kids and motion sickness

[Disneyfirstimers2013]

I spoke with my pediatrician and he recommended Dramamine for kids non drowsy. Of course, this isn't a product that is even produced! I don't want to give them Dramamine because it makes kids drowsy. At other alternatives? My kids are 7 & 10. I have read about Bonine but there is no children's formula. What have any of you used for this age group?

 

[DillWaters]

I spoke with my pediatrician and he recommended Dramamine for kids non drowsy. Of course, this isn't a product that is even produced! I don't want to give them Dramamine because it makes kids drowsy. At other alternatives? My kids are 7 & 10. I have read about Bonine but there is no children's formula. What have any of you used for this age group?

Bonine and Dramamine non-drowsy are both the same medicine: Meclizine Hcl. You can find generics of it at most pharmacies and grocery stores and places like Target, Walmart, etc.

I've found it to be very effective for my 6yo daughter who gets carsick very easily. The dosage for younger children is listed on the box and there's no need for a separate "childrens" version of the medicine.

 

[MikeAndNick]

I seen this on one of the other boards.

Ginger IS an effective alternative. I like to mention that Altoids makes a ginger candy.

Also, candied ginger.. and people on the board have mentioned ginger capsules.
In the US, Sea Band makes a ginger gum.

Gravol is the same as Dramamine in the US. They're both brands of dimenhydrinate, an anti-cholinergic which is primarily used to treat motion sickness... That is actually your best bet. Children's Bonine is a brand of cyclizine, which causes more drowsiness than Dramamine/Gravol.
Gravol/Dramamine has been proven to be safe and effective for children the age of two and up.

so... just look at the ingredients.

Cyclizine = Bonine for Kids = extremely sleepy
Dimenhydrinate = Gravol/Dramamine = sleepy

but if someone is seasick, sleepy is better than vomiting.

 

[wdwwishes]

Some of our servers once told us that green apples are helpful too as is keeping your tummy fuller with food vs. beverages. The only time we've experienced problems are the first and last nights of the cruise leaving out/coming back into Port Canaveral going through the "Florida Straits". 2 weeks ago on our Western Caribbean trip we didn't have any issues. Agree with a bit sleepy is better than the alternatives and remember if you don't act before it become a game of catch up. Good luck.

 

[mom2jcg]

Non drowsy is really "less drowsy" and knocked me out for 14 hours. It doesn't affect everyone that way, just be aware that it can. My kids (and I) use sea bands and have had very good luck.

 

[DisneyOrBustColorado]

Our pediatrician told us to give our kids a low dose of Benadryl for motion sickness. Our trip was really rocky because of post hurricane weather & this really seemed to help our kids. Our youngest did complain of some motion sickness on our first cruise & the Benadryl seemed to help on our last cruise because he had to motion sickness at all. It didn't seem to make our kids sleepy & they adjusted to the motion & didn't need it for much of the trip. You would have to ask your doctor because the dose was different for both of my kids according to their weight. It was not the same dose that was listed on the bottle.

Another plus to this was the hives that my youngest broke out in. He got huge itchy hives all over his body. They were bright red welts. I was about to seek medical care when the light bulb went on & I thought, duh... give him some of the Benadryl. It helped immediately. What a relief!

 

[cr8zycruiser]

Non drowsy is really "less drowsy" and knocked me out for 14 hours. It doesn't affect everyone that way, just be aware that it can. My kids (and I) use sea bands and have had very good luck.

Where can you get the sea bands? I've been debating on what to have on hand for just in cases.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Where can you get the sea bands? I've been debating on what to have on hand for just in cases.

I've seen them at Wal-Mart and CVS.

 

[ktmo]

My DD got sea sick just last week. I hadn't packed any medicine, so I resorted to what they had in the gift shops. I got Dramamine and it worked like a charm. It didn't make her drowsy.

 

[cr8zycruiser]

I've seen them at Wal-Mart and CVS.

Thanks. I just found them on amazon too!

 

[cr8zycruiser]

I spoke with my pediatrician and he recommended Dramamine for kids non drowsy. Of course, this isn't a product that is even produced! I don't want to give them Dramamine because it makes kids drowsy. At other alternatives? My kids are 7 & 10. I have read about Bonine but there is no children's formula. What have any of you used for this age group?

Amazon has a kids pack. Apparently it's new.

 

[kuhltiffany]

We buy kids Bonine on Amazon (can't get it here in Canada), and the kids take it with no side effects

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Amazon has a kids pack. Apparently it's new.

We buy kids Bonine on Amazon (can't get it here in Canada), and the kids take it with no side effects

The kids Bonine is no longer made. The stuff being sold on Amazon is stuff that some have stockpiled. When I looked last, it cost $39.99 for 8 tablets.

 

[cr8zycruiser]

The kids Bonine is no longer made. The stuff being sold on Amazon is stuff that some have stockpiled. When I looked last, it cost $39.99 for 8 tablets.

I was speaking of the Dramamine. The Bonnie was extremely expensive.

 

[mom2jcg]

Where can you get the sea bands? I've been debating on what to have on hand for just in cases.

Target has them (sometimes behind the pharmacy counter, no idea why), and amazon usually has the best prices on them. If you get them, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and let the wearer use his or her fingers to measure for placement. Proper placement is everything.

 

[mom2jcg]

Target has them (sometimes behind the pharmacy counter, no idea why), and amazon usually has the best prices on them. If you get them, be sure to follow the instructions carefully and let the wearer use his or her fingers to measure for placement. Proper placement is everything.

Oops, just saw you found them on amazon.

 

[Seahunt]

You might try this product. I can get really seasick and have always depended on Bonine. I read about MotionEaze and tried it on our January cruise and loved it.

It's a natural oil (smells like lavender, but smell fades after a couple minutes) and you place a couple drops on the skin behind your ears and voila, no queasy stomach. Plus you can use it after symptoms start for quick relief.

Their website says this about kids use: Safe for kids – Parents who have children prone to motion sickness are thrilled with the results they get from MotionEaze. MotionEaze is made of 100% natural ingredients and is therefore safe for all ages. Topical application behind the ears also makes it easier than having to make a young child swallow a pill.

http://www.motioneaze.com/motioneaze/motion-sickness-relief/

Walmart, Amazon, Drugstoredotcom etc. carry it.

Other motion sickness sufferers can understand why I was so excited to find something else that was so easy and really works LOL

 

[ibcrazie4dizney]

I saw on tv a lady who invented PSI Bands. she said the regular bracelets didn't help her enough, so she made better ones. she said they are also good for preg mothers with morning sickness and chemo patients. said you can get them at drug stores like CVS and Rite Aide. I am going on my first cruise and thinking of trying them so I checked out the website. Think they were around $15 for a set of two(you wear one on each wrist). they had nice designs too. Maybe someone on here has tried them and can let us know how they compare to other brands? thanks!

 

[SapphireMind]

Also talk to your doctor about other antihistamines like the 2nd gen that don't cross the blood/brain barrier as well. (zyrtec, claritin etc) they, while not officially used for that reason, can help sometimes.

Luckily I don't get much motion-sickness, as I am very limited in the anti-emetics I can take and most of them are not shown to help motion-sickness.

edited to add: you can also give an initial full dose, allow them to sleep some of it off, and then continue with a lower dosage that should hopefully lessen the sedative effects of the other meds.

 

[SapphireMind]

I think the seabands/psibands are more a placebo effect than anything else. Ginger, chewing gum, orienting yourself with the horizon - those probably work just as well.