seasickness and children

[cruisen4abruisen]

Do young children get sea sick too? We are cruising on June 8 with our DD 2 and DS 11. We are particularly concerned about our 2 year old who does not take medicines well. What has been your experience? And what can be done if they do get sick?

 

[Bev J]

We used drammamine or bonnine for our 5 year old just the first day to see how he did. We did consult our Dr for dosage info. Check with your Dr before you leave and see if and what you can give the 2 yr old. I don't think kids usually have a problem with seasickness at that young, any problems with car or motion sickness? Your 11 year old will be fine with bonnine, or drammamine . If anyone gets sick on the ship there is a dr/nurse on board to help you out. Have a great trip.

 

[rlskes]

we used Benadryl (our Ped. recommend it) for our 8 month old last month. And for my 4 yr, I just gave her hlaf of the chewable Dramamine. Both did great.

have a great time
Kim

 

[MICHELLENDEAN]

My peditrition told me that my 2 year old would be fine...he said - AH, Have you ever seen those kids spin?
She was...however Mommy was seasick for almost 4 days!

 

[ErinC]

I just talked to my ENT Dr. yesterday. He said most kids are fine, and he suggested nothing unless they started to complain about being sick. If they complained he recommended benadryl or 1/2 a chewable bonine(which I have never heard of, not the chewable part anyway). My kids are 5 & 2. Erin

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Most likely, you already know if your child is likely to get seasick.

If your child suffers from motion sickness on car trips, plane trips or amusement park rides, your child will probably suffer from motion sickness on the ship, especially if the seas are rough. I'd be especially careful if your child gets queasy in Imax movies, where the theater doesn't move, but the "flying" motions on the screen fool his/her inner ears into triggering nausea.

On the other hand, if your child never suffers queasiness under such conditions, it's unlikely (but still possible) that your child will feel motion sickness on the ship.

If anyone tells you, "only adults get seasick, kids don't," they haven't met my kids.

Also, be careful about advice on this board about giving Bonine (Meclizine) to children. Check with your doctor. According to the manufacturer, Pfizer, Inc., "Do not give to children under 12 years of age unless directed by a doctor." Our doctor said it was okay for us to give Bonine to our 10- and 12-year-old daugthers, but she "would not recommend it for 6-year-olds."

Also, be aware that Original Dramamine and Dramamine Less Drowsy Formula are two entirely different medications. Original Dramamine may be given to children. Dramamine Less Drowsy Formula is the same medication as Bonine, and thus should only be given to children is directed by a doctor.

For more on Bonine, see http://www.acidrelief.com/conaffairs/acid_relief6.shtml

 

[doulasue]

My kids are 6 and 8, both suffer from motion sickness. My pediatrician recommended 1/2 tab of Bonine OR dramamine. However, I didn't ask about the non-drowsy factor, which is what I bought! I think I will call right now as we leave in 4 days! Which is worse, a seasick child, or a child that is zonked out on dramamine?! -Sue

 

[pmgreene]

Great advice from Horace - always check with YOUR doctor and follow medical protocol that you would normally follow. All kids are different. For my DS 8 and DD 5, we never mentioned "sea sickness" because I feel strongly that for many (yes, I know not all) children you can introduce an idea or feeling and with mind over matter they "become" seak sick. I was prepared with medicines and the pressure point wrist bands just in case but they did remarkedly well. I did put the wrist bands on my DD one time and just told her they were magic bracelets and after she laid down a while she was feeling better. A great recommendation we heard was that if your child (or an adult for that matter) feels sea sick to get into one of the pools because the motion of the pool feels more natural than standing and feeling the motion. Just my opinion....

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by doulasue
My pediatrician recommended 1/2 tab of Bonine OR dramamine. However, I didn't ask about the non-drowsy factor, which is what I bought! I think I will call right now as we leave in 4 days! Which is worse, a seasick child, or a child that is zonked out on dramamine?!

Keep in mind, it's not "non-drowsy," it's "Less Drowsy."

My kids took Bonine on the cruise. They were quite tired by evening, and I attribute this partially to the Bonine (which is the same medication as Dramamine Less Drowsy Formula).

In the past, when we've given them Dramamine Original Formula, they became sleepy to the point of falling asleep during the day. That's why I didn't want to give them Dramamine Original Formula on the cruise.

When a doctor gives advice about Dramamine, he/she should specify which formula.

Originally posted by pmgreene
always check with YOUR doctor and follow medical protocol that you would normally follow.

Yes. Thank you for that clarification. Nobody should medicate their children based on what I posted about the advice I got from our doctor. If anyone reads my note as, "Bonine is okay for 10-year-olds but not for 6-year-olds," I apologize. People should check with their family's doctor.

 

[MICHELLENDEAN]

I agree, put in a call to your peditrition...Although my 2 year old daughter had no problem...I as a 4 year old had terrible motion sickness and got sick on any long car ride and on airplanes..that's why I asked my peditrition about my daughter.
Good luck
and they do make the sea bands (which contain NO medicine - they work on pressure points) but they didn't do a thing for me! also I hear you need to push/rub the button on it..which I did but no go!

 

[cruisen4abruisen]

Thanks everyone, for your helpful advice. I did call our ped. (who recommended Children's Dramamine) but I'm really hoping those "magic wristbands" will do the trick. Thanks again for your help.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by cruisen4abruisen
but I'm really hoping those "magic wristbands" will do the trick.

I didn't get Sea-Bands for either of our daughters because I know they would constantly be playing with the Sea-Bands -- and they would thus be ineffective.

My understanding is that a Sea-Bands have a plastic stud the provides pressure on a specific acupressure point on the wrist. If it's not properly positioned, it won't work.

 

[doulasue]

I didn't know that they made childrens dramamine! I am not sure if I should just not give them anything unless they complain about feeling ill, or if I should take the precautions to try and avoid them feeling ill in the first place. I hate to medicate them needlessly, but I also don't want their trip to be ruined! -Sue