worried about seasick kids

[tchrmom]

Took the suggestion from this board, and bought Bonine for the whole family. Called pediatrician to find out dose for DD7 and DS10. Was told that "modern ships don't rock, and I won't need it. Does not want to give kids medicine. If they get sick, call ship doc!" I was MAD!!!!!!!! I don't want to wait until they are "doing the technicolor yawn". Dramamine has a dose for kids as young as 2.....Anyone have any thoughts on it?

 

[Mjasp]

I bought it all. Dramimine for the adults, chewable Dramamine for th ekids and Sea bands for whoever would need them.. We never needed it, I hope you have as good luck, the ship moved slightly, but not enough to make you sick. highest seas were 4-8 foot seas. You should have no problem. Just don't look at the water till you get use to the feeling of moving, and believe me if you don't want to see the water, the ship is big enough for you not to see it.

Good Luck and don't worry.

 

[tchrmom]

Thanks, Mjasp!
Half the people say...You won't feel it!....then I read about someone who REALLY felt it! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!!

 

[srobin]

We are just back from the 5/18 Magic cruise. None of us had ever cruised before so I was worried about the seasickness also.
I think it affects everyone differently. My mom hardly felt the ship move at all and did not take dramamine or anything after the first two days. The other seven of us took dramamine for most of the trip and did not have a problem. There were even a couple of days where we did not take it and were fine. The first three days of our cruise we had rough sea conditions and waves of 8-13 feet according to the bridge report. You could feel the boat move some. It really depended on the person and where you were on the ship. I felt it more in some restaurants than others. The only time anyone got sick was on Thursday night. It was very windy all day and that night the boat was really rocking due to wind more than waves. My 11 year old was in the top bunk and woke up around midnight and got sick. He was fine by morning.

 

[MrsScooby]

Hi, I would bring the Bonine just in case. I've heard of people needing it on the first day only.
If you are worried about the meds, maybe try ginger capsules. I used them a couple years ago at WDW and they really saved my trip. I was very queezy after Body Wars at MGM and they worked for me. No drowsiness at all.
Bonine makes me a little drowsy. Dramamine wipes me out. I found the ginger capsules at CVS. I'm not sure about dosage for kids though. Check with local pharmacist. The pharmacist will know more about dosage than a doctor will anyway.

Good luck!
-
Laurie

 

[Fawn]

When I took my girls on the cruise, 10 and 11, we all took Bonine from the first day until the last. Never even took a chance on getting sick...wasn't worth it to me.

They never had a problem with the meds, and neither did I.

 

[tkd lisa]

I gave both of my kids (8 1/2 and 10) 1/2 of a chewable dramamine on our way to the boat. I gave them another half on the day we went deep sea fishing in a small boat at Cozumel. I took a Bonine daily. Except for the fishing boat, I was fine. I did get sick on the fishing boat, and took another bonine when we got back to the Magic (the directions say up to 2 per day).

I would try out the dosage for the kids before you go, because some are bothered by it. My kids were fine.

 

[cinda65]

We went on the Magic for our honeymoon in October 2000. As soon as we were sitting down to dinner on the first night I started feeling sick. The crew gave me the sea sickness pills they have and I slept for TWO days.

This time, when we go back in October for our 2year anniversary, I will be trying the pills other than Dramamine and the sea bands. A couple at our table swore by the bands and never felt sick in the least.

 

[Diz-Me]

I was stunned the first time I felt seasick on a cruise!

I have been on small boats on both the Atlantic Ocean and various lakes literally hundreds of times and never got seasick. However I do get carsick easily.

So I never even considered taking a seasick pill when DH and I went on our honeymoon cruise (Holland America - 1985). Was I ever shocked when we sat down to a wonderful dinner and I couldn't eat a thing due to oncoming neusea. I took a dramamine everyday from that point on and felt fine.

I have gone out on the sea and lakes many times since then and have not had a problem.

BUT every time we cruise I take bonine 2 hours before we leave port. And I still have felt slightly queasy on occasion. There must be something about the motion on a cruise ship as opposed to a small boat that bothers me.

DS is also prone to motion sickness and I give him a bonine everytime we go out on the water. He has never had any adverse effects from the medication and has not gotten sick since taking it.

When we cruise NCL to Bermuda one of our tablemates (who had never gotten seasick before) was unable to join us at dinner until the ship docked due to motion sickness. She had gone to the ships doctor for medication but did not feel well until the ship docked.

Once you get seasick it is hard to get over it. Much easier to avoid it in the first place!

So I guess what I am trying to say is 'better safe than sorry'!

 

[HannahG]

my pediatrician said to wait to see and if she (4 yr old daughter) gets sick give her chewable benadryl--only used it once at night--she slept well and no more problems. we also had sea bands which we didn't use and something called a relief band (electronic wrist band--that really helped me!) relief bands are about $70 at some of the online stores--you can also use them at amusement parks--and so side effects!

 

[Familyof6]

I just want to add my experience here. We just returned from the May 19th 4-day Wonder. We did feel the ship move but for the most part it was not enough to cause anyone major problems. (until the last night, which I'll explain later)
My 9yr old is motionsickness prone (even on dry land! ) so I checked with the dr. for her. I also have a dr. that prefers not to medicate...and I tend to agree with her but...I know my daughter and I knew she would have trouble. (even if it's in her head)
I gave her dramamine chewable the first day as soon as she began to mention dizziness. She was also wearing seabands. She couldn't make it through dinner (she was too tired from the med.) and she missed Hercules. She was so upset!
No big problems other days that the sea bands couldn't handle until the last night! We were crossing the Gulf Stream, which is somewhat turbulent by itself, but we also hit high winds! The ship was rocking a LOT! The torche lamp in our room fell over twice, so I just left it the second time. The pocket doors that divided the rooms (we had a suite) were opening and closing on their own...we had to lock them shut. The shower door was banging against the wall. This wasn't just a little motion. Even some crew members were feeling ill. There was also a call from the bridge to the gift shops to take down any glassware. (I was shopping at the time)
That said, it really was ok as long as you were laying down. My dd did get sick. I took 2 Bonine so that I'd be able to help her. I can't say I was feeling great, but I didn't get sick. Everyone else (4 others) was fine. DS slept through it. DD6 was only afraid of the sounds of the ship...but felt fine. DD2 slept. DH felt it but as long as he was laying down he was fine. He never took anything for it.
It really depends on what weather you hit. The regular motion of the ship is fine and it's true that at times you can't even feel it moving. I loved the gentle rocking to sleep at night. I felt like a baby in a cradle!
I would not have wanted to have to go find some med. that last night. I would talk to the pharmacists or someone else who could help you with meds for kids. As I said, we used the sea bands and regular dramamine for my kids. Dr. said no to the Bonine for kids. It all depends on who you talk to, I guess.
Please don't worry about seasickness. Most kids won't even notice. You are unlikely to hit bad weather. I would just have the knowledge and "equipment" in case it is needed. You'll have a fabulous time!
Another hint, if you're feeling the motion too much, head for the pools!(or even your bathtub) You won't feel the motion when you're in the water!
Good luck.

Lisa
PS I didn't write this to worry you, but I wanted you to have another experience to draw upon when preparing for your trip.

 

[ErinC]

We were on the same cruise with Lisa, and my ped. said use
Benadryl only if they complained . My DD's 6 & 2 were fine. As for night 4 with the high seas, my only concern was my children falling out of there beds! Our closet doors were slamming open and closed also. Keep in mind that most of the time that the ship is moving, its a night and your asleep. Again, nobody in my family took anything and we were fine. Erin

 

[chrisn]

You absolutely can feel the boat rock, roll, pitch and sway especially in the front of the ship. On our cruise people were stumbling up the stairs of the Walt Disney Theater. I can't believe some people say that they don't feel a thing. Perhaps they do feel it and it just does not bother them??? My son's Pediatrician told me that most kids especially little ones are not that susseptible to seasickness because they have a lower center of gravity then we as adults do. My 4 year old son never complained once. Not even when 14 year old daughter and I had to practically crawl out of the Disney Theater one night. My daughter was very susseptible to being queezy. She wore the Sea Bands through about 3/4's of the cruise. She also gets sick on airplanes and neither of us can read or look at a magazine in a moving car. We also felt a lot of movement in Parrot Cay and tons of movement in our secret porthole stateroom 5020 which is way forward. We had 8-13 ft swells for about 2/3's of the cruise which is a moderate sea condition and we felt it almost everywhere on the ship but most notably forward. We sailed on RCCL's 140,000 gross tonage Voyager of the Seas the week follwing our Disney cruise and we felt movement on that golioth ship so you can't tell me that you won't be able to feel it on Disney's 85,000 ton ships. Don't worry yourself sick over your kids. Chances are they will be just fine. Chances are you will too. It's really not that bad. Even with the queezy moments, I would not trade that week for anything in the world.

 

[MikeBW]

I felt the ship rock and I was in bed at 7:30 the first night when we went on the April 14 Wonder. I'm not the motion sick type - I went on the Hulk Coaster at IoA 5 days later and loved it ( also a big fan of Rock-n-Roller Coaster). Bring whatever seasick stuff you have and give it to everybody. What can it hurt?

 

[Familyof6]

I had forgotten, I had the same worry about my 6 yr old. She had decided to sleep in one of the top bunks that night, of all nights! I kept checking in on her until she ended up in my bed. I actually felt relieved when she came in. One less thing to worry about.
Erin, I looked for green ribbons but didn't see any. Funny though, I met another Erin but she was Erin F. For a minute I thought I had found you. Too bad we didn't get to meet.
We had a great time despite the lack of sun and the pouring rain on Castaway Cay. I hope you enjoyed your cruise too!

Lisa

 

[Sleepfairy]

My kids have never gotten sick on any cruise out of the Pacific Ocean. Yes the boast rock but from what I have heard its the Sulfur containing water from florida that makes them sick not the motion of the ocean. Try taking bottled water that is bottled out of state and Dramamine chewable tablets also work great for children if you need them. If you dont use them you can take them back to the store you bought them at for a full refund if the box is unopened.

 

[MrsScooby]

This is probably a stupid question, but has anyone been able to take Bonine and have an alcoholic drink? I know it says not to on the box, but what if I only have one? Something not very strong with an umbrella in it. Would it hurt me or just make me sleepy?

Thanks!
Laurie

 

[aprilgail2]

I took Bonine on the cruise and drank the same day...was fine, no trouble and it certainly did not make me sleepy at all...unlike Dramamine

 

[SingingMom]

Double check the age and dosage on the Bonine. We used Dramamine for our DD7. We tried it before the trip to see how tired it would make her and she was fine. I can understand drs. recommending a "wait and see approach", but I'm in favor of "better safe than sorry"!

We all wore sea bands for the first 2 days, then only me for the rest. Only "at sea" days did we take the Dramamine. I am prone to upset stomachs and felt fine the entire trip. (except for Sunday evening in Luminere's, but that was because the air conditioning was not working properly and the service was slow! I missed Hercules to go back to the cabin with the air full blast! Felt fine after a short time!)
Enjoy!

 

[randytenn]

(this is Randytenn's wife, Kim, by the way!)

On our park/cruise combo in Sept. 2000, we were both shocked to be seasick the first night of the cruise. You see, we are avid roller coaster fans and just came from WDW riding Rock'n'Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror (which we LOVED), so we didn't dream we'd be bothered by the motion of the boat. And we didn't bring anything, either!!

So we missed the welcome party on-deck because we were laying down, miserable. My dizzyness was just as bad laying down as standing up, and the noise of the hangers clanging in the closet as I felt every little movement of the ship made me nuts!! To top it off, we were both coming down with colds from too-cold air conditioning in park hotel. We should have turned it down. I guess I should have thought about bringing some medicine since I do get car sick reading while DH is driving, but I just didn't connect car sickness with sea sickness. Oh well, live and learn.

Then we got ready for dinner, even though neither of us felt like eating. I figured we might feel better if we tried to get up and enjoy the ship, and it did help a little, but I still felt really dizzy and a little queasy.

So at dinner, I explained our predicament to our server at Animator's Palate, and he was really helpful (Neil on the Wonder). He suggested to go ahead and eat a little something for dinner, not a lot, then go get some medicine from the front desk and lay down for the evening. Apparently, most people make the mistake of eating nothing, which makes sense, but he said it really does help to eat. And trust me, it did! So if the little ones get sick, maybe try to get something on their stomach first and then give them the meds. But it was so nice that the cruise line had medicine for free on the ship. I just wasn't expecting that. I don't know if that's common on other cruise lines, but leave it to Disney to be so helpful.

And, luckily, we only had this problem the first night. After that, we just had our summer colds to deal with, but even with a cold, the cruise was fabulous!!! Didn't have to take any meds after the first night, which was great.

Hope this helps you. Enjoy your trip!

Kim