Car travel sickness help

[Allmyarseandpeggymartin]

DS 5 seems to have developed horrendous car sickness, he was in the car for 15 minutes today and was sick.

Any recommendations on anything that works?

Poor boy, I know myself it's awful, and one of my DC has it too.

I found the only thing that works for me and him at that age was being able to look forward and see out. We tried everything but tbh nothing worked until he could manage this.

Your GP might prescribe something but tbh we didn't have much luck with that either.

I had horrendous car sickness from around the same age as your DS until I was well into my teens. My parents tried everything to no avail - medicine, anti-sickness wrist bands, etc. Not looking down helped, so no reading, no looking at tablet/phone.

Stugeron. I've just looked it up and you can give it to children as young as 5, at half of the adult dose.

@Chicchicchicchiclana

Stugeron. I've just looked it up and you can give it to children as young as 5, at half of the adult dose.

Agreed. Ive had travel sickness my whole life and unfortunately its getting worse the older i get. Kwells and Joy Rides knock me out but Stugeron work wonders. You must take them 2 hours before travel or they don't work.

Fresh air really helps, ie open the window a bit, or blast the air con - being hot always makes mine worse. As does the smell of coffee for some reason (doesn't affect me anywhere else). But yes as PP said, look forward/focus on something ahead not in the car and definitely don't read or watch anything. In terms of medicine, Stugeron worked for me as a child and adult, but wouldn't recommend regular use so save for long journeys. Chewing sweets also helps a bit but not really a great idea! Driving style definitely makes a difference - gentle braking/accelerating/steering needed, nothing jerky - and straight roads much better than bends - so longer A road route better than shorter country lanes.

Your poor ds.

Meds have been the thing for my DS.

Sturgeon works but really needs the planning taking two hours before.

Kwells work in 20 mins and have saved us more than once as I keep in my purse!

Ideally before the trip but otherwise Literally ‘mum I feel sick’. Me here down this. Stop the car wander around 20 mins in fresh air. All good.

My brave childminder used travel wrist bands on him with success but I’m not convinced.

Horrible thing to suffer from and has made me reluctant to plan day trips as it takes the shine off.

Thank you everyone, I’ve ordered the wrist bands and I’m going to put together a bag for the car with water, spare clothes and a puke receptacle. Not envy.

We have the windows down but will remind DH about braking and straight roads where possible.

For longer journeys are any of the travel sickness pill chewable these days? I remember taking Kwells when I was a kid and the trauma of getting the pills down was as bad as the puking.

I guess the only other thing to add is a willingness to stop. My dear old dad suffered himself and would always stop when I asked.. sometimes in the most awkward places.

(But then I had puked down the back of mums neck more than once )

Scopoderm patches are the best ever but you have to apply them 6 hours before you travel and they are prescription only.

@DareIask True. He’s pretty good at telling me he’s “seasick” bless him.

Hope he grows out of it.

Tablets I had as a child and they were effective. Unpleasantness largely avoided by taking more than 30 minutes before the journey begins. Being able to see out helps (as a family we changed car when I was seven and it made a difference).

DH and you taking advanced driving course will help reduce sudden braking. Not leaving last minute so you are not in a rush I suggest (if that happens).

I don't think there are any chewable tablets OP. There used to be a brand, and they were available from age 2 which was brilliant as DS has always been a poor traveller, but there was a fire at the factory (I think from memory) and they stopped making them because they couldn't get the active ingredient.

I had terrible travel sickness as a kid, nothing helped. But being hot was worse, I needed fresh air.

I also needed to lie down, I couldn't look at anything (eg. a book to take my mind off it) or even the scenery passing by. And for me, the worst driving movements were smooth ones, if the car was all "sloopy" going round corners I would very quickly be sick....fast straight roads like motorways were better, small country lanes with lots of corners were a nightmare.

I could only cope with longer journeys if I lay down on the back seat of the car, with a sick bowl nearby.

These days I don't get travel sickness driving my own car but I can still easily get it as a passenger (most people are not keen on their adult passengers asking to lie down in the back!!)

Joyrides are chewable