To ask how to help a nervous child with flying

[loulou2012]

Hi, we’ve just returned from a short European trip (flight less than 2hours) and my youngest who is 12 was very nervous before and during the flight. He went very pale, threw up before the flight and then after take off where he was clearly nervous promptly fell asleep for the flight.
As we landed he woke up and he was back to his usual self.
This happened last year as well does any one have any suggestions on things we can do please to help him with this?
as far as we can recall nothing has happened that might have triggered any fear and my family live in another country so being able to take flights is hugely useful.
Any suggestions gratefully received.

My daughter is the same I have to hold her hand the whole flight and comfort her my mom has to ch age over she is 14 we got calming gummies from holland and barret they helped some headphones download some shows it’s the best you can do and just be there for them reassure them everything is ok

Have you tried rescue remedy drops ? They help for my daughter, I’d also use the sickness bands / travel sickness tablets to try and help the sickness itself? Bless him, it sounds like he really does feel so tightened .

I’m not 100% sure and I’m sure you’ll get fab advice but at 12 I was like this with all travel, cars, planes, trains. For me it was the anticipation of the journey and I did get travel sick on all modes. Other than feeling like I was been listened too and understood and not being called silly or being told to stop I was happy, just felt a certain way.

I couldn’t stop the feeling, so accepted I’m just not a great traveller and my parents always made me feel safe.

As an adult I take antihistamines, listen to the calm app and podcasts and have a travel sickness band on my pressure point. I still get sick on planes and boats, and I’m ok in cars mostly.

Dd is a worrier and suffers panic attacks (she hasn't flown as yet, but will fly for the first time in August). We've got rescue remedy drops, which have seemed to work for her in various situations. They're herbal so if your ds has travel sickness pills, they should be OK to take as well.

Thank you all for the advice, he did use travel bands. But I will look into the bachs drops and the gummies mentioned. I held his hand tightly and tried our best to reassure him buthis tight grasp showed how nervous he was until he fell asleep-it’s horrible to see your child so frightened

Dd (adult) is like this on flights but without the fear. We always thought it was something to do with altitude.