Putting 2yo in front seat of car???

[dontcomeatme]

I've discussed this multiple times on MN but we're at the end of our tether right now.
My 2yo DS is severely travel sick. Has been pretty much since he was born, we could never drive for more than 40mins to an hour at max and he would projectile vomit. We had to forward face him at 2yo which we desperately didn't want to do but he was choking on his sick rear facing and being in the laid back position.
We're now at the point where even a 20-25 minute journey is making him sick. We are washing the car seat that often we have bought a spare to use while one is in the wash, and as soon as one is clean the other is dirty 😭 I sit in the back with him primed with sick bags but it makes him hysterical just to look at them so I feel like I'm making him worse!
We've been to the GP multiple times now but they just say its one of those things 🙄 I'm ringing on Monday and I want an emergency appointment with a different GP, this level of sickness isn't normal. It is projectile! Comes out of his mouth, nose, absolutely covers him. He goes grey and feels like sh*t for the rest of the day 😢
Do they prescribe anti sickness meds for kids or do we have to buy them? Most of the ones I've seen online are for 4yo plus and I'm hesitant to give him them.
I am seriously contemplating putting him in the front of the car, with the airbags off. Is that insane? AIBU to think this is the solution?!?! He's 28months, 99centile height and weight. We seriously don't know what else to do!
We've started walking and getting the bus everywhere just to prevent the sickness but this isn't sustainable, we missed a hospital appointment last week because the bus didn't come on time 🤦🏻‍♀️
Any suggestions at all? What worked for your DC? Can the doctors actually do anything ? Do you think front seat would help? It always helped me as a child but this was the 90s, my parents shoved me up the front without even a booster seat.
Any advice is appreciated 🙏

@tillow4ever
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32682672/

Motion sickness can impact children even in infancy. Common comorbid conditions that may contribute to pediatric motion sickness include migraine disorders, vestibular impairment, otitis media, and motor delay. Treatments such as cyproheptadine and vestibular rehabilitation may be helpful but require further study.

Where do you need to drive to?

I would only use the car if you absolutely have to if it's this bad.

I would try the piriton liquid first as you can take it from age 1, before ff in the front seat, which really is the worst option. My eldest DD (now 4y) has been travel sick since she was 6months old including on buses and trains. When I recently bought Kewells Kids, the pharmacist told me to not to give allergy medicine on the same day, as they both work in the same way. We've basically not driven anywhere for 3.5years so i wished id found out about it sooner! So it might be worth a try. On our recent holiday, we had a couple of non-negotiable drives and for the first time, she wasnt sick at all.

I've read that some parents can get medication from the GP earlier than age 4, so you could also ask about that at your appointment.

We're trying to get the bus more, but my partner works 12 hrs a day and I have another DC who has regular health appointments. My DS has nursery which would be 2 buses each way, swimming lessons etc. We're using buses / walking so much more but don't think we could do 100% no car. I will have to try and plan as minimal amount of car as possible.

Yes I've just been reading about it after a pp mentioned piriton too. Definitely going to try this next week to see if there's any improvement! Think I'm mostly going to have to try and go no car same as what you had to do. I can't keep putting him through this.

Bless, you can only try.
I'd try him in the front and encourage him to look out the windscreen. Count cars, colours, anything to keep him looking forward
Put him as high as the seat goes and airbag on (off is only for rear facing).

While car seat safety is important. Its far more important that the driver (you / DH) isn't distracted by a puky child while driving. Minimise the risk of distraction and accident.

Its a long time ago but a friend was in a minor bump because a Mum being distracted by her child puking into a carrier bag.

I get that, but it’s not an emergency. I think you’ll get faster and better advice by talking to a pharmacist. They are MUCH more clued up than doctors about medications - a doctor is the person you would go to if you don’t know what’s wrong (or it’s something a pharmacist can’t prescribe you) to be diagnosed on the whole, if you know what’s wrong the issue is, go to the medication expert first!

The other thing we found was that once DD got to about 3, she got pretty good at catching her own sick. We bought these, which contain everything and are absorbent, and put a towel as a blanket over her in the car. We also tried to always have an adult in the back with her, but as im sure you've experienced, it does really limit you on a day to day basis.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Medi-Grade-Vomit-Bag/dp/B082WH9G1B/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=2R1PV4XZPPBOA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7-ihS3C-TgwbW3VztoX78jRI7e1u4T_cI6UDKryS9IO5JPzTsD6iaf2bktbzeiKoplalfir4DI2-cJFf502E4UgrukRpWWJDsYMRHAvGT_1HxU-aeOkkCTSC_W3WGOJBcSroeXdDReJNARdp2BVMdHvIQxfLNVa82NkMjyO49Z6rqdvEdROgmFjrLTzUl-tuJbTvu2mEyxx6J--M0DzzqA.IVYNADJt74vWS7LN4V51c5DWvJIsYdtQHHYY43EtQE0&dib_tag=se&keywords=sick+bags&qid=1757202963&sprefix=sixk+%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-4

Do you always catastophise like this and assume the worst? Because it’s most likely just travel sickness. If travel sickness remedies don’t work then maybe see a GP - but it’s still not an emergency. Does your child even have any other symptoms that would suggest it’s one of those other conditions? If so, that’s what we call a drip feed and really should have been in the OP. Obviously if your child has a shit load of other symptoms that suggests migraines or whatever you get them checked out - because for that you are looking for a diagnosis. Your op suggested you were purely concerned about travel sickness though, so I replied based on that.

Motion sickness herbal stickers for behind the ear. These worked absolutely brilliantly for my very travel sick kiddo. Used them and literally no more sickness, not even once. A sticker behind each ear, and they were an absolute miracle. They smell quite herbally. I recall they have an age lower limit so check on that!

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01JCVJYL8?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I don't believe I'm catastrophising? We are washing a car seat every day, he is ill every day, our lives revolve around this now. I'm trying to think of anything that could help, prevent, make it worse, fix, cure. Absolutely anything at this point.
I don't mean to drip feed at all. I don't think he has these other things but surely getting them ruled out can't hurt?
I have occipital neuralgia and chronic migraines so when i read that article I thought, hmm, could he be similar to me. He also has had a few ear infections since he was 18 months.
My post is about all of it. How to safely navigate this, what worked for other kids, was there a specific trigger, a specific fix all remedy, what have other health professionals said etc etc.
I am purely concerned about travel sickness. But I have no way of knowing if the poor bairn has something else causing the travel sickness?

Thank you these sound great!

My DW just looked at these on amazon! We definitely need an upgrade from the carrier bags and random bowls 🤦🏻‍♀️

Can I ask how you drive? Heavy acceleration and braking? Or do you accelerate and brake slowly? I had someone drive me once and they were abrupt with everything. The car was nosing up with acceleration, nosing down on braking and heavily rolling in corners. I wanted to hurl. To check, put a basketball on your front seat. If it rolls off while you're driving, then you're too abrupt and need to practise until the ball doesn't move on the seat.

Other thought, fresh air is king when you feel nauseous, so try windows down.

Finally he may be making himself sick out of distress about getting in the car. Can you do a short trip without him being sick? If so, repeat many of those so he starts to get over the fear of being sick in the car.

How unfortunate.

@dontcomeatme
This is from Google AI:

While true motion sickness is uncommon in infants, symptoms like crying, fussiness, and sweating can indicate discomfort in a car seat
. To prevent or alleviate symptoms, ensure the infant can see the horizon by having them sit higher, if possible, or by using a car seat that provides a better view. Increase fresh air, stop frequently for breaks, and provide light, bland snacks. Distraction with music or singing can help, but avoid screens or books that force eye focus.
Tips to Prevent and Treat Discomfort
Improve Visibility:Position the infant's car seat higher if possible, and ensure they can see the horizon outside the car.
Increase Airflow:Open a window or use the car's vents to provide fresh air.
Take Frequent Breaks:Plan the trip with regular stops, allowing the infant to get out of the car seat and move around.
Offer Light Snacks:Provide small, bland snacks like crackers or oatmeal before the trip, but avoid large meals.
Provide Distractions:Engage the infant with music, singing, or talking to redirect their attention from their discomfort.
Drive During Naps:Consider timing your travel to coincide with your infant's nap times to avoid the experience altogether.
What to Avoid
Reading or Screens:Do not let your infant focus on books, games, or screens, as this can worsen the sensory mismatch that causes motion sickness.
Strong Smells:Avoid carrying strong-smelling food or having a smoker in the car, as strong odors can trigger symptoms.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Consult your pediatrician before giving any medication to your infant, even over-the-counter options like Dramamine or Benadryl.
If your infant experiences symptoms of motion sickness while not traveling, or if they show signs of severe illness, it's important to speak with their doctor.

@dontcomeatme

I'd also be curious about an ENT's opinion.
Is there an inner ear imbalance? Could the ear crystals be out of place?
Have you seen the optometrist? Is vision developing properly?

I'd also suggest ginger to calm nausea. Not pop or candy, but fresh sliced ginger steeped in water from the kettle, cooled and sipped. If you can get a 2 year old to drink it, that is.
I'd go for dramamine. I'm in Canada and we have a product called Gravol with a kids's dosage. It can make a person drowsy, so I'd give it several hours before travel.

Good luck. Your poor dc. 😢

https://www.gravol.ca/en/faqs/how-much-gravol-kids-should-a-child-take/#:~:text=Each%20GRAVOLTM%20Kids%20product%20has%20a%20specific%20dosage.&text=Children%20under%202%20years%3A%20as,10%20tablets%20in%2024%20hours.

Our older one was awful for car barfing. Cleaning the car seat was a frequent occurrence in our household. Weirdly, the thing that helped us was changing cars to an estate type car. Our old car was one of the crossover SUV type thing, they’re really bad for motion sickness. Also the shocks and struts were awful, the car was bouncy in the back. I even felt sick back there on long drives. It did get better though with time/car change.

That's interesting, I was fine in the car as a child, then my dad changed cars and I started to be car sick. We were due to drive to Spain so I had to take pills that generally knocked me out.

Someone suggested it might be the suspension.

I know it would be a ridiculously expensive thing to say change your car but it might be worth thinking about when you are changing your car.

Please go chat with your pharmacist, ask about Phenergan. It will make them drowsy, so not ideal (unless given ahead of time) for short journeys.

I used to get really bad travel sickness as a child and still avoid sitting in the back of the car on long journeys even now, can’t read a book or look at my phone. I tend to drive most of the time.
i always found that smoother cars made it worse. for example, I could be in my mum’s bouncy 2cv without issue but my dad’s rover or Vauxhall cavalier used to make me really sick. Even now, a very smooth car can make me feel sick. I had to build up the regeneration level in my partner’s Tesla over time because it made me feel sick.

My mum definitely feels sick in the back compared to the front, and going backwards on trains compared to forewards. I do think that it’s higher risk being distracted by the sick when driving.

Just double check firstly that you can actually disable the airbag in the front. In some cars such as my car, you have to pat extra for that feature so you can’t always disable them.

I was this bad as a child, but I’m old enough to predate the use of car seats so that didn’t complicate things.

Things that did and still do help, that you could do with a 2yo, get as much cold air flowing on him as possible, definitely no looking at anything close ok the car like a book or a screen, and have something like tiny crackers or pretzels to snack on.

tricks you can’t use yet. Hard candy is great. So is real soda with real sugar. Don’t risk artificial sweeteners with travel sickness. Electric stimulation watch. It sends an electric pulse through your wrist every few seconds, much more effective than acupressure bands.

Absolutely nothing worked for me as a kid except FF in the front seat.
They tried the accupressure bands, pills, ginger biscuits, eating before travel, after, during...

My parents tried RF (no kiddy seats like there are today, we had a VW Transporter and the bench seats could be rear faced or forward faced) with my back against the bulkhead, RF in the middle of the vehicle (worse) and FF in both bench seat spots and finally, FF in the front seat, which fortunately had a bench seat so no adults had to sit in the back.

They assumed I'd grown out of it when that van went and we got a Renault Espace.. and put me in the back as there were just two standard seats up front - back to puking my guts up everywhere we went.

I also had to hide the sick bucket in the front with my mum as the sight of it would set me off earlier than normal. But then when I was about to spew I'd go grey and silent and couldn't speak or I'd vom down myself (and the sooner I said I felt sick, the sooner I would throw up)... so there were some near misses!

I also had to sit right up front on buses as I'd puke on those too if I sat too far back or in a rear facing seat.

No it's not. You can rear face in the front seat with airbags off. Use a Swedish Plus Tested 36kg RF seat since he's on a high centile