Hi all. DD (nearly 6) has never had an issue travelling in cars and we've done many many long trips, both in our Ford Focus as well as in various small hire cars. She was always able to play, read, look down without any problems.
We had a hire car (tiny Seat Ibiza) last week and she was sick both ways. First time was completely unexpected in some stop and go traffic when she was playing cards with her sister. She had complained of a belly ache in the morning and then had a massive breakfast, plus she was really snotty with a fresh cold so we put it down to those circumstances.
On the way back a week later, we did the first 180 km without any problems, playing games where she had to look out of the window. Then we stopped for some lunch, got back in the car to drive the last 3 miles to the airport, and she was sick almost immediately.
She then refused to eat for the rest of the day, slept for 12 hours when we got home, woke up and was sick once more (no explanation there unless it was some sort of short lived tummy bug?).
I am not sure what to make of it. Admittedly the car smelt very new and plasticky on the way out, and then it smelt of sick and Febreze on the way back, but we've had new smelling small cars before.
Why does she suddenly get car sick after six years of no problems? And, should I assume that it will happen again now as she'll be more nervous and perhaps expect to be sick? I know psyche plays a big role in it... I used to be car sick myself as a child.
Any advice would be much appreciated - would especially like to hear from people whose children suddenly developed car sickness like DD did!