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Children's health

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Original poster

Travel sickness - does anything work?

21 replies

Millionprammiles · 21/02/2017 15:31

Dd (4.5) really suffers on long car journeys. We've tried the wristbands and they made no difference. She doesn't watch the ipad/look at books etc in the car anymore but is still sick. We've resorted to half starving her before journeys (she's still sick but it upsets her less).

Has anyone tried anything successfully? Are there travel sickness tablets for kids (I vaguely remember taking some when I was a kid)?

It seems to be getting worse and dd now dreads getting in the car :(

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Fitzsimmons · 21/02/2017 21:36

I went to the pharmacy and was given phenergan for my 4 year old. It seems to work, mainly because it makes him really sleepy. For that reason I only give it to him for really long journeys, as I don't like the idea of sedating him.

Original poster

Millionprammiles · 22/02/2017 13:46

Have some Phenergan at home but haven't tried it yet as we're usually been travelling in the evening (and I think you're supposed to give P the night before so I'm not sure how that would work?)

Am a bit wary of trying it the first time before we go on holiday (which involves a long day of car-plane or ferry-car). Has anyone had a bad experience with Phenergan?

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MoreThanUs · 22/02/2017 13:48

Boots travel sickness pills. Me and DH used to be terribly carsick and now one of our DC is. Any journey over 20 mins and he gets one. They are brilliant.

TheDuckSaysMoo · 22/02/2017 13:53

Kids Kwells work for us and don't seem to make her too drowsy. From memory you take it 20 mins before travelling. Wristbands failed for us too.

Original poster

Millionprammiles · 22/02/2017 14:18

Thanks - was hoping someone else would rec pills - wasn't sure if they could be used for a 4 yr old. Will give them a go.

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sunbird17 · 22/02/2017 14:27

I have been travel sick since I was a toddler. There are definitely tablets for kids. I can't remember the name but I think they were flavoured and chewy. She needs to be able to look out of the front windscreen. I've found nibbling on crisps, nuts, dry biscuits, etc can sometimes help. Maybe open a window - I used to feel sick as soon as I got into my parents' car as I associated the car smell with feeling ill. How about an audio book to distract her?

GertrudeBelle · 22/02/2017 14:36

We give Phenergan to our v v travelsick 5 year old about an hour before travelling and it works like a dream. Have used it for years. Does make him drowsy though.

paddypants13 · 22/02/2017 14:37

I take Stugeron travel tablets and they are brilliant but you would need to check the packaging to make sure they are suitable for children.

ShelaghTurner · 22/02/2017 14:38

I have to take Avomine for journeys of more than 30 seconds so I've recently begun giving dd1 half a tablet and they work really well on her (and on me too!). Got a feeling they're 6 and over though...

Friolero · 22/02/2017 14:48

Could you get a prescription for hyoscine patches?

My 5yo drools excessively and so has these patches for that, but they're actually a travel sickness patch which has a side effect of drying the mouth out. They're not officially licensed for use in children but prescribed for a lot of children with SN so clearly not a problem for children to use.

Original poster

Millionprammiles · 22/02/2017 15:01

Thanks all, will see if I can persuade a pharmacist to rec a tablet otherwise will give phenergan a go. I feel awful for dd throwing up repeatedly, I was the same and it made me not want to travel at all.

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pinkieandperkie · 22/02/2017 15:05

Phenergan is really good, you can get it in syrup form or tablets.

SleepymrsE · 22/02/2017 15:09

I would also second what was said above about being able to look out of the front windscreen. Is it possible to have her car seat in the front passenger seat?

Original poster

Millionprammiles · 22/02/2017 16:00

Sleepy - dd has thrown up in the front seat too. (Dp had to do a long journey on his own with her and put the car seat in front.)

We've tried opening windows etc but it doesn't seem to make much difference. On a good journey (if dd sleeps a lot) she'll only be sick once. On a bad one, its every hour.

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Basicbrown · 22/02/2017 17:53

Being hungry makes my (far less server than this) travel sickness worse. It helps me to sit in the front and bizarrely traveling when dark.

I'd get advice from GP to be honest re meds, poor little thing how utterly miserable.

greenfolder · 22/02/2017 17:55

Kwells. They melt in the mouth and have been 100 per cent effective. Doesnt make them too sleepy. Really excellent

Original poster

Millionprammiles · 23/02/2017 10:03

Dd is excited by the prospect of 'tablets' so we'll give Kwells a go. Looks like she can take them every 6 hours so that'll be good for the 11 hour journey we'll be making.
Boots didn't have any in stock online or at the two branches I went to - has anyone bought them online elsewhere?

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peukpokicuzo · 23/02/2017 10:07

We use Stugeron very successfully if instructions all followed (must be taken 2 hours before travel) but only suitable from age 6.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 23/02/2017 21:43

We used to have three that were car such: they would start each other off, it was hellish.

We changed our car from a saloon to a 4x4 and they were never sick again. Bit of a drastic solution though

greenfolder · 24/02/2017 06:45

Boots do seem to run out frequently! Our tesco pharmacy usually has them

TheDuckSaysMoo · 24/02/2017 22:39

I got them from our local pharmacy. Good luck.

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