Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

My 4yo DD has 'Travel Sickness' Any Tips please.........

26 replies

MusicLover · 28/05/2007 22:27

Hi, would just appreciate any tips & suggestions really.

My dd has been sick in the car today as we were going out. Not nice for her or the car really. She has done this on a couple of occasions now, but usually on longer journeys.

Im aware you can get travel sickness pills etc, but is there anything for her age as tablets will be no good.

A woman mentioned to me today about a band that children can wear, has anyone heard or tried these.

We bought Ginger biscuits for her to have before we came back home, & she appeared to be ok .

TIA

OP posts:
rosealbie · 28/05/2007 22:28

my ds is the same and we got him some travel bands from Sainsbury's I think. They are elasticated and have a little 'button' that goes on the pressure point just inside the wrist. Seem to work for him.

kittypants · 28/05/2007 22:30

nevella(sp?)do tablets .herbal.swallow or suck.with ds i use to crunch them up and put them on food because he wouldnt have them work really well.think called travella or travellena?from boots or holand and barrett.apparently bands do work but ive not tried them

MusicLover · 28/05/2007 22:30

Oh thankyou rosealbie.
Can you remember how much they were, suppose they are better than any medication too.

OP posts:
MusicLover · 28/05/2007 22:33

Thanks kitty, will look out for them too.

Not a nice complaint to have is it. I felt so sorry for her today.

Felt sorry for myself too as I had to buy her a new pair of jeans at a shop where we were visiting. They cost me £22

OP posts:
fishie · 28/05/2007 22:34

no reading
good view out of window
front window open, breeze is good
stop fairly often

i was hellishly sick until adult, my parents didn't bother getting a car till i left home!

rosealbie · 28/05/2007 22:34

They were quite expensive, about £6 or £7 pounds. We got them in a very small Sainsbury's on route somewhere as ds felt sick, so i'm sure all branches do them and probably Boots too. Hope they help!

Tamum · 28/05/2007 22:35

I expect you know all this, but as a veteran carsick person myself it's important to have as clear a view as possible (not focusing on anything in the car), fresh air and no fatty foods before the journey. I always found it helped to suck a boiled fruit sweet or a mint, but you have to balance that against tooth rot

Tamum · 28/05/2007 22:36

Ah fishie, we were obviously twins separated at birth

kittypants · 28/05/2007 22:37

same happened with ds2.he waited till halfway to beach,only shop around was surf shop so cheapest trousers were £22 bench ones!
it is horrible and cant be nice.we always make sure windows open a bit too no matter how cold it is!

MusicLover · 28/05/2007 22:37

I can handle £6 or £7, as its cheaper than a new pair of jeans LOL

We dont go out often as a family as I work most weekends/bank hols, so we wasnt prepared for this & didnt think we would need spare clothes for a 4yo.

OP posts:
Tamum · 28/05/2007 22:38

Children's seaside buckets make very good receptacles by the way- my other top tip.

MusicLover · 28/05/2007 22:39

LOL @ Tamum.

OP posts:
merlotmama · 28/05/2007 23:43

DS2 developed this aged 3. I could write a book. Wristbands didn't work for him - nothing did, until he was 5 and allowed to take Stugeron, which made a huge difference. It makes him a bit drowsy and gives a dry mouth, but works.

He panics if the car is the least bit stuffy. DS1 and I wear thick jumpers, coats, etc and DS2 is in a t-shirt...but still green!

Be aware that this may also strike in planes, etc. We pinch sickbags from planes because I couldn't find them to buy. We always keep a carrier bag with a change of clothing, sickbags, wipes, bottle of water for rinsing mouth, etc, in the car.

For a while DS2 completely lost confidence and went green at the first roundabout after leaving the house!!!

Now he is 14 and is getting better...went on a geography field trip w/end and coped. So it does get better....eventually!

ZipadiSuzy · 28/05/2007 23:55

My DS1 has just been on a school trip and the headmaster made all the children that are travel sick 'SIT ON A NEWSPAPER' it worked!!!!!!

MusicLover · 29/05/2007 00:00

How bizzare 'Zipadi' never heard of that.

OP posts:
ZipadiSuzy · 29/05/2007 00:03

Neither had I, very strange! but it worked, they do it every school trip.

MusicLover · 29/05/2007 00:07

Will have to try that one. Thanks for all advise everyone.

OP posts:
Speccy · 29/05/2007 00:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

misdee · 29/05/2007 00:12

'joyrides' work for my kids.

MusicLover · 29/05/2007 00:16

So does Ginger work then,or is it a mith?

OP posts:
suedonim · 29/05/2007 01:26

My dd1's car sickness was cured when she started using head phones to listen to stories/music.

SofiaAmes · 29/05/2007 01:36

I get car sick, sea sick, swing sick, you name it and so does my ds. He is better now that he's older (6), but still does have a bout every once and awhile. My advice is to be prepared for it and expect him to throw up on every journey. Then if he doesn't fine, but if he does you are prepared.
Preparations include a plastic bag without holes to catch the vomit. Train him to keep in near and aim into it (ds is excellent at this) and to recognize when he is feeling ill. Always carry a roll of paper towel in the car, wipes AND ziplock bags to put any clothes that get vomit on them so they don't stink up the car for the rest of the journey. Keep a plastic sheet under his car seat. And always carry a change of clothes for him. I have done all of the above for every car trip (even 5 minute ones) up until just the last 6 months.

Also, encourage them to do activities that involve looking out of the car, not in it. That helps keep them from getting sick. Things like spot the red car or counting trees. And try not to go places when there is stop and go traffic. If you have a choice of routes, always pick the straight one even if it's slightly longer.

Countingthegreyhairs · 29/05/2007 10:54

That's rotten for you and your dd MusicLover and all fellow sufferers posting here. Even as an adult, I still feel sick in the car occasionally. If its any help, I'm much better when I'm not travelling in the morning, particularly the early morning. Not very practical with young children when you want to get an early start I know but seems to work!

puddle · 29/05/2007 11:03

Wristbands work for both of mine.

Also a pack of fruit pastilles with strict instructions to suck rather than chew!

My ds's travel sickness got a lot better when we changed car too - we had an estate and now have a Zafira - being a bit higher up means he can see out (forwards) more easily.

The good thing about it is that both mine are good walkers - they don't particularly like going in the car so it helps to encourage a 'green' attitude!

jenwa · 29/05/2007 11:15

I was always travel sick. Mum just kept an old ice cream tub and tea towel in a carrier bag in the car as they got fed up with pulling over!
I think the travel pills made me sick as they were horrible and made fe feel sick the minute I took one!

The best advice I got was to not look out the side window and keep looking ahead, the direction your going as it does not make you so queezy. This actually helped alot. Dont read books/magazines as this makes you worse!

Still soemtimes get it now if been really hungry and eaten something quick before going out! (not actually been sick since child but get the queezy feeling)