Sudden car sickness in 17 month old

[eiy2028]

Hi,

My 17 month old has randomly developed car sickness, we’ve no idea why since we haven’t changed anything in the last several months but she projectile vomits when in the car even if the journey is only 15 minutes.

I’ve looked online for solutions but we aren’t doing any of the things that they say cause car sickness, and therefore the solutions aren’t relevant or helpful. For example, she doesn’t read books, use an iPad, etc in cars and we never give her a big heavy meal before journeys. Today, she had a snack on a handful of raspberries and a baby bell at 3.30pm, we set off at 5pm, and by 5.15pm she had projectiled all the raspberries and cheese up.

Any recommendations on how we could try and help, aside from the general “no reading books, no eating big meals before driving” etc?

we would be very grateful!

Thank you, I will try cover the windows like others have mentioned to reduce the strobe effect. Weird thing is is we live in London where traffic is slow and the roads are pretty calm, but maybe because of the traffic it’s the constant stopping and starting that is getting her

good idea, we very rarely do long journeys but now planning on taking the train for the longer ones as it will be a nightmare and I will be distracted with worry

DS developed travel sickness at the same age. Not a huge surprise as I've always got travel sick but unfortunate. DS can, and has, vomited many times on short (10 -15 min) car journeys.

Forward facing has made no difference to him. He's a bit better if we get him to look at the window but that's easier now he's older and we can play games. I was hoping travel sickness medication would help but they have no impact whatsoever.

I second the person who said to keep them cool. DS is always worse if he's hot (which often happens in a car seat). Other than that, we just have a supply of sickness bags and wet wipes. We don't take DS in the car unless someone is in the back with him to help.

Mainly though, we just limit how much we use a car. I think we've been in a car less than 10 times this year and only go to places on public transport. It's a bit limiting but luckily we live in London so doable. The worst is on holiday but by the time we get to the car/taxi at the other end, he's usually been sick on the plane already

Hell yeah we only get a car if it’s unavoidable. Although that has severely limited our holiday options this year.

I had one of these kids. Similar age of onset for the car sickness. She is 5 now. I went through a phase where I was washing the car seat cover once or twice a week. She gets travel sick in cars, trains and planes. Was nauseous on a recent ferry trip. Not a lot helped. Forward facing didn't make any difference and I wanted to stay rear facing for as long as possible. We had spare clothes and wipes, sat her on a muslin. If one of us could sit in the back with a tupperware to catch it we would. We planned journeys around times she would be most likely to sleep. Now she is older Quells for kids really help. We have disposable sick bags with an absorbent pad inside them she can reach and use if needed. We rarely even pull over any more as it doesn't seem to bother her that much. Probably not that helpful but its hard when they are little but does get easier as they get older.

I have been looking into this a lot! Didn’t realise how common it was! So many mums on here struggling with travel sickness. I bought a Yobib for my kids and it’s a game changer!! Can get them on their website or Amazon!! Hope it helps!