Tips to Help Cope with Kids Who Get Car Sick

All families love taking a vacation. The family vacation and the antics of a road trip have been played out so many times in the movies. Any family who has ever traveled several miles by car to their destination can attest to the many stories and memories made during the trip. Among the many things that can make a road trip memorable is someone who is car sick.

As a mother of four, I have become an expert on this topic. Three out of my four children get car sick. Any ride longer than twenty or thirty minutes can get really interesting with my family. My twin daughters began showing signs of motion sickness as early as 18 months of age.

The trips to the local grocery store, library, or Laundromat was no problem at all for the girls. Let us make a trip to the pediatrician located approximately forty minutes away, we were in trouble.

My oldest son also suffers from motion sickness and gets sick during long trips in the car. Road trips with three children in tow who become very ill required some intervention.

Very young children who become car sick are not able to use traditional motion sickness medication. According to the pediatrician, it was best to use Benadryl to help ease the discomfort of the ride. Of course, check with your child's doctor before giving any type of medication. The Benadryl helped to calm the children and usually put them to sleep. The girls would avoid the discomfort of the motion sickness altogether using this method.

Older children often use Dramamine during travel. As my children have grown, the Dramamine has worked well. When traveling through the mountains around the curves and up the hills, the children would definitely have trouble. The Dramamine helps significantly with this situation. The motion sickness is alleviated when the medication can be given about a half hour or so before the ride. Dosing the children right before you leave will not ensure a successful road trip.