Car sick

[msmichellemiller]

My 4 year old's car sickness (I guess it's really referred to as motion sickness) has gotten to be a huge problem lately. He had the occasional episode since he was a toddler but only if we'd been on the interstate for a long time and usually if were hot out. He's never had it during in-town trips and we've driven from TX to N. Mississippi every Xmas and he's made that whole trip without ever being sick once.
NOW, he has been getting sick each and EVERY time we take him anywhere. It first started again when we went to San Antonio last weekend. That's about 3.5 hrs and we weren't very surprised that it happened for being in the car that long. He threw up both on the way up and on the way back. Luckily I was able to get him to contain it in fast-food cups both times! :p eww.
Well he rode w/Daddy up to Pet Smart the other day which is not a long trip at all and he had to run straight to the bathroom sick as soon as they got back. Then again yesterday; we were out shopping and he got sick (JUST as we pulled into our driveway, grrrrrr) all over himself after a 10 min ride home.
He's had a cold lately but nothing major and has been over it since Friday. We recently got him a new booster seat so I wonder if maybe that might play a part? Only other thing I can think of that would be different for him now is that he had his tonsils/adenoids removed at the end of Sept. I'm just stumped as to what has made him start throwing up every single time he gets in a car all of a sudden. Sad thing is; he was going to take a trip back up to SA to visit my SO's mom and now he doesn't want to take him because he doesn't want to have to drive and deal with the car sickness. (I'm not going with him so he wouldn't have me to help out)
I'm wondering if giving him a dose of Pepto before we leave would prevent it. I'll also be looking to see if they make Dramamine that kids can take or something like that. Still wonder why this has suddenly went from a once in a blue moon thing to every single time he gets in the car.....

[eaglesprings]

One of mine has major car sickness, too. It usually is on long trips, but can happen around town if she is in the Maxima or Lumina. I guess in the Suburban she sits up higher, can see out better, and keeps her bearings straight.

They do make a chewable Dramimine that can be halved for kids, but getting her to take it is a nightmare! It's got a really gritty texture that she doesn't like. I've had some success with a liquid anti-nausea medicine, but on our last trip, she still got sick. One of our doctors suggested trying Benedryl, which I haven't tried yet, and someone else suggested ginger. (Real ginger -- not ginger ale). My MIL swears peppermint helps, but she doesn't like peppermint.

The only thing that really has helped is to let her sit in the front seat -- possible in the Suburban because it doesn't have a passenger side airbag. She's able to see better out the window, and that helps her keep focused on her surroundings, rather than just feeling the motion without a good view of what's going on. But, she's also 7 -- not four.

I feel for you. It's so difficult to travel when you have one that gets sick, and I can't imagine constantly having to worry about the around town bit. Be sure he's not reading or playing a game while riding. Looking out the window as straight ahead as possible may help, but of course, no guarantees.

People have assured me this is something she will outgrow, but when? It's actually caused by some sort of inner ear thingee, from what I understand -- something that never fully developed?

[TripleA]

My mom swears by using ginger to calm stomachs - they make it in capsule form. I have been suffering from car sickness myself lately, but it is pregnancy related! But, even normally I can't even look at a magazine, much less read one line from it without getting sick! Maybe a call to the dr. is in order? I feel for the little one - it's no fun.

[eaglesprings]

If you do go to a doctor, let me know what they say. I've not had much luck checking with doctors myself. Adults can get a prescription for a motion sickness patch, but they won't give it to kids. In fact, my SIL knows one adult who had a really bad reaction to that patch -- started hallucinating and stuff. Scary!

Michelle, if you find anything that works, let me know. I will say it is more of a problem when my husband drives. He tends to drive really fast, takes curves really fast, etc.... He has had to learn to slow down a bit when this child is in the car. (Either that, or stop every five miles!) But, it isn't just speed that does it to her.

[FamilyGal]

I'm wondering if giving him a dose of Pepto before we leave would prevent it.

I'm thinking that will only give you pink throw up. :(

I don't know what age kids can take Dramamine, but a friend of mine's kid was always car sick as well. (But, I think only on long trips.) She gave her Dramamine so that she would just sleep the whole way. The girl is now 21 and still gets sick on long car trips. :(

[Wilson]

I used to be like this, but thankfully grew out of it at some point. My mom had me nibble on Saltine crackers in the car, but I don't remember whether or not it helped. As TripleA said, Ginger is a natural relief - the HFS on Sawdust should have come Ginger candies or something similar. You could also try those motion-sickness bracelets:

http://www.amazon.com/Biobands-Anti-nausea-Acupressure-Bands-Children/dp/B00024VQO8/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_2_txt/002-9071720-9480019?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_r=0SK25C1DR24AEE1J01PF&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_i=B0000AY4VL

[msmichellemiller]

As TripleA said, Ginger is a natural relief - the HFS on Sawdust should have come Ginger candies or something similar.
I think ginger candies to keep in the car sound like a great idea to try out; he'd love the idea of getting candy! What is HFS, though? Is that the name of the store or did you abbreviate the whole name? I hadn't heard of it. I'm still learning the different stores here. In San Antonio, HEB had a monopoly on grocery stores, I kid you not! The only other place you could buy food was at Walmart, and trust me, the Walmarts there are far, far different from the ones in TW! yuck. I was glad to see different stores again when we moved down.


If you do go to a doctor, let me know what they say.
I will, ES. I'm not going to wait this out for too long if the candies and other tips don't work out. In the meantime I read a tip on another site to keep old margarine tubs with their lids in the car for emergencies! I'm so doing that....:p

[Wilson]

HFS= Health Food Store. I haven't been down there in a long time, but IIRC (if I recall correctly), it's in that strip center near Kroger's - there used to be a children's boutique next to it and a Sushi place. I really don't know if any of those stores are there anymore! LOL!

Okay, I looked it up before hitting post:
The Health Market
427 Sawdust Rd
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Phone: (281) 367-0002

[Wilson]

They have a website!

http://woodlandshealthmarket.com/