No one knows why some kids are more prone to getting carsick than others. But one thing’s clear — it ain’t fun. Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives mismatched signals from parts of the body about being in motion. In the car, for instance, the balance center in your child’s inner ear may sense he’s speeding along, while his eyes, focused on a book or a game, may not. This confusion upsets the brain and leads to nausea. You can help lessen the chance of your child getting motion sickness with these suggestions:
PLAN AHEAD
Motion sickness tends to be worse on either a full stomach or an empty one, so serve a light meal or snack before leaving home, and if you stop on the road, avoid very filling meals.
RE- FOCUS
In the car, have your child try to sit still, with his head resting on the seat back, and focus on the horizon outside the car window rather than following the road or looking at what’s going on in the car.
KEEP AIR FRESH
Run your car’s A/C or crack open a window. On a plane, be sure the air vent is blowing on your child.
TAKE BREAKS
Stop periodically to allow your child’s out-of-whack motion sensors to get back on an even keel.
SIT RIGHT
On a train, sit facing forw a rd, close to the front and near a window. On a plane, request a seat over the wing. On a boat, stay on deck.
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