Motion sickness a normal part of childhood

Courtesy of the Daily Herald

What's a parent to do when she spends all day driving kids to school, sporting events and music lessons while her older child gets sick in the back seat? That was the dilemma facing a mother whose 6-year-old experienced motion sickness during each and every car ride. It didn't seem to matter if he was in the family car or the crowded school bus; the young boy felt nauseous in all moving vehicles.

Though it's not clear why some kids are hit harder than others, motion sickness is reported more frequently in the 2 to 12 age group and in those prone to migraines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that motion sickness is not all that unusual. In fact, the ailment affects up to half of all children who travel by car or plane, and a full 100 percent of all boat passengers on rough seas. What's at the root of this problem? Experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics explain that motion sickness results when the brain receives mixed messages from the various parts of the body responsible for detecting motion. During a smooth car ride, for example, information from a child's inner ear, eyes and joints can be out of synch. While his inner ear picks up on the car's motion, the boy is too small to see out the window, and the car's shocks are so effective that he can't really feel much movement. These conflicting messages reach the brain and lead to motion sickness.

Medicines -- both over-the-counter (such as Dramamine and Benadryl) and prescription drugs -- are available to help combat motion sickness. They do have their place, but are not very practical for short rides -- you really can't medicate your child for every trip to the grocery store. In a comprehensive review published in the journal Postgraduate Medicine, Dr. Paul Gahlinger offers several suggestions to help avert motion sickness. He advises eating a light meal at least three hours before travel, remembering to avoid inciting agents such as alcohol and dairy products along with foods high in protein, calories and salt. When possible, keep the vehicle cool and well-ventilated, avoiding bad odors such as cigarette smoke. Kids prone to motion sickness are also better off not trying to read or watch videos while in the car. Instead, they should try to look out the window, focusing on the horizon. Keeping the head still can also help, so travelers are instructed to ride with their heads nestled firmly back into headrests.

Gravitating to the center seats on boats or planes helps reduce motion sickness. When possible, traveling in the supine (on the back) position is also found to be more comfortable. If your child is old enough (13 years and older), she's likely to feel less queasy up in the front passenger seat. Better yet, if your daughter has her permit or license, give her the wheel, as drivers are known to experience less motion sickness than their unfortunate passengers.

Steve - a rarely discussed topic which warrants attention.