If you have a trip lined up, the last thing you want to have to deal with is your little one’s tummy trouble.
Here are some tips to ease your tot’s motion sickness, to ensure a smooth journey and a happy youngster.
1. Be alert
Be alert to the early signs of motion sickness - a cold sweat and loss of appetite typically show up before a child starts vomiting. Once you see the writing on the wall, stop the activity if possible. Pull off the road for a short break if you're driving or have your child look out the window of the plane during a flight. If you can stop, lay him or her down and place a cool cloth on his forehead. Their symptoms will subside quickly, within 15 minutes at the most.
2. Look ahead
While in a car, have your child look ahead at a spot on the horizon. An object in the distance will give visual input that you're moving relative to that point. This will help resolve some of the mixed messages being sent to her brain.
3. Keep cool
Provide some cool air. Let the fan or air conditioner blow lightly on your child or crack the window for a breeze. On a boat, take him out on deck.
4. Pick the best spot
For a smoother ride in a large car with two rows of backseats, secure your child in the middle row rather than the rearmost row (and for safety's sake, never in the front). In other forms of transportation, choose the forward cars of a train; the upper deck of a boat, toward the middle; and by the wings of a plane. Have her face forward and make sure she's high enough in her seat to look out the window whenever possible.
6. Distract them
Motion sickness can sometimes be a state of mind, so try singing or chatting together. Don't have him look at books or play with toys, though, because these will make him more disoriented.
7. Feed them
Your instinct may tell you to do the opposite, but if he or she is eating solids, provide a light snack before the trip. Why? Hunger can sometimes make nausea worse. There's some debate on this one, so note whether eating a little snack helps or hinders your child's trip. Then you'll know how to prepare next time.
8. Naptime
Try to schedule the trip during naptime, since your child is much less likely to become sick to their stomach if they're asleep during the motion. If she or he is beyond napping age, still encourage him or her to sleep if they're tired.
9. Keep activity to a minimum
Try to keep your child as calm as you can, with her head as motionless as possible.
10. Hydrate
If your child ends up vomiting despite your best efforts, have him drink liquids to avoid dehydration. For insurance, take along a durable plastic bag with wipes or a damp cloth and a change of clothes for your child.
Image via Pinterest.
