Car Sickness in Children: Causes, Remedies, and Symptoms

30 percent of children suffer from it, especially between 3 and 12 years: the motion sickness, commonly known as car sickness is a disorder that can specifically affect the car trips, but also travel by train, ship or plane.

The disorder, which occurs mostly in children, is experienced by those subjects who have an excessive hypersensitivity at the level of the labyrinth. This marked sensitivity of the center of balance affects the autonomic nervous system, causing the typical symptoms associated with car sickness.

Index of topics

Cause

In predisposed people experiencing motion sickness is quite common and is triggered by factors related to the functionality of the nervous system. In particular, the subject who undergoes the passive action of traveling by car can begin to receive conflicting stimuli that confuse the brain.

In these cases, the information collected by the organism are distorted. The maze in the ear he perceives sudden indefinite changes, the eyes , stance The body's nerves are overstressed, triggering a chain reaction that can lead to varying degrees of car sickness. But what are the symptoms experienced by those who suffer from motion sickness?

Symptoms

Known as motion sickness, car sickness is characterized by a set of disorders such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, paleness and cold sweats that affect some people during a travel by car for car sickness, or on a plane with airsickness, or even on a ship for the well-known seasickness.

These are symptoms caused by repeated shaking caused by the moving vehicle, which affects the system that governs the body's equilibrium. When the person is in motion with respect to fixed points, their eyes In fact, they perform a whole series of fast movements that can alter the sense of balance with consequent annoying symptoms which can also occur immediately after departure.

A rather annoying malaise that affects adults but especially children, unaccustomed to traveling and with an undeveloped sense of balance, especially if very young. Furthermore, if the road they are traveling is particularly bumpy, the symptoms could be exacerbated.

As the years go by, the body becomes accustomed to travel by car, train, boat, and plane, and strengthens, allowing symptoms to subside. In the meantime, however, what can be done to prevent car sickness in children and allow them to travel with complete peace of mind?

Cinetos

The disorder can occur in a variety of contexts, not exclusively during travel. Even in an elevator or on a swing, the same symptoms typically associated with motion sickness may emerge.

Typically, a good percentage of those who experience motion sickness can adapt to the altered motion condition, such as by ship, in about two or three days.

In case of subjects with excessive hypersensitivity, the symptoms may not subside unless in the absence of the triggering stimuli, that is, at the end of the journey. When the body is no longer at the mercy of passive movement, a state of well-being gradually reemerges from the very first moment.

The main victims of motion sickness are children between 2 and 12 years old (children under 2 years old are immune), pregnant women, people who use certain drugs, such as antibiotics and antidepressants.

Car sickness remedies

Here are some simple tips to help you travel with children without unpleasant surprises:

To begin with, if the child suffers from this illness, if possible, choose to travel during the night or leave early in the morning: the child sleeps and the symptoms are fewer. visual stimuli which can cause or accentuate motion sickness.
Make sure your child travels in a suitable seat so that he can see straight ahead.
Avoid that the child move around the car while traveling: it is dangerous and increases the symptoms of motion sickness.
A sleepy or asleep child will certainly feel less discomfort.
If he is awake, it is always better for him to look forward and not sideways through the window.
Make sure the passenger compartment is always cool.
Travel after sunset is preferable to the morning hours when temperatures are higher.
If your child is old enough, have him or her sit in the front seat of the car. If you're on a plane, choose the wing seats, and on a ship, the center area. In any case, if you're traveling by train, make sure your child always sits facing forward.
Avoid letting your child play video games or use their cell phone while you are traveling to minimize head and body movements.
Make sure to keep the window half-open in your car to allow for air exchange: this helps to alleviate symptoms.
It's best to travel on a full stomach to reduce nausea. Have your child have a small meal. , snack Before departure and during the trip, offer small but frequent meals based on grissini, bread e crackerAvoid foods that are difficult to digest, especially fried or very fatty foods, and carbonated drinks.
Finally, if, despite all the precautions, the child If you start to feel unwell, stop the car, roll down the window to let the air circulate, and don't drive away until the situation calms down a bit.

What to take

Car sickness usually presents with mild symptoms. Generally, it's enough to avoid large meals before setting off and instead opt for just one meal. cracker-based snack, grissini or anyway dry foods. Drink water in moderate doses and preferably during short breaks.

I anti-nausea bracelets can be another solution if used correctly. Through the pressure exerted by the cuff By placing pressure on a specific point on the forearm, specifically P6, it is possible to prevent the onset of nausea and vomiting. Similar objects are also sometimes used during pregnancy to reduce or counteract the symptoms of nausea and vomiting.

In case of mild and transient motion sickness Taking medications is useless and counterproductive. When necessary, there are over-the-counter products containing dimeninate, an active ingredient used specifically for movement disorders. In more severe cases, and only with a doctor's prescription, medications containing cinnarizine, an active ingredient effective against various types of vertigo, can be taken.

Prevention

So, to take children in the car, in total safety, The first thing to do is to check the car seat. This must in fact be suitable for both the age and weight of the child.and seat belts well-fitting and you must not give in to the whims of the little ones, even if they try to refuse to use them.

Secondly, never hold children in your arms while traveling: It's very dangerous in both front and back seats. In the event of a crash, the adult's body could collide with the child's, worsening the damage.

Third essential tip: the safest seat for children is the central rear seat, and in any case, always on the subject of safety, while travelling by car avoid giving children lollipops or ice creams with a stick: dangerous in case of sudden braking.

There is also a particular problem to take into account, also in preventive terms, when travelling with children: carsickness.

A smart way to dramatically decrease your chances of car sickness is to leave early, when the children are still sleepy and could therefore sleep for the whole journey or for a good part of it.

If the basics aren't there, the winning solution is to distract the children, even by singing or playing games. Absolutely. it is not recommended to pay too much attention to electronic devices, be they cell phones, tablets, Nintendo or similar. Also reading should be avoided, rather it helps a lot look forward, on the center window.

In the car it is advisable to adopt one calm driving style, taking curves without resorting to frequent acceleration or constant braking.

It should also be remembered that heavy air in the car can contribute to the symptoms. Better avoid strong perfumes, like a magical tree, with exaggeratedly impregnating essences. But above all, recycle the air, even by opening the windows a few centimetres.

Another essential aspect concerns the do not travel in a car with a strong smell of diesel or petrol. On an olfactory level, it already makes the experience unpleasant, promoting nausea.

When to stop

To stop for your child's car sickness, don't wait until the last minute. It'll be too late, and you'll make him vomit. The best thing to do is stop every two or three hours of travel (even less, if necessary): a breath of fresh air outside the car can be enough for a break. For longer trips, consult your pediatrician and ask for a specific product, such as chewing gum.

Car sickness in children: how to avoid it