Essential Items for Parents to Combat Motion Sickness when Traveling with Kids

• During our trips, I have had the unfortunate experience of catching puke with my bare hands, thanks to my two daughters.
• Now, to be prepared, we always travel with anti-nausea medication and medical-grade puke bags.
• Our strategy is focused on prevention, which means avoiding tablets and dairy consumption during the trip.

Traveling with our kids has led to numerous unfortunate incidents of puke-catching. On one particularly distressing trip, one daughter vomited while the other, in sympathy, fainted shortly after we got into our rental car.

Traveling with kids is inherently stressful, and when motion sickness is added to the mix, it becomes unbearably unpleasant. After enduring countless flights and road trips with our two little ones, we’ve learned a few indispensable lessons and relied on essential items.

Get anti-nausea medication if your child frequently vomits

We initially tried over-the-counter Dramamine, but my daughter had an allergic reaction to it. Next, we attempted Benadryl, which supposedly helps with motion sickness-induced nausea. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. After several miserable trips, I consulted our pediatrician, who prescribed a stronger anti-nausea medication called Zofran.

This medication was a game-changer. We now give our daughter the dissolvable tablet before the trip to prevent nausea and vomiting from occurring. If you find that over-the-counter options aren’t effective for your child’s motion sickness, it’s worth discussing prescription options with your pediatrician. Additionally, there are alternative remedies available, such as aromatherapy or acupressure wristbands.

Always prioritize prevention because once the vomiting starts, it can be challenging to stop. We administer the medication before each trip, regardless of how our children are feeling, and also avoid screen time.

Invest in high-quality puke bags

As a nurse, I understand the importance of reliable puke bags. The flimsy vomit bags provided by airlines are far from ideal. That’s why I choose to purchase hospital-grade puke bags. By the age of 4, my daughter was capable of holding her own bag. Airline vomit bags work well for double-bagging the hospital-grade puke bag once the eruption subsides. Gallon-sized ziplock bags are also useful for this purpose.

However, puke bags are only effective if they are easily accessible and if your child gives you a warning before they vomit. One of my daughters communicates her stomach discomfort, while the other remains silent until the moment before unleashing her gastric fury. As a result, we now emphasize the importance of informing us about any stomach issues before each trip and ensure they know the location of the vomit bags.

Also, be prepared to clean up. In case of accidents, such as vomit on the floor, it’s essential to come equipped with Clorox wipes and gallon-sized ziplock bags to contain the odor.

Consider using anti-motion sickness glasses

I recently discovered these ingenious glasses designed to combat motion sickness while browsing on Amazon. These glasses have circular rims filled with brightly colored fluid. There are two front rims, like traditional glasses, and two additional rims on the sides to cover peripheral vision. The brightly colored fluid creates an artificial horizon that helps the brain process movement, reducing motion sickness.

Although these glasses may look a little ridiculous, they are remarkably effective.

Limit your child’s screen time

It took me embarrassingly long to realize that the tablets my daughters used to watch movies during trips were actually contributing to their motion sickness. The same goes for reading or coloring. Now, we prefer to listen to audiobooks using the Libby app. We also discovered Aaron’s Thinking Putty, which kept my 5 and 7-year-old entertained during our last road trip.

For younger children, plastic figurine sets like dinosaurs, princesses, or sea creatures are fantastic toys to have at your final destination.

Lastly, I feel compelled to mention that it’s best to avoid ordering large-sized milk for your child at the airport to prevent unpleasant incidents of curdled milk vomit. Trust me on this one.