Preventive Measures to Avoid Motion Sickness in Children

 Motion sickness is common among children between the ages of two and twelve. Motion sickness can occur when the brain receives contradictory signals from the inner ears, eyes, and nerves in the joints and muscles. Women and children are more likely to experience motion sickness. A lot of kids outgrow their motion sickness naturally. The reason why some people are more susceptible to motion sickness than others is unknown. It can develop while travelling in cars, trains, planes and boats, as well as on amusement park rides, etc.

In this blog, we will guide the readers with some handy tips and suggestions that they can follow to prevent their kids from having motion sickness while they travel. To make this post enriching, we have gathered insights from Dr. Promilla Butani, a renowned general pediatrician in Delhi. Let’s start by understanding the signs and symptoms of the condition.

Signs and Symptoms

Motion sickness can cause subtle symptoms that differ from person to person. They may consist of: 

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headaches
• Lightheadedness
• Sweating and drooling
• Fatigue
• A generalized sensation of being "off," which can get bad. Certain children feel like they are about to pass away, have trouble breathing, and have tingling in their arms and legs. 

Causes Of Motion Sickness

• Anxiety or strong odors, like those of food or gasoline, can cause motion sickness.
• Motion sickness can occasionally be brought on by trying to read a book in a moving vehicle.
• Additionally, both adults and children can sometimes experience motion sickness from constantly playing on the phone.

Implementing Preventive Measures

Dr. Promilla Butani, known as the top pediatric doctor in Delhi, has suggested implementing the following tactics to help kids avoid motion sickness:

1. Get Ready For The Trip Ahead

• Avoid having a large meal right before your trip. It is best to eat light, carbohydrate-based food, such as cereal, an hour or two before your trip.
• When traveling long distances, try taking short breaks to get some fresh air, sip some cold water, and, if you can, go for a short walk.

2. Decide On A Seating Arrangement

• Avoid making too much movement. For example, sit on the deck in the middle of a boat, over the wing of an airplane, or in the front seat of a car.
• When on a boat, avoid sitting where you can smell the engines.

3. Take In Some Fresh Air

• Try to take a breath of fresh air. For example, open a car window.
• Steer clear of strong smells, especially those of gasoline and diesel. This could entail avoiding the engine compartment on a boat or shutting the window and turning on the air conditioning.

4. Make Different Use Of Your Ears And Eyes

• Close your eyes (if possible, keep them closed the entire way). This lessens confusion by lowering "positional" signals from your eyes to your brain.

5. Try Not To Read

• Try closing your eyes and listening to an audiobook. There are some evidences that using auditory signals to divert your attention can lessen your sensitivity to motion signals.

• Try going to sleep; this works primarily because your eyes are closed. After all, while you are asleep, your brain might be able to ignore some motion signals.

• It is best to avoid staring at moving objects like other cars or waves. Avoid staring at objects that your brain is programmed to assume will remain motionless. Instead, look ahead, a little above the horizon, in a fixed location.

6. Take Good Care Of Your Stomach

• Stay away from heavy meals both before and during your trip. Avoiding fatty or spicy foods might also be wise.
• Try taking small sips of cold water or a sweet, carbonated beverage to "tame your tummy." It is advised to drink cola or ginger ale.

7. Other Remedies

All of the aforementioned methods for preventing motion sickness work to lessen its effects. Other methods for treating motion sickness include the following, which can be used in addition to medication if necessary:

• Breathe slowly and deeply while concentrating on your breathing and enjoying some music. This is effective, according to clinical trials.
• Some people's motion sickness may be relieved by ginger (as a biscuit, sweet, or in a drink).

Conclusion

Motion sickness is a condition where movement causes symptoms like nausea and vertigo. This issue can arise not only in automobiles but also in boats, airplanes, trains, and rides at theme parks. If you are planning a trip, worrying about your kid throwing up can make you feel very anxious. Hopefully, these useful suggestions will come in handy the next time you travel, allowing you to have a memorable experience for all the right reasons! 

If one is looking for a children doctor in Delhi, they may consult with Dr. Promilla Butani. She has nearly fifty years of experience and is skilled in a wide range of pediatric medical services. To know more, visit Dr. Promilla Butani's Pediatrics Practice to consult with her.

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