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Car sickness....sea sickness....ah yes, a very familiar subject to my own family. My youngest daughter was plagued by it. Our family would fondly refer to her as our "family fun meter". We would all enjoy a fun day on the road or out on the water until she threw up and that's when we all knew it was time to call it a day.

As a former pediatric nurse, let me start by calling this malady by it's proper name...It's really motion sickness. That said, you can actually suffer from it with very little movement at all...like watching your kid's video games or simply trying to read with a new pair of glasses. Technically this rotten, uneasy-queezy feeling is simply a mix up. Your brain cannot properly interpret signals coming from your eyes and ears. It effects your equilibrium, causes dizziness, nausea, vomiting and headaches. My daughter was especially prone due to the fact that she had auditory and visual dyslexia. The good news is that babies generally do not get it. Children usually can start with motion sickness around age two. Even better news is that most children usually outgrow motion sickness by the time they reach their late teens.

The Boy Scout Motto - always be prepared - Good advise for parents as you never know when motion sickness may interfere with your travel plans. Here are some tips to make everyone's journey a little bit easier...

Keep An Emergency Kit Handy- with a few items that may come in handy just in case of emergency like -
Zip Lock Plastic bags
Paper towels
Fresh change of clothes (for kids and parents)
Wet Wipes
Fabreze or air freshener
Peppermints or gum
Fabreze

Feel Better Remedies-There is really nothing that will cure motion sickness but there are a few palliative treatments that will certainly help your child to feel better...

-A small light meal or a few crackers before starting on your journey can be helpful and ease the onset of nausea.

-When in the car, it's tempting to seat car sick kids near a window for fresh air. Actually it's best to seat them in the middle of the second or back seat whenever possible. The far back seat of the minivan is the very worst spot to choose. The middle back seat is best because it forces kids to face forward and look towards the horizon.

-When on a train, be sure to select a seat for your child that faces forward. Facing backwards can really mix brain signals and can cause problems.

-When at sea, try to select a cabin with portholes, windows or a balcony located as close to the middle of the ship as possible. The middle of the ship is where there is the least motion and movement. While on board, if you child feels ill, avoid lying down in your cabin. Instead, go to an open deck and seat your child facing forward. Again getting their eyes to focus on the horizon will help.

-Getting your child to look forward to a point on the horizon will help their brain interpret the signals of motion coming from their eyes and ears. Kids may not be cooperative, especially when they are feeling ill. Parents may need to get creative, like playing eye spy or having a staring contest.

-Activities like reading, video games, watching dvd's or any close eye work while in motion will only aggravate the situation.

-Circulating fresh air will make children feel better

-Ginger ale, snaps or candies can really help to settle an upset tummy.

-Wrist pressure bands - many people swear by these. Whether they work or if its just a distraction, if they help then great.

-Keep your journey as gentle as possible. Avoid frequent stops and starts whenever possible

-Plan for frequent rest stops. Having one's feet on solid ground really does help.

If your child really suffers with motion sickness or perhaps you are planning your first family cruise and are not sure what to expect be sure to speak to your pediatrician. Your doctor can instruct you as to the best use of medications like antihistamines, diphenhydramine or scopalamine. Hopefully you won't need to use these medications as understanding and TLC can often be the best medicine parents can offer.

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