Family holidays should be fun, but motion sickness can quickly turn a car journey into a nightmare. Kids throwing up in the back seat isn’t anyone’s idea of a good start to a trip. There are plenty of ways to tackle travel sickness before it ruins everyone’s day, and with the right approach, you can help children feel more comfortable on long journeys.
Spotting the Warning Signs
Motion sickness doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. Keep an eye out for kids going pale, yawning loads, sweating, or saying they feel funny. They might go really quiet or get fidgety before the nausea kicks in properly. If you catch these signs early, you can do something about it before things get messy.
If you are fostering in London, the children in your care might struggle more with motion sickness if they’re worried about the journey or haven’t done much long-distance travel before. Bad experiences with transport can make them extra sensitive. They sometimes won’t say straight away that they feel rough, so watch their body language carefully. Getting them to trust you and talk openly about feeling sick will help you sort things out faster.
Getting Ready Before You Go
Start preparing the night before your trip. Make sure the children get enough sleep as being tired makes travel sickness much worse. Give them a light breakfast on travel day, but skip anything with lots of dairy, grease, or acid. Plain toast or ginger biscuits work well, and bananas can help settle dodgy tummies.
Try natural options like ginger sweets or those wristbands that press on specific points. If a child gets travel sick regularly, ask your chemist about suitable medicines for their age. These work best when you give them before symptoms start, not after.
While You’re Travelling
Where kids sit makes a huge difference. In cars, put them in the middle of the back seat so they can see the road ahead. On buses or trains, choose forward-facing seats rather than ones that face backwards. Fresh air really helps, so open windows a bit or use the air conditioning.
Get children to look at things far away instead of reading books or staring at screens. Audiobooks or music work much better than visual stuff when travelling. Keep chat light and fun, and have sick bags handy without making kids panic about needing them.
Foster carers need to know that some children might feel ashamed about being sick, which could make them hide how they’re feeling. Make sure they know it’s completely fine to say when they feel unwell.
When Sickness Strikes
If motion sickness hits, pull over safely and get some fresh air flowing. Help the child breathe slowly and deeply, and keep them still with their head supported. A cool, wet cloth on their forehead often helps.
Tiny sips of water or ginger ale might settle things, but don’t give them loads to drink. Wait a bit after their symptoms ease before getting back on the road.
Good preparation and quick action when warning signs appear means motion sickness doesn’t have to wreck family trips. Every child reacts differently, so try various approaches until you find what works. Foster carers should stay calm and understanding since travel anxiety can make physical symptoms worse. Creating positive travel memories takes time, but stress-free journeys are definitely worth the effort.
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