- Forget the books: Yes, you should encourage your children to read, but not on long road trips. Looking down can cause headaches and nausea. Instead of reading or playing card games, get creative and play verbal games. A fun round of something like “I Spy” can help your child keep his head up and not feel carsick.
- Bring a cooler: On longer road trips, keeping children hydrated is important. Fill a small cooler with water bottles and ginger ale (made with real ginger). Ginger can help with settling a stomachache. Avoid sugary drinks that could cause headaches or make nausea worse.
- Sit by the window: If one child tends to get carsick easier than others, place him in the middle seat so he can look straight out the window. Children need to be able to look out the car window without twisting their head around too much. This helps their body adjust to the moving vehicle and prevent nausea.
- Eat peppermints: When packing snacks for the road, avoid greasy chips and sugary treats. Instead, choose to suck on peppermints or chew peppermint gum. Peppermint assists in settling nauseous stomachs. If your children hate the taste of peppermints, try lemon drops instead. They help settle upset stomachs just as well.
- Take frequent breaks: When traveling with children, extra stops may keep you on the road a couple more hours, but keeping children seated in a moving car for too long is a sure way to encourage carsickness. Make frequent stops so your children can use the restroom, drink some water and walk around to stretch their legs.
5 Tips for Avoiding Car Sickness
5 Tips for Avoiding Car Sickness