Managing Your Kids Travel Sickness

Travelling with kids is fun but motion sickness can quickly turn a fun trip into a stressful one. If your child gets queasy on car rides, flights, or boat trips, you’re not alone. 

Travel sickness is common in children, especially between the ages of 2 and 12. Fortunately, there are simple ways to prevent or ease the discomfort.

What Causes Travel Sickness?

Travel sickness happens when the brain receives mixed signals from the eyes, inner ears, and body. For example, in a moving car, your child’s inner ear senses motion, but their eyes (focused on a book or screen) may not. This sensory mismatch can trigger nausea, dizziness, or even vomiting.

Tips to Help Manage Travel Sickness in Kids

Watch What They Eat

Avoid heavy, greasy, or spicy meals right before travel. A light snack like crackers, bananas, or dry cereal can help settle the stomach.

Plan Ahead

Plan ahead for travel sickness, because surprise spewing is not fun for anyone! Bring along spare clothes, towels, baby wipes and vomit bags or the good old ice-cream container.

A couple of wet bags are also useful to store everything yucky in until you can get to a washing machine. If you have a kid that is notorious for car sickness, the Spewy Mats might also be a good idea.

Choose the Right Seat

Position your child in a spot with the least motion.
Car: Front seat (if age-appropriate) or centre back seat
Plane: Over the wing
Boat: Mid-ship and lower deck

Encourage Looking Outside

Have your child focus on the horizon or distant scenery, not books or screens. Fresh air can help too, open a window if possible.

Take Breaks

For road trips, stop regularly so kids can get some fresh air, stretch, and reset.

Try Natural Remedies

Ginger (in tea, chews, or cookies) can soothe nausea. Acupressure wristbands and homeopathy are another non-medicated option that some families find helpful.

Scents like peppermint, lavender, or spearmint can help soothe a queasy tummy. Use a travel-safe essential oil roller, inhaler stick, or even a cotton ball in a Ziploc bag.

Talk to Your Doctor

For frequent or severe cases, ask your doctor about child-safe medications like. Always follow the recommended dosage.

Face Forward, Stay Upright

It sounds simple, but posture matters. Slouching or lying back too much can worsen nausea. Try using a neck pillow to help your child sit upright and look forward, even while napping.

Secret Tips

Some people swear by unusual remedies like sitting on newspaper or putting a bandaid over belly buttons! 

Every child is different, so managing travel sickness may take a bit of trial and error. With the right strategies and some planning, you can help your little one feel better and enjoy the journey together.

Let us know what works for you. 

Want some more tips for road tripping with kids? Read our blog here.