|  | Family Health | Babies Health

Infant Motion Sickness Medicines

Traveling with an infant with motion sickness can be challenging Medication is an option to assist with motion sickness. If you are planning a big trip and are concerned about your infant's motion sickness, there are medications and a few tricks that may help address this issue.

  1. Antihistamines

    • Antihistamines are a class of medications primarily used to treat runny noses, but they also can treat motion sickness. According to Caremark.com, medications work well in treating motion sickness but often have side effects such as dry mouth and blurred vision. Caremark.com suggests taking medications for motion sickness at least 30 minutes prior to traveling. Some antihistamines are not safe for children under the age of 2, such as dimenhydrinate and diphenhydramine, so be sure to consult with your doctor before administering any questionable antihistamines to your infant.

    Sedatives

    • In extreme cases or when planning extra long trips, a sedative may be the best option. Your doctor can prescribe one that is the best fit for your infant and traveling plans. According to Travelingwithkids.com, when using a sedative, it needs to be carefully measured to match your child's weight to induce sleep. In some cases, the sedative can have the opposite reaction, and a hyperactive baby can be the result. Travelingwithkids.com also suggests that if you make the decision to use a sedative, stick with that decision and do not wait until it is too close to traveling to give the sedative to your infant. Trying to administer a sedative to an overtired or hysterical baby might not be successful in creating a calm traveler.

    Alternative Medications

    • There are many homeopathic options--such as ginger--for motion sickness in infants. Many find ginger to be helpful in easing motion sickness in infants, but it may be too strong a flavor for some. According to Parenthood.com, ginger can be useful in helping relieve motion sickness for some, but there have been few studies that have documented the abilities of ginger as a treatment for motion sickness. Parenthood.com suggests discussing with your doctor the correct dosage for use with infants. Parenthood.com also suggests that pressure patches worn on the wrist may be helpful in preventing motion sickness. According to Flyingwithkids.com, placing a few drops of lavender oil on blankets to help calm an infant during travel or using Badger Sleep Balm to ease an infant and keep motion sickness at bay.

Babies Health - Related Articles