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Seasickness Preventative for Children

Seasickness is a form of motion sickness, a condition characterized by dizziness, disorientation, nausea and vomiting. It is triggered when the brain receives conflicting information about the body's motion and physical orientation. Children are sometimes particularly susceptible to the effects of motion sickness. Fortunately, there are a number of methods available to prevent or diminish symptoms of this disorder.

  1. Undersanding Seasickness/Motion Sickness

    • Your child may experience the effects of seasickness or motion sickness when he receives conflicting sensory input from his eyes, inner ears, muscles and skin, according to the Nemours Foundation. If you are on a boat or ship, this may commonly occur when your child's senses cannot match the apparent solidity of the surface he is standing or sitting on with the larger motion affecting the entire vessel.

    Behavioral Options

    • If you know in advance that your child gets seasick, you can take several precautions to prevent an episode from occurring. Begin by facing him in the direction the boat or ship is traveling. Sitting or standing in the opposite direction may add another layer of body/brain confusion and increase the likelihood of symptoms. Do what you can to situate your child toward above-decks and in the middle of the vessel, since this position tends to generate the least amount of relative motion. In addition, ask your child to focus on the horizon line where the water meets the sky. This will provide a stable reference point to help properly orient his body.

      Eating heavy or fatty foods before or during a trip may worsen your child's seasickness, so plan your meals accordingly. Reading while on a trip also may worsen symptoms, so you may need to ask your child to suspend this activity.

    Medications

    • Your doctor also may recommend prescription or nonprescription medications to prevent your child's seasickness. Common options include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Be aware that use of these products carries the potential for side effects including drowsiness, dizziness, loss of appetite, blurred vision and dry throat, nose or mouth. If your child is under the age of 2, do not give him dimenhydrinate or diphenhydramine. Read the labels of all nonprescription medications carefully, and do not give your child a product designed for adult use. In some cases, if your child is 12 or older, your doctor may recommend another motion sickness medication called meclizine (Bonine).

    Additional Options

    • Some traditional remedies also may help prevent or ease your child's seasickness. These include ginger, peppermint and chamomile teas, as well as saltines. An additional option for symptom relief is a product called Emetrol, which combines a sugar solution with phosphoric acid. If you are interested in giving your child Emetrol, check with your doctor first. In some cases, you also may be able to prevent your child's symptoms with an anti-nausea wristband. Although there is no proven medical benefit from this option, in some cases it may provide a placebo effect that is still quite effective.

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