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| Preventing motion sickness |
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There's nothing worse than a vacation ruined by motion sickness. It begins with
dizziness, sweating, and nausea. Your body gets hot, your face pale, and your
adventurous spirit crushed. Children between the ages of six and eight are the
most common victims of this malady. Luckily, there are steps you can take to
help kids combat the effects of motion sickness. Following some simple
guidelines could mean the difference between a pleasant journey and a miserable
one:
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Avoid forms of travel known for causing motion sickness. Choose to fly instead
of driving a long, winding road, or travel up the coastline by train instead of
ferry.
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When flying, sit over the airplane's wing. The ride there is the least bumpy.
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Avoid the bow and stern of ships, as they are the most unstable spots.
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Don't let children prone to carsickness read in a moving vehicle.
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In the car, seat children so they have a view of the horizon. The middle of the
back seat is good for that (in combination with a safety seat).
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Encourage your youngster to sleep through the trip.
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Offer children a light snack before starting on your journey.
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Avoid smoking in the car.
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Avoid smelly foods in the car that may cause nausea.
What should you do if your child gets sick?
For starters, know the warning signs of imminent nausea: Your child may become
pale, sweaty, and restless, and may yawn often.
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Stop immediately at the first sign of sickness and have your child get out and
lie down and relax until he or she feels better.
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Give your child appropriate medication (see below), crackers, or tea to calm
the stomach.
Over-the-counter and prescription treatments:
Several drugs are available, but none of them works every time. It is difficult
to tell in advance which one will relieve your child's symptoms. If one proves
ineffective, you may want to try another. Treatments include: dimenhydrinate
(Dramamine), cyclizine (Marezine), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), meclizine
(Bonine), and the prescription drug promethazine (Phenergan). Please note: it's
always best to check with your doctor before dispensing any type of drugs to
your children.
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Be sure to check age requirements when choosing a treatment for your child.
Cyclizine and diphenenhdramine should not be given to children under six.
Meclizine should not be used for children under 12, and scopolamine (Transderm
Scop) should not be given to children at all.
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Keep in mind that the above-mentioned treatments are all antihistamines. They
can cause drowsiness, dry mouth, and blurred vision.
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Treatments work best when taken at least a half-hour before the trip begins.
Alternative treatments:
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Sailors have always chewed ginger to combat seasickness. While studies have
reported mixed results on its anti-nausea effects, experts say that ginger tea
is safe for children (but not infants) and recommend dissolving 1/8- to
1/4-teaspoon of powdered ginger in a cup of hot water. You can also try boiling
two slices of ginger root in one cup of water for 10 minutes. Sweeten tea to
taste and offer sips throughout the day.
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Peppermint and chamomile teas are two standard remedies for soothing an upset
stomach and can be helpful to a sick child. Feeding the child one or two
crackers can also help settle the stomach.
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Placebos have proven to help children suffering from motion sickness. If you
believe in the remedy wholeheartedly, who knows, they just may believe it, too.
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