Conference moira::parenting

    re: .54
    
    I'm not a parent, but I used to be a kid - riding backward in the car
    always made me sick.
    
    FWIW,
    
    Steve

    
    There was a study on channel 2 some time ago about motion sickness -
    they found the basic cause to be conflicting messages to the brain. 
    Your body sends the message that you're moving.  However, since when
    you're usually in a car, you're looking at something "still", your eyes
    send the message that you're not moving.
    
    There basic advice was that somehow, you need to get the messages in
    line.  Either by modifying your position/behavior so that both messages
    coincided, or by eliminating one of the conflicting messages.
    Some possible suggestions they had were to sit up front, or elsewhere
    where you could SEE outside (thereby sending message from body and eyes
    that you are moving), closing your eyes (eliminate the visually
    conflicting image).  Also, they indicated that frequent stops to sort
    of "pull it together" helped tremendously, as can fresh air.  I forget
    what age you turn the baby around (front-facing), but perhaps you can
    turn her seat around and put her in the middle of the back so that she
    has a clear view out the windshield.  Or try to get her to sleep in the
    car ....
    
    Maybe your pedi can provide some medical direction here .... it may
    also be something as simple as not feeding her RIGHT before you get in
    the car - give her belly 20-30 mins to settle down first.
    
    Good Luck!
    Patty

    
    Thanks for the replies so far...
    
    We've tried holding back on feeding, and feeding 1/2 hour after
    arrival. She just gobbles down a couple of ounces, coughs, and 
    up it comes, along with a lot of vicious green bile...ugh!
    
    The pediatrician doesn't recommend Gravol, but I'm not sure why. I 
    certainly think it's effective for me, traveling on the DEC charter.
    
    The effect of travelling seems to last awhile longer than most, and
    sometimes it's triggered even in the stroller!! Keep her still, and
    all is fine though.
    
    If she sleeps, it does seem to help, but she has a tendency to stay
    awake in the car, the opposite behavior of her 4 year old brother.
    She recovers quickly from the event, and within seconds is smiling and
    gurgling, unlike her parents 8*(.
    
    Patrick

    Not sure if this will help but we sail and find that some ginger 
    (root) taken well before our guest boards our boat helps keep
    motion sickness from taking place.  You might want to talk to
    the folks at the health food store, also obviously make sure 
    there's no problem with giving it to the baby.  

    How about those bracelets with a button on them that applies
    pressure to a certain point on the wrist and reduces motion
    sickness? I'm planning to try one for my 5-yr-old.
    
    Lucy

    
    Re: Motion sickness in babies.
    
    Did some inquiring and found out that anti-motion sickness drug
    use in children under 3 years of age is apparently linked to SIDS?
    
    Has anybody else heard this?
    
    We're hoping that maybe her change of diet in the coming months
    will change things...
    
    Patrick

    When I was a child, the following things triggered my car-sickness:
    facing backward, not looking out the window, rain (yes, rain), and
    having an empty stomach.  My parents learned to give me just a little
    something to eat before leaving, and then give me small snacks while
    in the car.  We also had to stop at least every hour.  So you don't
    have to give up driving, but you do have to stop and get out a lot.
    
    As I recall, my pediatrician said it was OK to turn a baby around to
    face forward in a car as soon as the baby could support its head well,
    IF you had to for reasons such as car-sickness.  But even turning 
    her around may not be enough if she doesn't know to look out the
    window.  Maybe try putting some small thing on the window to attract
    her eyes toward the window.
    
    Jane
    

    As a car-sickness victim, I must add another motion-sickness
    trigger - sitting in the back seat. Once I was up front, I usually
    felt a little better.
    
    Monica

    Oh, how I feel for you!!!!
    
    My Alex had/has the same problem.  It started at about 8 months and he 
    still is bothered by it at almost 3.  This is what our pedi
    recommended:
    
    Put the carseat in the front seat of the car, facing forward.  The pedi
    believed it was more dangerous for him to vomit continually than the 
    potential danger of having him in the front seat.  AND, he prescribed 
    Benadryl (in tiny-baby dosage).  It worked wonders for us.  Of course,
    there were the times I had to run to the market, and didn't give it to
    him 30 minutes ahead, thinking it would be OK.  Yea, right!!  Alex 
    would get sick EVERY time we didn't do the Benadryl.  
    
    Please, be sure to ask your pedi.  Don't every give a "tiny" any drug
    without asking your pedi.
    
    Good luck!!  I know how hard it is to deal with this problem.  You have
    all my sympathy and support.
    
    -Linette 
    
    p.s.  Both my hubby and I were carsick kids, and I still have my
          moments....
    
    

    Not sure what the techniques are to overcome motion-sickness for
    infants, but I get mildly sick. I do not throw up but I get a terrible
    headache, get a really awful feeling if I do not look out of the window
    all the time. I also cannot sit in the back seat of our van. I don't
    have a problem with the back seat of a car but the 3rd seat at the back
    of a van can make me feel queasy. I cannot read in the car, even when I
    read a map I have to remember to look out of the window to maintain my
    orientation.
    
    Shaila

    
    Update to daughter Kayla's carsickness...The  extreme reaction we
    experienced earlier this summer has subsided 8*). We moved her to
    the front seat, facing backwards, made sure we stop for 10 to 15
    minutes every travel-hour, use only the airconditioned car for
    longer trips, and fed her juice instead of formula for snacks as
    we drive. She has been eating solid foods for 6 weeks now, also.
    
    She is still much fussier than her older brother while driving, and
    resists sleep as much as she can. She gets pale, but has not thrown
    up for over a month now. She still tends to spit up/burp alot, but
    no more projectile stuff. Crisis over, I think.
    
    Thanks to everyone who answered this string.
    
    Patrick

    Are they any drawbacks to giving children anti-motion-sickness
    medication?
    
    My eight-year-old daughter is going with her class on an ocean-bound
    field trip in a few weeks.  This is similar to a whale watch, only they
    may not go so far out.  The school has suggested that she take an
    anti-motion-sickness medication before the trip (during is too late).
    
    Kathleen has never been carsick in her life.  She can read for hours in
    a moving car without problems.  She's never been out on the ocean and I
    realize that this could be very different.  
    
    I'd hate to medicate her for nothing, but this is going to be a really
    fun trip and I'd hate for her to miss out being sick.
    
    Have you given your children anti-motion-sickness medicine?  Any
    drawbacks or side effects?  What did you give them?  The school said
    this was available over the counter, but didn't say what medicine.
    
    Thanks for any info or experiences,
    
    Jane  
     

    I haven't had to use it for my daughter yet but we keep Dramamine 
    (sp?) on board our sailboat.  I have both the adults and children's 
    chewables so I know there is a children's version of Dramamine
    available.  As an adult taking Dramamine for adults I have found
    that the only side-affect is it makes me feel drowsy (but so
    does the queasy-ness I feel if I'm getting sea-sick).  Because
    it makes me feel sleepy I never take it until I need it and 
    contrary to popular belief I have found that it does work after
    the symptoms start but it does take about 10 or 15 minutes to
    start to work and when you feel sick, it can be a long 10-15
    minutes.  Though I always wait til symptoms start before taking
    it I have never gotten sick.  The closest I ever came was in
    a race where I was told I turned green but even then the
    dramamine worked and after about 15 minutes I was feeling fine
    and enjoyed the rest of the race.   My sister-in-law also once
    took it after symptoms started and it worked.
    
    I have had several other children besides my daughter out on our
    boat and none have ever required dramamine or gotten sick.  The
    only time my daughter got sick (she didn't give me enough warning
    to try the dramamine) was when we were under motor in heavy seas
    (this in the high seas caused by Felix last month).  I also
    know that for me the motor can make a difference.  
    
    Also, I have never tried them (although I keep meaning to) but I
    know people who swear by the wrist bracelets they sell.  These
    are non-presription bracelets you wear on your wrists.  They are
    supposed to work on pressure points.  You can get them in almost
    any marine supply store.  I dont know anyone who has tried them
    on children though.
    
    Robyn
    
    

    I'd call her doctor and ask for an opinion and best guess.
    
    I'd hate to not give it to her, and have her get sick when I wouldn't
    be there to help her out.  There is a potential for a lot of sick
    children, and getting individual care might be difficult.  A lot of
    sick people on a boat is not a pretty sight!
    
    judy

    My family practitioner did some checking around for us, since Ryan (7)
    began experiencing motion sickness at about age 5. She felt that
    Bonine, at half dose, would suffice for a child.
    
    However, I have found a homeopathic motion sickness medicine in my
    health food store which has worked amazingly well for Ryan, and doesn't
    have any of the side effects or drowsiness of Dramamine/Bonine. It's in
    pill form, and is taken under the tongue before travelling and then
    during travel again if symptoms appear. 
    
    Take a look in a reputable health food store and see if you come across
    the motion sickness pills. It might help for her to have it handy if
    she begins to get headachy or ill, but I see no reason for her to take
    it preventively when she's had no history of motion sickness.
    regards
    Lynn
    

I wouldn't even think of giving my daughter motion sickness medication.
She doesn't get motion sickness and it sounds like your daughter is safe.
Me on the other hand may well benifit from taking or using something although I
never think about it until I'm feeling stirred up inside.

How does your daughter do on carnival rides. I remember riding the scrambler
with my daughter and making a mental note never to ride it again having narowly
avoided throwing up. Actually I had to sit down for a while. Meanwhile Rowena
rode the tilt-a-whirl and scrambler several times.

I don't get car sick anymore but if you put me in a boat and I can't see the
horizon I do get sick.

So I wouldn't take non-car sickness as a measure. If she has ridden
rollercoasters, wild carnival rides that spin you around like god never
intended and simulators (that really mess with me) and she walks away saying
"can I do that again" then she is probably OK.

Just my experience,
Peter.