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It is heartbreaking for parents to see their children in trouble and pain. It fills parents with a sense of sadness and helplessness if they are unable to help their child. And if this pain occurs on the day of travel, which is supposed to be filled with a lot of fun and enjoyment, the feeling turns into despair. Motion sickness is a common problem with babies and dealing with it can be quite troublesome.
In this article, take a look at what motion sickness is, its signs and how it can be effectively tackled and nipped in the bud.
What is Motion Sickness?
Motion sickness refers to that uneasy feeling in the stomach when a person is traveling in a bus or a car. The affected person gets struck by a churning feeling in the pit of the stomach, which leads to the child being nauseous and extremely uncomfortable. In most cases, motion sickness results in the child throwing up uncontrollably. It occurs due to different signals reaching the brain from each of the sensory organs, and the brain is left confused and unable to sort out the mess. This makes the body uncomfortable, and then nauseous.
What are the Signs of Motion Sickness in Infants?
In case of motion sickness in babies, symptoms are easy to observe. Some of these symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- A headache
- An unsteady gait
- Vomiting
- Yawning or drowsiness
- General restlessness
- Drooling
What are the Remedies for Travel Sickness in Babies?
Car sickness in babies is a very common occurrence, and there are a number of ways you can try to keep it under control while travelling with your baby. Motion sickness medicine for babies is also available, and these medicines prevent your child from vomiting during the journey. Apart from using medicine, there are a few other ways by which you can help your child from being sick in the car. These are:
1. Snacking
In many cases, the chances of the baby getting sick can increase drastically if his stomach is too full or too empty. The best thing to do will be to let your child eat something. It should be easily digestible during the journey so that it does not churn much. So, give your child a few snacks before setting out on the journey, so that his stomach feels comfortable on the way.
2. Sleep
If your child is asleep during the journey, he is less likely to get bouts of motion sickness. Therefore, you can plan your trip in a manner such that your child remains asleep for the majority of the time spent in the car, and thus be refreshed and energetic when he reaches the destination.
3. Rehydration
If your baby vomits on the way, it is important to let him rehydrate so that he stops vomiting soon. When he throws up, a lot of body fluids and water content in the body gets ejected and this leaves him thirsty and dehydrated. You have to give him some water or a bit of breast milk if he vomits during the journey. And in case of excessive vomiting, oral rehydration solution must be administered.
4. Fresh Air
In many cases, children feel nauseous during the journey because they feel boxed in and suffocated. To prevent motion sickness in your child, ensure that there is plenty of air circulation within the vehicle so that he feels fresh and is able to breathe properly.
5. Avoid Strong Smells
The smell from your surroundings play a huge role in determining whether your child will get car sick or not, so you can help your child a lot by eliminating anything with a strong smell from his presence. This includes perfumes, strong smelling food items and some types of car fresheners. In some cases, a child may get sick owing to the smell of stale leather emanating from the seats of the car itself.
6. Focus Long
A part of motion sickness occurs because the brain is unable to comprehend and make sense of all the movement happening. This means that you should encourage your child to look as further into the horizon as possible, instead of focusing on something within the moving environment. Therefore, you should avoid any games, toys, books or films during the trip.
7. Breaks
Breaks during the journey can work wonders, not just for the driver but for all the people sitting in the car. Take a number of breaks so that the child does not feel suffocated during the journey, and give him a chance to stretch his legs and arms. This goes a long way in keeping him fresh, and thus prevents motion sickness.
While motion sickness is something that is exceedingly common in children, you can take measures to prevent or limit the extent of it during the journey. In case of motion sickness in an infant, make him baby lie down immediately so that he does not feel overwhelmed by all the movement around him.
