London, 22 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – It can begin with a child suddenly going quiet in the back seat. Minutes later they may look pale, complain of feeling dizzy and then become nauseous. Motion sickness in children is especially common between the ages of two and 12, and the reason lies largely in a conflict between what the eyes see and what the inner ear senses.
Why does travelling make children feel sick?
Motion sickness is not simply a reaction to a bumpy road or rough sea. The NHS says it happens when repeated movement causes the inner ear to send signals to the brain that differ from the information being received through the eyes.
Imagine a child looking down at a book or tablet in a moving car. Their eyes are focused on something that appears still, but their inner ear can feel every corner, acceleration, bump and change in direction.
Those conflicting messages can leave the brain struggling to make sense of the body’s movement.
The result can be dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, sweating or a noticeably pale appearance.
Why are children more vulnerable than adults?
Age makes a clear difference.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says motion sickness is more common in children aged two to 12. That means a journey which feels completely ordinary to an adult can be deeply uncomfortable for a younger passenger.
Children do not all react in the same way, however. Some can spend hours in a car without feeling unwell, while others begin experiencing symptoms relatively quickly.
The CDC advises that motion sickness can affect travellers in cars, aircraft, boats and other forms of transport, meaning the problem is not limited to road journeys.
For parents, recognising the early signs can be useful. A child becoming unusually quiet, pale, dizzy or nauseous may be experiencing the beginning of motion sickness in children, even before they say they feel ill.
Why screens can make a bad journey worse
Giving a child a phone or tablet may seem like an obvious way to keep them occupied during a long drive, but it can work against families dealing with travel sickness.
The NHS specifically advises people prone to motion sickness not to read, watch films or use electronic devices while travelling. It also recommends avoiding looking at moving objects such as passing cars or rolling waves.
Looking straight ahead towards a fixed point such as the horizon can help instead.
Fresh air may also provide relief, while breaking up a long journey gives children an opportunity to drink water, walk around and recover before travelling again.
What can parents do before and during a journey?
Simple changes may make a noticeable difference.
The NHS recommends reducing movement where possible, looking straight ahead, getting fresh air and distracting children by talking, listening to music or singing. Regular breaks can also help on longer trips.
Medication is another option, but parents need to check carefully whether a product is suitable for their child’s age.
The NHS says pharmacists can recommend appropriate treatments. Hyoscine hydrobromide, for example, is used for travel sickness, but its tablets should not be given to children under three and its patches should not be used for children under 10.
The CDC also advises parents to consult a healthcare professional about medicines and the correct dosage for children, noting that some motion-sickness medicines can cause drowsiness while having the opposite effect in some youngsters.
When should parents seek further advice?
For most families, travel sickness is an unpleasant but manageable part of some journeys. However, symptoms that are frequent, severe or occurring when a child is not travelling warrant medical advice rather than automatically being attributed to motion sickness.
Parents considering medication should also speak to a pharmacist or healthcare professional if they are unsure which treatment is suitable.
Understanding what triggers motion sickness in children can make family travel easier. Something as simple as putting away the tablet, encouraging a child to look towards the horizon and stopping for fresh air may make the difference between a miserable journey and a much calmer arrival.
What happens next?
There is no single measure guaranteed to prevent every episode. For children who repeatedly become unwell, families can plan ahead by limiting reading and screen use, allowing breaks on longer journeys and seeking professional advice about age-appropriate treatments when needed.
For many parents, the most useful first step is also the simplest: spot the early signs and act before nausea turns into vomiting.
