WASHINGTON — Any parent who’s taken a family road trip knows it is no fun having a car sick child.
However, most don’t know what causes the upset stomach and vomiting that some kids experience and aren’t sure how to prevent it.
Experts at the Mayo Clinic say car sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals from the motion- sensing parts of the body.
For example, a child may be sitting in the back seat of a car reading or playing a video game.
The inner ear will sense motion, but the eyes and joints will not, resulting in car sickness symptoms.
Babies and tiny toddlers don’t have much of a problem with car sickness, but kids between the ages of 2 and 12 are easy targets.
The Mayo Clinic says parents should find other ways to distract their children during long drives — like telling stories, singing songs, and making looking outside a car window into a game.
It’s also a good idea to watch what kids eat both immediately before and during a drive. Watch out for spicy and fatty foods, and try to keep snacks bland — try crackers or dry cereal.
Proper ventilation in the car is essential to prevent motion sickness. For some children over the age of 2, there are over-the-counter medications that can help. Check with a doctor first.
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