7 Ways to Prevent Car Sickness in Babies

Picture this…

A first-time mom is with her twelve-month old baby, driving happily down the highway on their way to visit some friends in a neighboring town. The baby is nice and full, having just eaten a solid breakfast of eggs, toast and kiwi fruit.

About 30 minutes into the trip, the mom glances into the rear-view mirror and notices a sudden stream of projectile green vomit sailing from the rear-facing car seat into the third row of the SUV. The vomit doesn’t seem to stop! The mom has never experienced anything like this before and isn’t sure what to do. Should she pull over on the highway? Keep driving? What’s a first-time mom to do?

If you have a baby who is prone to car sickness, car trips can be extremely stressful. Yes, the first-time mom in the scenario above was me, and as it turned out, all three of my girls got car sick often when they were babies, so I learned a lot about how to prevent and manage this difficult aspect of travel. Here’s what you need to know.

What is Car Sickness?

Car sickness is a type of motion sickness. It occurs when the brain receives mixed signals from the inner ears, eyes, nerves, and joints. 

Studies show that while car sickness can occur in babies, it is most common between the ages of 4 and 13, with most severe symptoms between 6 and 8 years old. 

Like older kids, babies can sense the motion of the car but their sight is often focused on what’s around them inside the car. This sends conflicting messages to their brain (a sensory mismatch), causing nausea. 

Some babies are more sensitive than others. If your baby is prone to motion sickness on car rides, here are a few tips that may help: 

How to Prevent Car Sickness

#1 Keep an eye out for early signs

Early signs of car sickness can include paleness, sweating, loss of appetite, fussiness, frequent yawning, or restlessness. You know your baby best, so if you notice your baby exhibiting behaviors that are not normal for them, it might be a good time to pull over and take a break from driving. 

#2 Make Frequent Stops

Giving your baby a break from the movement of the car and allowing them to reorient themselves can prevent the onset of carsickness. Try bringing a portable bassinet or crib so that your baby can lie down. Consider taking a 10-15 minute break to let your baby rest before continuing on.

#3 Allow for Fresh airflow

Giving your baby a little fresh air can help prevent queasiness. Try cracking a window or using air conditioning to blow cool air in their direction. 

#4 Tummy-Settling Snacks

Your baby might be more susceptible to car sickness on an empty stomach as hunger can make nausea worse. Try offering a small, bland snack before driving, such as a cracker or finger of toast. 

While you may be tempted to hand a cracker to your fussy baby while driving, according to Alisa Baer, pediatrician, car seat safety expert, and self-titled Car Seat Lady (on Katie Ferraro’s amazing Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy podcast Episode 60 about general infant car seat safety) babies younger than 12 months old should never be given solid foods in the car. Before 12 months old, babies are still learning how to eat, this means their risk of choking is greater than that of older children. Remember that choking is a silent event that you may not see if you were driving. Dr. Baer also explains that the angle of an infant car seat increases the risk of choking. She recommends instead, pulling over and taking a quick snack break with your baby, so that your infant can be seated at a 90-degree angle and supervised while eating.

#5 Distractions may help

Some babies benefit from being distracted in the car. Try singing or chatting with your baby. However, it may be best to avoid playing with toys and looking at books, as this can make symptoms worse. 

#6 Avoid foods that are hard to digest

Avoid feeding your baby foods that are greasy, high-fat, spicy, or hard to digest before the trip. Instead opt for bland, easy-to-digest foods like oatmeal. 

#7 Try Scheduling the trip during nap time

Your child is much less likely to feel nauseous if he or she is sleeping. If you can plan a trip when you know your baby is a little more sleepy, this may decrease the chances of your baby feeling car sick. 

A Note on Medications & Acupressure Bands...

Dramamine

While medications like Dramamine can be a lifesaver for older children, Dramamine is not recommended for children under the age of two.

• How Does it Work?

  • Dramamine’s active ingredient is dimenhydrinate. This is an antihistamine, which works by blocking parts of the brain responsible for the nauseous feeling people experience during motion sickness. 

• Directions according to Dramamine’s website:

  • “To prevent motion sickness, the first dose should be taken 1/2 to 1 hour before starting activity”

  • “Children 2 to under 6 years: give ½ to 1 chewable tablet every 6-8 hours; do not give more than 3 chewable tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor”

  • “Children 6 to under 12 years: give 1 to 2 chewable tablets every 6-8 hours; do not give more than 6 chewable tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor”

Sea-Bands

According to Sea-Band’s website, these acupressure wrist bands can be used on children as young as three years old, as long as the bands fit snuggly.

• How Do They Work?

  • Sea-Bands relieve nausea and vomiting by putting pressure on the P6 acupressure point, located on the inner arm close to the wrist. Applying pressure to this acupressure point can help control the feeling of nausea associated with motion sickness.

• Directions according to Sea-Band’s website:

  • “Place your middle three fingers on the inside of your wrist with the edge of the third finger on the wrist crease. The Nei-Kuan point is just under the edge of your index finger between the two central tendons”

  • “Position the button facing downward over the Nei-Kuan point. Repeat the process for the other wrist”

  • “One band must be worn on each wrist to be effective. Sea-Bands can be put onto your wrist before you start traveling, or after you have started your journey.”

To all the other parents out there whose little ones have a hard time with motion sickness on car trips, you are not alone! Hopefully these tips and tricks will help make your travels a bit smoother in the months to come.

If you have specific questions about your baby’s nutrition and need more personalized guidance, I can help! Check out my Virtual Nutrition Coaching services for email support and face-to-face coaching and counseling.

And if you’re getting ready to start your baby on solids, or if your baby has recently begun his or her feeding journey and you need guidance on food sizing, balanced baby meals, introducing the top allergenic foods, and making sure baby is getting the important nutrients needed for growth and development during infancy, check out my new online course for parents, based on my best-selling book which will walk you through the whole process of starting solids using a baby-led approach.

Thank you to my dietetic intern, Linsay Showalter for her research and contributions to this post!