Many children experience motion sickness when traveling in a moving vehicle and engaging in activities like coloring.
Children between the ages of 2 and 12 may feel motion sickness because their brain receives conflicting signals from different body parts detecting motion.
Ways to Prevent Motion Sickness in Children
- Avoid heavy meals before traveling and choose light snacks such as pretzels or crackers.
- Avoid frequent stops but allow children to move around if needed.
- Encourage children to look out the window instead of focusing on activities like coloring or reading.
- Ensure a comfortable car temperature and shield from direct sunlight.
- Consider using medication options for motion sickness.
Indications and Signs of Motion Sickness
- Symptoms may include nausea, fatigue, and occasionally vomiting.
- Children may look pale, restless, and yawn while experiencing motion sickness.
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If motion sickness occurs, it is essential to stop the motion immediately by taking breaks. Contact us for advice on treating travel sickness.
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Effective strategies for alleviating motion sickness.
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Discover our remedies for swift relief from motion sickness.
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Additional tips for preventing motion sickness include keeping your head still, focusing on a fixed point in the distance, and avoiding heavy meals before traveling. It’s also helpful to stay hydrated and get fresh air whenever possible.
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Nausea, dizziness, or vomiting caused by motion during traveling is known as motion sickness.
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Conflicting signals sent to the brain by different body parts sensing motion result in motion sickness.
These contradictory messages frequently lead to motion sickness in individuals.
Motion sickness can be triggered by various forms of transportation, such as cars, boats, airplanes, and amusement park rides.
Symptoms of motion sickness can include nausea, dizziness, sweating, and vomiting.
Common remedies for motion sickness include focusing on a fixed point, taking deep breaths, and avoiding heavy meals before travel.
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Common in children and women, motion sickness can be sparked by various factors like motion, reading, strong odors, and visual stimuli.
Keep reading below
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Typical symptoms include nausea, sweating, increased saliva, and feeling cold and pale.
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Symptoms often diminish once the motion stops, but in some cases, they may persist for hours or even days.
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Opt for light meals such as cereal or pasta before embarking on a journey.
Take breaks, breathe fresh air, and reduce motion to minimize motion sickness.
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Try sitting in the front or central sections of vehicles or boats to lessen exposure to motion.
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Breathe fresh air and avoid strong smells to prevent motion sickness.
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Close your eyes, listen to audiobooks, and reduce visual stimuli to lessen motion sensitivity.
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Avoid heavy meals and alcohol, and try remedies like ginger or acupressure bands.
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Medications can help relieve symptoms by blocking nerve signals that cause motion sickness.
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Deep breathing, music, and ginger can complement other methods for managing motion sickness.
Hyoscine, also called scopolamine, is the most effective remedy for motion sickness. It prevents conflicting nerve messages to the brain.
Several brands of hyoscine medicines are available, including a soluble form for children. It is best taken 30-60 minutes before a journey and can last up to 72 hours.
Hyoscine patches are prescribed for individuals aged 10 and above, and they may cause dry mouth, drowsiness, and blurred vision.
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Antihistamines are another alternative for motion sickness, although not as potent as hyoscine. They have fewer side effects.
Various antihistamines are on the market, with some causing drowsiness. Promethazine is suitable for young children on long trips but can induce drowsiness. Cinnarizine or cyclizine are less likely to cause drowsiness and are preferred by older children or adults.
Children may exhibit irritability when the drowsiness wears off after taking these medications.
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Some motion sickness medications can cause extreme drowsiness, impacting reactions and alertness. It is advisable not to drive or operate machinery after taking them. Some medications may interact with alcohol or other drugs; consult with a pharmacist.
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Prescription-only anti-sickness medicines may not always be effective for motion sickness. It may require trial and error to find the right one. They are not typically superior to over-the-counter choices and are not recommended for prescription in some UK regions.
Take these medicines an hour before the journey for optimal results and avoid using them when feeling sick. Check the Nausea medicine leaflet for more information.
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Hyoscine patches are suitable for adults and children over 10 years old. They should be applied 5-6 hours before traveling, behind the ear, and removed at the end of the journey. Their effectiveness is comparable to other motion sickness medications.
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Prochlorperazine is a prescription drug that controls vomiting impulses in the brain. Buccastem® is a form absorbed through the gums, effective for sickness without needing to be swallowed.
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Metoclopramide hastens stomach emptying to prevent nausea and vomiting. It may have side effects, particularly in children.
Metoclopramide is valuable for individuals with gastric reflux, slow stomach emptying due to surgery, or type 1 diabetes.
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Ondansetron is a potent anti-sickness medicine used for chemotherapy-induced sickness or pregnancy morning sickness. It is not commonly prescribed for motion sickness alone.
Ondansetron may benefit chemotherapy patients or pregnant women experiencing travel-aggravated morning sickness.
In addition to medication, other tips for managing motion sickness include sitting in the front seat of a car, focusing on the horizon, avoiding heavy meals before travel, and getting plenty of fresh air. It’s also helpful to avoid reading or looking at screens while in motion. Remember to stay hydrated and take breaks if needed during long journeys.
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Vomiting may temporarily alleviate motion sickness symptoms. After vomiting, use a cool cloth, get fresh air, rinse your mouth, abstain from drinking for 10-20 minutes, then slowly sip cold water, coke, or ginger ale.
Upon reaching your destination, rest, drink water, and try some mild carbohydrate snacks. Avoid watching TV until you feel better.
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Some individuals feel motion sickness symptoms following boat, train, or plane journeys, sensing as if the ground is still moving. It typically lasts briefly but may persist for days in certain cases. No specific treatment is usually necessary.
Severe instances of persistent motion sickness may endure for months or years.
- ; Scopolamine (hyoscine) for preventing and treating motion sickness. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Jun 15;(6):CD002851. ; Motion sickness: more than nausea and vomiting. Exp Brain Res. 2014 Aug;232(8):2493-510. doi: 10.1007/s00221-014-4008-8. Epub 2014 Jun 25. ; Motion sickness: an overview. Drugs Context. 2019 Dec 13;8:2019-9-4. doi: 10.7573/dic.2019-9-4. eCollection 2019. ; Mal de debarquement syndrome: a systematic review. J Neurol. 2016 May;263(5):843-854. doi: 10.1007/s00415-2015-7962-6. Epub 2015 Nov 11. ; Motion Sickness. ; Motion Sickness: Causes, Prevention and Management. Pharmaceutical Journal, March 2023 ; Antihistamines for motion sickness. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Oct 17;10(10):CD012715. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012715.pub2.
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This content has been authored and examined by qualified medical professionals.
Next evaluation due: 8 Jul 2027
9 Jul 2024 Most recent version
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When traveling with children by car, plane, or train, the conflicting signals received by the brain can lead to motion sickness. Nausea, restlessness, irritability, and a pale complexion are common symptoms.
Prevent motion sickness by avoiding heavy meals, taking regular breaks, encouraging looking out the window, maintaining a comfortable car temperature, shielding from sun glare, and providing fresh air.
7. Ginger & peppermint
Both ginger and peppermint can help alleviate nausea, so consider a small amount of ginger ale or peppermint tea.
8. Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter medications can be utilized, but be mindful of potential side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, dry eyes, and vision changes. Always consult your doctor before using any medication. If using Benadryl or Dramamine, follow dosage instructions carefully.
9. If earlier methods are ineffective, locate a safe place to stop and allow your child to lie down with cool compresses. Most children outgrow motion sickness as they grow older.
Feel free to reach out to us for help or guidance. Have a safe journey!
Dr. Alicia Hartung has been a Kids Plus Provider since 2001.