Children are more susceptible to motion sickness than adults. Motion sickness susceptibility in childhood is 31.1% and in adulthood 7.9%, according to a study conducted in France, and published in Pubmed.Gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
However, parents may not know that motion sickness is a disturbance of the inner ear and the inability to reconcile movements with body sensors.
There are varying degrees of motion sickness. It may be difficult to accurately identify motion sickness in children. Easily mistaken as restlessness unless severe, motion sickness in children can be established by 1 or more of the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Cold Sweat
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Increased salivation
- Paleness of skin
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Motion sickness can ruin a family vacation. Here are some travelling tips to prevent motion sickness in children and to ensure a pleasant journey.
- Avoid rich oily foods and heavy meals. Make foods into interesting shapes to whet your children’s appetite.
- Make sure your children are well rested before travelling. Coax and tuck them to bed earlier by reading stories to them.
- When travelling, make sure your child's car seat faces forward, and is propped high enough to see the view. Or choose the seats in the middle of the flight or cruise cabin because those seats have the least movements.
- Make sure the vehicle is well-ventilated and at a comfortable temperature. Open the air-vent to allow circulation of air.
- Toys would distract and occupy your child. However, avoid reading or playing of videogames.
- Try playing simple ‘travel’ games such as: I spy with my little eye, something that starts with a certain alphabet or colour while taking turns to guess what the object is; or singing to Old MacDonald while taking turns to add an animal.
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Whatever the measures are, it is only preventive against motion sickness. For a more conclusive solution, pharmaceutical grade motion sickness syrup will be an effective recommendation for children.
Readily available at pharmacy dispensing counters, Novomin is an effective remedy that prevents motion sickness and vomiting. Novomin Syrup is suitable for children as young as 2 years old to 12 years old. The tasty orange flavour makes it easy to consume for young children. Novomin is also available in tablet form in a convenient travel pack of 10 tabs for adults. Both the Novomin Tablets & Syrup are available at Guardian, Unity Healthcare, and Watsons Pharmacy outlets, independent pharmacies and clinics.
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