It was one of those moments you don’t soon forget…
As I sat there quietly reading my book, I glanced over at my daughter and immediately knew we had a problem. The girl who usually drifted through life with a permanent smile on her face was pale, trembling, and had eyes as big as saucers. “Mom” she whispered. “I feel car sick…on the plane?”. Oh oh. Having been here before I knew what to do and silently slid into action.
Motion sickness most often affects children, but can hit any tired traveller at any time. Here are my 10 tips on how we deal with motion sickness on a plane.
- Plan ahead. If you or someone you love is prone to motion sickness; take or dispense the recommended dosage of Gravol before that flight leaves the ground.
- Know your pressure points. Use your three fingers to press your inner wrist, or pinch between your skin between your thumb and pointer finger. Hold for a few minutes until nausea passes. Alternately, invest in Sea-Bands (about $12.00) to do the work for you. Sea-Bands are a small comfortable set of wrist bands that fit around your wrists and activates these acupressure points for you.
- Be mindful of what you or your child eats before they get on a plane. Heavy or spicy meals that might upset tummies are not a good choice before a flight.
- Pack mints, gum and crackers, or request a ginger-ale from your flight attendant. All may be urban myths, but do seem to help with a queasy stomach.
- Choose a seat over the wing of the plane or closer to the front of the aircraft where you will feel less motion during the flight.
- When choosing your seats on the plane, pick a seat by the window. This will allow your child to look out the window and focus on the horizon.
- Open the vent above your seat to provide a source of fresh air.
- Use the tool of distraction. Little people might have some anxiety about flying. Be sure to bring along a few new toys or crafts to entertain your child with. You may be surprised by how fast that “funny tummy” disappears.
- Put the book away and avoid playing hand held games. Looking down and concentrating on a book or game when you are not feeling well can actually exasperate the symptoms of motion sickness. Instead, encourage your child to close their eyes, take deep breaths and even getting some rest.
- Last resort: Pack “sick bags”. Yes, I know it sounds awful, but it is so much better to be prepared with small but durable”Barf Bags” found on-line at Amazon or at your local Shopper’s Drug Mart.
If you happen to have a family member who occasionally suffers from motion sickness the best thing to do is to remain positive. Be proactive, have a plan, and remember this “not well” feeling won’t last long.
Have you had to deal with the dreaded motion sickness on a plane? Have a tip to share that I missed? Comment away! I’d love to know.
Safe travels!
