Whatever type of vacation your family may decide to embark on, try to make every holiday an adventure.  The tips offered on this page can be used year round for every type of 

The family car trip is one of the most popular and economical ways to enjoy a family vacation, however, many families dread or avoid this time spent getting to their destination, instead of being able to enjoy it as part of the vacation experience.  Click on the symbol to view Car Travel Tips.

Every child=s reaction to car travel is different, and there are many different ways to handle or try to avoid motion sickness. 

Even if your child has never in the past experienced motion sickness, invariably it will probably occur when you least expect it. It never hurts to be prepared, so we offer some tips - but remember - it is a matter of trial and error to see what works best for each child to avoid motion sickness completely, reduce the severity of it or what helps when it does occur.

Be prepared, have a potty or plastic bags ready for the onslaught. Sometimes fate intervenes and when you are prepared, it doesn=t occur.

Motion Sickness rarely occurs in infants, is most common in preschoolers and toddlers and usually disappears by age 6.

Motion Sickness can be hereditary, so keep this in mind, especially if you are planning your first long car trip and don=t know if your child will suffer from Motion Sickness. If either parent had it as a child, chances are it might occur with your children.

If your child has experienced it in the past, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about medications available to reduce nausea and Click on the symbol to view First Aid Tips for packing a first aid bag. Follow the directions and give the medication before your start your trip. Some medications can leave a child drowsy, but if you want to schedule your driving time around nap time, this may allow for a smoother ride for the child.

Plan your route along major highways instead of city or winding routes. This avoids the many stops and provides for a more stable ride. Less bumping and jarring may help.

Plan activities for in the car to take the child=s mind off the travelling.  Click on the symbol to view travel games.  Consider a tv with a vcr and earphones to occupy the mind.

Cover the window beside the child with curtains - see Car Travel Tips.   This helps reduce stress on the eyes and keeps the sun off the child.

Make sure the car is a comfortable temperature for all occupants. It may be cool up front with the air conditioning, but the back may be hot. Better that the children are comfortable, you can always put on a sweater.

Individual battery powered fans or spray bottles can cool kids down as they need and are fun too.

Some kids like to read in the car, while some like to look out the window. Seating some children in the middle seat where they can look out the front of the car helps. some kids need to eat before they get in the car, some should not. Experiment to see what works best

Being hungry can lead to a feeling of nausea and headaches. Have plenty of healthy snacks available and lots of water. Avoid sugary or extremely salty foods - some suggestions include unsalted crackers, vegetables and dip, bananas are great for upset stomachs, fruit especially fresh apples, grapes, ginger snaps or graham crackers - ginger is often touted as a remedy for nausea and have plenty of water on hand (avoid juice if you are pretty certain to have motion sickness occur). Avoid carbonated beverages as these add to a feeling of bloating.

Take frequent stops - if a child can last only two hours before getting sick, stop at 1 2 hours and take a break.

Acupressure wristbands and copper bracelets help with some people, but they work best if worn about 2 hour before travel time.

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Be prepared, be prepared, be prepared.

If your child becomes pale, sweaty, yawns a lot or complains of nausau, take a break if possible and let the child get some fresh air.

Being prepared means knowing that it may or probably will happen, having a potty, bucket or bags handy, premoistened towels or a wet cloth in a plastic bag which can even be frozen on hot days to provide a cooling effect. Make sure you have some bottled water and have children take little sips to rehydrate.

See First Aid Tips on what to do if someone gets sick.

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All Tips are offered as suggestions only

While we have tried to provide you with a list of suggestions to help parents when travelling with children to keep them safe, unfortunately, we can’t think of everything and it is the responsibility of parents to ensure their children’s safety.

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