How to cope with travel sickness

In our family this is the time of year when we travel a lot more, with day trips and camping holidays high on the agenda. Unfortunately for my daughter this means more time in the car and because she suffers from travel sickness she loathes car travel.

It became apparent that my daughter had travel sickness several years ago when we had packed the car to bursting with camping equipment and two dogs. The children literally squeezed in among it all. An hour or so down the motorway she threw up all over the car, herself, a dog and all the neatly packed sleeping bags surrounding her. Sick in the car on a warm day is just revolting and would you like me to go into details of just what the vomit covered dog did? Ah the joys of being a parent...

Sadly it's not just the actual sick which is a factor, having travel sickness also gives her headaches, makes her feel very irritable, gives her tummy ache and causes her to look pale and clammy. Further information on travel sickness and other travel health issues can be found on the NHS Direct website.

I am not keen on giving her travel sickness medication due to it causing drowsiness which quite honestly makes her feel awful and ruins a day out so we stick to alternative methods.

• Travel sickness wrist bands – these are elasticated bracelets which use acupressure to give relief from sickness. I always put them on my daughter at least an hour before she goes into the car. I have to say they work very well and she hasn't been sick whilst wearing them.

• Ginger – I take a chilled bottle of homemade lemon and ginger drink for her to sip on long journeys. It simple to make, bring to the boil a 500ml bottle of water, mix in a tablespoon of freshly grated root ginger, the juice of a lemon and two teaspoons of honey. Allow drink to cool and pour back into the bottle to take. I also pack ginger biscuits for her to nibble on.

• Food – Don't let your child eat a greasy meal before travelling as this often makes them feel much worse. Do let her nibble on dry crackers or ginger biscuits throughout the journey. 

• Air – Always travel with the window open so that there is plenty of fresh air in the car

• Regular stops – Make regular stops every 30 – 40 minutes or so and let your child get out of the car for five or ten minutes. I know this makes the journey take a lot longer but it's definitely worth it. 

• Time – car sickness is much less likely if your child is tired or sleepy. If possible try to make journeys in the early morning or evening when you child is more likely to fall asleep. 

• Books/Toys – I never let my daughter have things to play with in the car, anything that requires her to focus seems to make her feel sick very quickly. 

• Peppermint oil – It seems to help my daughter if she has peppermint oil on a tissue to smell it alleviates the nauseous feeling. 

• Be prepared – take a small bucket, towel to cover your child if she feels sick, spare clothes, wet wipes and plastic bags.

Does your child suffer from travel sickness? What methods do you use to help?