There are many ways to prevent car sickness, but sometimes it's unavoidable. If you have a child who gets sick in the car often, consider assembling a car sickness kit that stays in your car for emergencies. The car sickness kit has become a necessity in our family because my eldest often gets nauseous in vehicles (like mother like daughter!).
Below I've included a list of "must have" items in your car sickness kit, as well as some "nice to have" things depending on your budget and car space.
Must Have Items
Storage Container - The storage container will keep all your supplies in one place for quick and easy access. Ideally this is kept in an easy-to-reach location, but the trunk will work as well.
A Large Towel - A towel can be used before vomit occurs to protect your child & the car's interior, as well as afterward to cover up the mess while you drive to a spot where you can do a thorough cleaning.
Cleaning Solution - If your child still uses a car seat, make sure you pick a gentle cleaning solution to prevent damage to the seat's straps.
Wash Cloths / Paper Towels - Use the cloths to absorb fluids and scrub off the worst of the mess.
Plastic Bags - Use plastic trash or grocery bags to throw all dirty clothes, towels, cloths, etc into as you clean. Tie it up at the end to prevent the smell from escaping!
Spare Clothes - If you don't want to constantly swap the clothes out for each season, consider one large-sized shirt or outfit that will fit everyone in case of emergency. And if you already keep spare clothes in a diaper bag or elsewhere, you don't need to keep additional clothes in your kit too.
Hand Sanitizer - If you don't have access to water and soap, hand sanitizer is the next best option!
Water Bottle - A water bottle is helpful for cleaning up, rinsing mouths, settling stomachs, and washing hands. Car seat straps cannot be cleaned with vinegar or many other cleaning agents, so water is sometimes the best bet.
Nice to Have Items
Disposable Emesis / Sickness Bags - If your child is old enough to throw up in a designated receptacle, then these will come in handy. If the rest of your car sickness kit is in the trunk or another difficult-to-reach location, consider keeping these somewhere more accessible. They fold up pretty small, and can be stored in pockets on the car door or in the back seat pocket. Because Emesis bags do not tie closed, twist ties can also be helpful to seal them shut after they're used.
Cotton Swabs - I find these particularly helpful when cleaning a car seat or other areas of the car with small cracks and creases.
Pressure Bands - We often see these labeled as "seasick" bands, but they can be used in the car as well. They work by pushing on a pressure point in your child's wrist that helps curb motion sickness. There are several types available for children.
Wet Wipes - Though wipes are less effective than cleaning solution, they can be helpful to clean up quick messes. We also sometimes use them to wipe our hands clean of any dirt, grime, etc before using hand sanitizer.
Gloves - This one is self-explanatory. Nobody wants to accidentally touch vomit!
Large Ziploc Bag(s) - We use these to seal up extra wet items, such as open Emesis bags.
Nausea Aids - There are a lot of options out there to help curb nausea after it starts: chewing gum, lollipops, ginger candies, motion sickness glasses, peppermint extract...pick what works best for your family. Remember that while motion sickness medications can be very effective, they should never be stored in your vehicle.
I hope you never have to use your car sickness kit, but if you're on this page then chances are you're worried that you might. It's impossible to tell exactly when motion sickness will strike, but by keeping your kit on hand you'll always be ready, just in case!
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