20 Tips and Products for Seasickness in Kids | Cruises

I love cruises now that I conquered my seasickness. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

For as long as I can remember I’ve been most likely to get seasick. As soon as I get onboard and my body feels the swaying motion of the water.Sometimes I get a headache that I can’t shake. Or the feeling of dizziness and nausea that won’t go away. Then the vomiting starts, not a good thing. It feels like I want to die. So I’ve got 20 tips and products for seasickness in kids and adults.

But I don’t suffer anymore and here’s how.

Table of Contents

Will You get Sick?

It’s always hard to tell if you will suffer from seasickness but if you’ve experienced nausea with pregnancies or got carsick as a kid then it’s a real possibility. So what do you need to prepare for an upcoming cruise?

Over the Counter Products for Seasickness

If this is your first cruise then you want to be prepared. It’s easier to stock up on all remedies before you leave.

After consulting the nurse at a travel clinic, she advised stocking up with several types of over-the-counter products.

Sea-Bands—A wristband with a button that uses acupressure to alleviate the systems associated with seasickness. This method doesn’t require take any pills and a good place to start when you feel the first symptoms. I put my on before I set foot on the ship.

Ginger Candy or Crystalized Ginger—Another option for drug-free treatment. Nibbling or sucking on a piece of ginger helps settle many stomach issues. Candy is an easy sell for kids.

Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer—Seems like Mom might have been right on with this. Sipping on Ginger Ale settles the stomach and room temperature Ginger Ale might be most effective. Readily available on cruise ships.

Ginger Pills–My travel nurse recommended taking 500mg ginger pills for adults.

Ginger Tea–Sip a cup of ginger hot tea to settle your stomach.

MotionEaze Sickness Relief–If Seabands and ginger don’t work, then try another all-natural product. It’s a mixture of essential oils that relieve nausea. When I dab it on it opens my airways.

If nothing is working then move to Bonine, or Dramamine, for relief.

Dramamine Non-Drowsy–Sometimes the waves are bigger than natural supplements can overcome. I recommend buying some Dramamine Non-Drowsy to take with you.

Dramamine for Kids–Kids get their own version of the popular medication just for kids 2 to 12. It’s chewable and grape flavored.

Note: Please consult a pharmacist or medical provider for professional medical advice.

Prescription Nausea Remedies

I get a A+ in seasickness so I visited my travel clinic for prescription relief since I was sailing the notoriously rough North Atlantic.

Scopolamine Patch–A topical patch that’s applied behind one ear every three days. It’s takes a few hours to take effect but I could ride 25-foot waves in the North Atlantic like a sea pirate after applying.

Side effects are mild, I experienced dry mouth.

Note: Please consult a pharmacist or medical provider for professional medical advice.

First Symptoms of Seasickness

The first symptoms of seasickness are sometimes easy to miss, especially in kids.

Feeling off, out of sorts
Cold Sweats
Pale skin
Dizziness
Headache
Fatigue

Easing Seasickness in Kids

Once you sense you or your child is feeling the first symptoms, take action.

Move to an outside deck and get some fresh air.
Look at the horizon, it’s not moving.
Stay away from inside windowless rooms.
Put on Seabands and take ginger.
Lay down and breath deeply.

Staying Well on Your Cruise

Staying well is another issue when on a ship with thousands of other people.

Probiotics–I take a probiotic pills to keep my natural defenses up.
Emergen-C–Along with probiotics I drink a powdered Vitamin C supplement to boast my immunity.

Along with over-the-counter supplements, I pack these items in my bag that I carry with me so I can use them often.