Does car sickness throw up problems when you travel?

I was terribly travel sick as a child – just going on a short journey would be enough to make me vomit. My parents used to tell me to read and would talk to me to ‘take my mind off it’. This is the worst thing you can do. A very helpful doctor who also got travel sick advised them to leave me well alone, to look out the window and sit in the front where possible.

Having a seaside bucket in my lap helped, too. And putting a carrier bag (check for holes first) in it helps with the inevitable clear-up.

As an adult, I still get very nauseous. Sitting in the front helps enormously as I need to gaze at the horizon and see where I’m going. Driving helps, too, though I have been known to make myself feel a bit ill if I don’t take enough care with corners.

I had seven children and regularly travelled 200 miles. We also drove several times to the coast south of Seville. We had cars ranging from Minis to Citroen CX estates with 7 seats. They were never car sick or sea sick, and never had pills to prevent it. We never even mentioned the possibility of car sickness, but did point out things of interest as we drove along. We had some games such as one based on pub signs. My sister in law was with us on one trip and repeatedly asked her children if they felt sick. They did – but not when travelling just with me.
It is all in the mind.

Had travel sickness as a child and as an adult (though less so), and both my children have terrible travel sickness. I do not accept it is all in the mind – they can be asleep, and then within a couple of minutes of waking up, throw up. We always play games/talk with them, and always have since they were little – singing nursery rhymes/pointing things out etc – they still got sick. They don’t even make a fuss about it anymore as it’s happened so often. It also does prevent them doing some things they want to do – for example really limits how many rides they go on at an adventure park as they start to feel unwell and don’t want to go on anymore after a couple of rides. We have proper travel sick bags in the car as they have an absorbent sheet which makes it much easier to stop it running everywhere and the pull-string limits the smell too.

So the things that help (but don’t always prevent) are:
Reading etc is a complete no-no and a guarantee to cause sickness.
When they (or I) feel sick, the last thing we want is music/radio.
Looking forwards rather than back/sideways
Wearing sunglasses or keeping things darker in the back (window blinds or keeping eyes closed) – even in winter
Windows open/fresh air
Driving move slowly round bends/over bumps – least sideways or up and down movement the better (think of rollercoasters!) – think this is also why they are ok on trains even if looking our of windows sideways
Not eating anything liquidy/not eating too much in hour or so before a journey – some stodgy food like bread seems to help
Only SIPS of water if thirsty (and also after being sick)

They do usually feel sick, but now do not throw up so often, and USUALLY when they are actually physically sick we can pinpoint it to one of the above happening/not happening (more often than not, having had a bigger drink/’wetter’ food or reading/looking at phones (problem with older children).