Car help with carsick toddler

[sgmom]

My daughter (almost 20 months) gets carsick within minutes from our driveway. We've discovered that the problem (we think) comes from her C1/C2 in her neck. With regular chiropractic adjustments, we can (somewhat) control the carsickness (to a point). The problem now is that she's refusing treatments, and the carsickness is getting worse.

This makes for any outings almost impossible. She gets VERY excited about going outside, and even getting into the car, but she wants NOTHING to do with her carseat. We always try to make sure that she's comfortable before trying to strap her in (no forcing), but the longer we wait for that to happen, the harder she fights to stay out of it. We've even tried just letting her play in the seat (and not driving anywhere) to make it a happy place for her.

We've tried taking her to fun places that aren't far from our house, and she does love to go (she's happy once we get there), but it can take 15 minutes just to get her into the seat (and she always goes in fighting). She'll calm down once we start driving, and sometimes she even seems happy while on the drive (before she throws up), but it's never a positive experience to get her anywhere. Getting her home on the other hand, is still a fight, but always a MUCH smaller one.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can handle this? With the weather being so nice, I'd love to be able to take her out more, but she's not making it easy on us at all...

Edited to add: This isn't really about discipline, but I didn't know where else to post it...

[NiteNicole]

I hate to even ask if she's still rear facing? I'm sure she should be but I know a lot of kids that lose the carsick once they turn forward facing. I'm not suggesting you turn the seat but maybe things will get better when you do.

I might be inclined to have everything and everyone ready to go and just strap her in and go. I don't know if trying to coax her in is really doing anything but prolonging the misery and letting her get worked up. Maybe if you just swooped in, picked her up, popped her in, and strapped up things would go a lot better (assuming the wheels are ready to roll the second she's in).

[sgmom]

She's been forward facing for 8 months.

Here's a little background.

The carsickness started at 9 months old (when she was still rear facing). At first it had NO pattern (sometimes she would throw up -projectile- within minutes, sometimes not at all, and not on every trip), and it progressively got worse as she got older (although she no longer projectiles... thank goodness).

We turned the seat forward facing a week before her first birthday, hoping it would stop. She sits in the middle seat (which will soon have to change as I'm pregnant and due this week). We've tried diet elimination, eating/not eating, times of day, weather, different cars, everything we can think of. We've seen a variety of doctors, pediatricians, a naturopath, massage therapists (remedial), and a chiropractor. The problem definitely seems to be in her neck.

My concern now is making the car a positive experience, so forcing her into the seat seems very contrary to making that happen. I have had to force her though (when she refuses to cooperate). But is this REALLY the best way??

We've also dried distracting her with food or toys. Sometimes it works. Most of the time, it doesn't.

[LCBMAX]

How miserable. So sorry for you all.

Certainly, if she's refusing the treatments, then that's probably not the way to go. Have you had an md from the specialty Ear-Nose-and-Throat check her out? That's really crucial. If you've already done that, look for a different chiro or consider osteopathy.

And, I'm sure this isn't the answer you need, but...
If you have a friend with a larger, more elevated vehicle, could you give that a try? We have a van, and the car seat in the van has my son so nicely elevated, and next to a big window, that I think the vestibular experience is very different. If you found that to work, you could consider the switch for your expanding family...

Good luck!

[ewe+lamb]

We couldn't get two miles down the road with my nephew!! It was really quite a nightmare, things that we found work was not drinking too much - no milky things, all that liquid rolling around with food seems to make it worse, a higher vehicle does certainly help, the sea bands things, homeopathy, hope you get it sorted out - my nephew has it so bad he can't go on swings, see-saws or roundabouts in the parks!! I may mention the nexk thing as he was a c-section baby and could be to do with that.

[sgmom]

Originally Posted by LCBMAX

Certainly, if she's refusing the treatments, then that's probably not the way to go. Have you had an md from the specialty Ear-Nose-and-Throat check her out? That's really crucial. If you've already done that, look for a different chiro or consider osteopathy.

I switched chiropractors when she started refusing for two reasons.

1. My midwife recommended that I try a different chiropractor who specializes in pregnancy related adjustments as well as children.

2. She doesn't do the "lay down and crack the bones" treatment that the other chiropractor did with my daughter, but instead she uses the activator while my daughter sits on my lap. She allows for this type of treatment, but it's nowhere near as effective.

As for osteopathy, that didn't even occur to me. I'll definitely check it out. Thank you!

My daughter was born with a hemangioma on her right hear, so the first thing we did was have that looked at by both the ears/nose/throat specialist, as well as a surgeon who (also) specializes in children. The inner ear appears to be clear. Also, the hemangioma is about 1/5th of what it used to be, so it IS recessing nicely. This doesn't SEEM to be associated, but it's certainly possible.

When she plays outside, she doesn't EVER run. She'll walk very quickly, but as soon as she really starts to speed up, she loses her balance and will fall down.

This has been really horrible for us, but up until now the weather has been bad (cold, snow, etc) and being pregnant, I just haven't taken her to too many places. And for whatever reason, the fight into the car seat hasn't been a problem until just the past few weeks.

We also recently had two SUV's, and traded one in for a truck (F-150). So far, it doesn't seem to make a lick of difference. I should mention that she gets just as sick (no more, no less) in my friends car, which is quite low to the ground). Sometimes she throws up, sometimes she doesn't (on short rides). She ALWAYS throws up on any drive that's longer than 10 minutes, no matter what vehicle we're in.

We've also tried homeopathic remedies, but the wrist bands will NEVER happen for her. She would take them off in seconds.

Gravol seemed to work a couple weekends ago when we had to drive for 90 minutes, but it only worked on the way there. The dose was 1 tsp every 6-8 hours, and I gave her second dose at 4.5 hours for the drive home... She threw up 3 times.

[LCBMAX]

Originally Posted by sgmom

My daughter was born with a hemangioma on her right hear, so the first thing we did was have that looked at by both the ears/nose/throat specialist, as well as a surgeon who (also) specializes in children. The inner ear appears to be clear. Also, the hemangioma is about 1/5th of what it used to be, so it IS recessing nicely. This doesn't SEEM to be associated, but it's certainly possible.

When she plays outside, she doesn't EVER run. She'll walk very quickly, but as soon as she really starts to speed up, she loses her balance and will fall down.

Wow. You've been working really hard, mama.

The hemangioma association is certainly suspicious, but as you say, not so obviously a cause.

The running thing -- hard to respond to. My son is not super physical in that way, though he's climbing monkey and an addict for balance related activities. But getting him to walk down the road... mama pick me up! Running is fun for him in sprints, but he's still not as skilled at that as his same age buddy was a year ago. He's normal in this regard, with other skills he's working on early to balance it out. BUT, the falling down balance thing you observe? That's vestibular/ ocular, by the sound of it. I think another ENT eval, a good eye exam by an MD opthomologist, and an OT eval are warranted. The more I think about it, the more I wonder about visual stuff/ depth perception. If nothing else, you can start your new infant's life with less on your mind, and mama we all need that!

I'm replying like this not because I think you should worry. On the contrary, I think you should have everything in place so you can worry less, and concentrate on management skills. And I got nothing for you there! Sorry!

[NiteNicole]

BUT, the falling down balance thing you observe? That's vestibular/ ocular, by the sound of it. I think another ENT eval, a good eye exam by an MD opthomologist, and an OT eval are warranted. The more I think about it, the more I wonder about visual stuff/ depth perception. If nothing else, you can start your new infant's life with less on your mind, and mama we all need that!

Have you discussed this with your pediatrician? Specifically the falling down? You really really need to bring that up.

[sgmom]

Originally Posted by LCBMAX

The running thing -- hard to respond to. My son is not super physical in that way, though he's climbing monkey and an addict for balance related activities. But getting him to walk down the road... mama pick me up!

This sounds familiar. She is ALL about the climbing and finding her balance (some days that seems like it's all she does!), and she seems to be quite good at it... when she does it at her own controlled pace.

And because my pregnant brain no longer works, please remind me what ENT and OT are? lol

While the problem of getting her INTO the car still remains, we're definitely going to look into this more. Thank you for all your fantastic suggestions.

[sgmom]

Originally Posted by NiteNicole

Have you discussed this with your pediatrician? Specifically the falling down? You really really need to bring that up.

I have, yes.

[Bea]

Originally Posted by sgmom

And because my pregnant brain no longer works, please remind me what ENT and OT are? lol

ENT= Ear Nose and Throat doctor aka an Otolaryngologist

OT= Occupational Therapy