Why does my kiddo get car sick? The connection between the vestibular system, vision and motion.

Got a little one who's been struggling with car trips lately?  Car sickness is no fun for kiddos for for you, but there might be some relief if we first understand how our sensory systems work together to send messages to the brain.

Motion sickness is common in little ones, and it all comes down in part, to a fascinating part of the body called the vestibular system, located in the inner ear.  The vestibular system plays a huge role in balance, coordination and how we perceive movement and works closely with the vision system to maintain equilibrium in the body by sending signals to the brain about the position and movement of the head and eyes in relation to each other.

The vestibular system consists of three semicircular canals filled with fluid and tiny hair cells that tell your brain exactly where it is in space.   When your head moves, the fluid inside these canals shifts, either exposing or covering the hair cells.  This movement tells your brain whether you're moving in a straight line or rotating.  Here's where it gets interesting across the sensory systems:

• the vision system:. if your kiddo is looking at a book, a screen or even just staring at a fixed point inside the car then its likely the eyes aren't registering motion accurately in space and time.
  
• the vestibular system:  so while the eyes aren't registering motion, the inner ear, however, detects every turn, acceleration and stop.
• the proprioceptive sense:  putting the two together, the body may feel the movement but if your kiddo is sitting still, the feedback is limited and a little distorted

So if you put all these conflicting signals together, the brain says 'help, this doesn't feel right' and what you have is dizziness, discomfort, nausea or worse...!

Why does car sickness hit kids worse?

Kiddos are especially vulnerable to motion sickness.  Their sensory systems are still developing, which means their interal 'GPS' is still calibrating and working out how to communication between tehse systems.

Before the full blown nausea you hits, you'll probably notice your kiddo might:

• turn a bit pale
• start sweating
• yawn repeatedly (this is actually the brains way of trying to reset)
• feel dizzy
• complain of an upset stomach or nausea

How to reduce car sickness

If your kiddo is prone to motion sickness, here are some strategies that might help:

• Encourage looking outside: focusing on the horizon or distant objects can help sync visual and vestibular input.
• Avoid screens and books:  reading or watching videos can make the sensory mismatch worse.
• Ensure fresh air:  open a windo or use air vents to provide good airflow
• Try motion friendly seating:  the front seat (if age-appropriate) or the middle of the back seat can offer a more stable ride.
• Offer vestibular input before travel:  activities like swinging, spinning or balancing before a trip may help regulate the vestibular system.
• Use ginger or acupressure bands: some natural remidies can help prevent nausea.

Strengthening the vestibular system

Like with all things kiddo related, some of the solutions can lie in good old fashion play.  Movement based activities can help strengthen the vestibular system as the brain learns to adapt to different sensory inputs.  Activities that involve balance, spinning and inversions can help the brain process all these different kinds of movements and potentially reducing their sensitivity to motion sickness over time.

Some great play ideas include:

• swinging on a playground or in a hammock or just use a towel with Mum and Dad on either side
• rolling, tumbling or rough housing (Dads are good for this!)
• spinning in circles or using a sit-and-spin toy (bilibos are great for this)
• balancing on a beam of wobble board of even walking on gutters on your daily walk
• hanging upside down (like on monkey bars)
• jumping on a trampoline
• or maybe even joining Busy Bees where music makes movement more fun (and helps little bodies balance while they play 🙊).

When to seek help

Most kids outgrow motion sickness as their sensory systems mature, but if its sever, persistent or interfering with daily life, it may be worth discussing with a healthcare provider.  Some children with vestibular processing challenges or vision issues may experience motion sickness more intensely.  Since vision plays a key role in how the brain processes movement, addressing visual concerns can be an important part of managing motion sickness.   This is where a Behavioural Optometrist can help.

The Behavioural Optometrist:   Your Secret Weapon

If you've been seeing a regular optometrist for your child's vision issues, but still notice problems like motion sickness or struggles with reading and focus, it might be time to see a behavourial optometrist.  While traditional optometrists focus on eye health, vision clarity and correcting refractive errors (like near-sightedness or far-sightedness), behavioural optometrists specialise in how the brain processes visul information, which can be a game-changer for kids struggling with motion sensitivity.  They asses the coordination of the eyes, how they work together and how visual inputs influence things like balance and learning.  For children with visual processing challenges, a behavioural optometrist can offer targeted therapies to improve these connection, potentially reducing motion sickness and improving overall function.

Depending on where you are located you will find behavioural optometrists in your part of the world.   If you are local to Busy Bees though, Dina Chungue at Mount Annan Eye Care is our local behavioural optometrist.

https://mtannaneyecare.com.au/

Understanding the link between vision, movement and the vestibular system can help make travel easier for everyone.  Remember though, every kiddo is different.  What works for one might not work for another.  The key is patience, observation and a bit of playful problem-solving.

Safe travels. Here's hoping your next road trip is a lot less queasy!!

Miss Tania 🐝