How to stop motion sickness in a car
Monday 15th December 2025
Travel sickness can feel debilitating, especially if it stops you from getting to where you need to be. It’s most common in children under the age of 12 but can affect anyone. You may be more prone to it if you have an existing health condition such as migraines or inner ear problems.
While most children grow out of travel sickness, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all cure. Our guide shares top tips to help plan your journeys and prevent travel sickness.
What causes motion sickness?
Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals: your inner ear senses movement, but your body remains still, and your eyes may not detect the same motion.
Car sickness symptoms can worsen if you read, look at your phone, or watch something on a tablet, as these activities confuse the brain’s motion signals.
How to prevent car sickness
Preventing car sickness takes planning and preparation, if you or your passengers suffer from it, follow these five tips to alleviate car sickness symptoms.
1. Sit in the front seat
With the windscreen in front of you, being able to see the road ahead helps your brain to coordinate signals from your eyes and inner ear. Most people find that the motion feels less intense from the front seat.
2. Focus on the horizon
If you can’t sit in the front seat, look out of the window and focus on a fixed point. This can reduce symptoms. If you can’t focus on the horizon because of a changing landscape, some people find wearing motion sickness wristbands reduces nausea. The bands either contain a plastic bead or use an electrical charge to target an acupressure point that can block the nausea signal that would otherwise be sent to the brain
3. Breathe in some fresh air
A cool blast of fresh air can instantly make you feel better. Open a window or turn up the air conditioning to shock the system and give your brain something else to concentrate on. On long journeys, make frequent stops to stretch your legs.
4. Stay away from screens
Close-up visual focus can worsen symptoms. While it’s tempting to keep children entertained with a tablet or games console, these can make travel sickness worse. Avoiding screen time in the car can help everyone feel better.
5. Herbal remedies or over the counter medication
Natural remedies for nausea include ginger, peppermint, or lemon flavours. Try sucking on a sweet or drinking herbal tea. Alternatively, speak to your local pharmacy or GP for advice on whether anti-emetic or other medication is safe and appropriate for you.
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Before you set out on your journey, ensure your air conditioning is working well and there’s no nasty smells that could make you feel worse – even in the winter months. Save money by booking an air-con de-mist and clean together so you can breathe easy wherever you’re going.
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