Current special Baby City - Valid from 18.12 to 18.01 - Page nb 43

Products in this catalogue

mixed tablet berry body

“© BETTER LIFE WHAT CAUSES MOTION SICKNESS? Scientists believe motion sickness (kinetosis) is an ancient reflex that dates back to early human evolution. In those times, the only situation where the body sensed movement while the eyes did not was typically after eating something toxic that caused dizziness. The brain's protective response was to induce vomiting to eliminate the perceived poison. Fast forward to the age of cars, and this reflex is still hardwired into our brains - only now, it mistakes the motion of a vehicle for the same kind of danger as a dodgy berry in the bush, triggering nausea even when there’s no real threat at all. WHY CHILDREN EXPERIENCE MOTION SICKNESS MORE THAN ADULTS Motion sickness itself is an umbrella term for a family of conditions or symptoms related to conflicts in sensory input. When a vehicle you're travelling in accelerates, turns, or slows down, the inner ear (which controls balance) immediately detects motion and sends a message to the brain saying, “We're moving!” But if your child is staring down at a book, tablet, or toy, their eyes are telling the brain, “Nope, everything's still.” Confused, the brain responds by sending out stress signals that leave your child feeling dizzy, clammy, and queasy. Sometimes it ends in tears, other times in a mad scramble for a plastic bag - and neither is much fun for anyone. Most children start showing signs of motion sickness once they're out of toddlerhood, and it tends to be at its worst between the ages of six and 10. The good news is that most children eventually grow out of it. By the time they hit their teens, many outgrow it as their sensory systems mature and their brains learn to better interpret mixed signals. Every child's sensitivity to motion is different, but those who are prone to migraines or ear infections are more susceptible, since both conditions involve the inner ear and sensory processing. Genetics also plays a small role. If you or your partner got car sick as a child, there's a good chance your children will too.