Going offshore Sunday and thinking about bringing my 8 year old son. He has never been offshore, so I’m a little worried about him getting sea sick. I hate for his day to be ruined because he feels like crap. He’s fine in a car and in a boat, but has never been out deep.
Anyone taken kids this age offshore? Did you medicate them just in case? What medicines seem to be best for the kids?
Thanks!
Don’t let him get bored, and don’t let him know there is such a thing as sea sickness…the only thing I have seen work is the sight of land once it starts
Half Mine II/ TEAM GEICO
2660 Sailfish
150 Yamahas
First thing I would do is call your doctor to see what they recommend.
That being said, I know you can give kids dramamine and such. However, again with the doctors, dosage levels for kids might be different than for adults. Also, dramamine will make your kid drowsy. I always recommend Bonine. You can buy it at any drug store. It doesn’t have near the drowsy effects as dramamine.
There are also the usual tricks. Ginger products work well. You could also hit up some of these “All Natural” stores and see if they have any motion sick products. You can also try Seabands. These are bands that use pressure points to control sea sickness.
I got sick with all of them growing up. Dramamine was the worst because you were sick and tired. That being said different things seem to work for different people. i Was fine over time and don’t have a problem anymore. The worst thing is asking if they are feeling alright. The only thing that worked for me was adrenaline. Putting me in the fighting chair early and often on a fish kept me feeling good and eating. Amazing how you can go from feeling terrible to ok as soon as you get that rush of excitement,
IF you give them a dramamine in the morning be sure he has something on his stomach. Taking a dramamine alone on a empty stomach will make you feel awful
“Good things come to those who bait”
I have twin 10 year old boys and took them out for the first time last week. Gave them the equate less drowsey pill( walmart brand) and they did great. I told them its impossible to get sick with this pill… they did great.
Gave them the pill before bed!
Thanks,
Paul
GW 257 Advance
Yea I’ve always been told to take one the night before and then again in the morning before you go! Has worked out well for me!
“Fish On”
Bonine has worked every time we tried it. Like sunscreen, you need to use it before you need it for it to work best.
Thanks for all the replies. Bonine has ways been my pick for myself, I just was t sure if I should medicate the kid. It looks like they have Bonine for children, so we will give that a shot. He probably doesn’t need it, but I’d rather him be safe and a little drowsy than be sick and sorry.
quote:
Originally posted by StumpNockerYea I’ve always been told to take one the night before and then again in the morning before you go! Has worked out well for me!
“Fish On”
+1 This has always worked for me as well.
Scott Fulton
AgentOwned Realty
Scott.Fulton@AgentOwnedRealty.com
My 9’year old has been going since he was 6. Bonine every trip about 10 a year. I don’t know if he needs it or not but we both take it out of habit now. No bad feeling at all. Hope all goes well for the lil man he will never forget it
Don’t underestimate the placebo effect no matter what you choose. Like the poster above said, tell him that “you can’t get sick with this” and it will almost certainly be true.
Small amounts of food all day.
For adults a mild buzz works wonder as well, but that obviously won’t help with your children.
My bet is YOU get sick - from thinking about him getting sick all day 
Good luck!
quote:
Originally posted by StumpNockerYea I’ve always been told to take one the night before and then again in the morning before you go! Has worked out well for me!
“Fish On”
+2
I won an oceanic open tournament at 10 yrs old for a big amberjack, was puking the whole time but had a blast!!
as an adult the night before trick works well
Sea Hunt Triton 177
115 Yamaha
If the bonine doesnt work, I have always used the scopalamine patches cut in half or thirds depending on the size of the kid. Never had anyone get sick with it and after a few trips of knowing they wont get sick they usually dont need it anymore. It requires a prescription and needs to be put on the night before but is well tolarated. Gives you dry mouth and crazy dreams.
Hydra-Sport 3300VX
A buddy of mine gets dreadfully sick every time in a boat (big or small) when out deep. Recently,he’s been eating yogurt with fresh ginger in it a couple of times a day for 2 days before the trip. He swears by it. I know the ginger will calm the stomach and I guess the yogurt is just a delivery vehicle. He read it on the Internet somewhere so maybe it’s just placebo because “someone said you can’t get sick when doing this”…
All good advice,but DON"T take him out if it is RUFF out there this old fart will not go anymore if its ruff!!
Well the doctor shot down Bonine for an 8 year old. Recomendation was Dramamine Non Drowsy, half a dose before bed, half a dose when he wakes up. Weather is looking good, it should be a nice day to go. I haven’t told him yet, he’s going to be excited.
Tripease,
When I started scuba diving at 15 my doctor gave me a patch that I put behind my ear. Worked wonders and lasted a week. Not really sure what the drug was though. If I remember correctly it was originally used in the space program. Haven’t had to use one in well over 10 years now.
TRANSDERM or Scop Patches is what you probably had Ja. Best thing there is…gotta get them from the Dr though.
“Forever Young”
Contender 25 Open
28’w/twin 225 Yami’s