A travel tip suggested on the smart.move.family TikTok channel involves placing two plasters over a child’s belly button, creating an ‘x’ shape. Some claim it can ease seasickness
A mum has shared the slightly unusual thing she does as soon as she begins a cruise holiday.
In a recent video on their TikTok channel, smart.move.family, parents Artem and Victoria ran through the six stages of preparation they swear by when it comes to making sure their young lad is fully ready for a relaxing break.
The first involves placing two plasters over his belly button, creating an ‘x’ shape. The move is not deployed so that seawater can’t rush into the navel space, but as an apparent way to combat seasickness. The travel tip was offered after a family told their horrifying tale of a cruise ship that ended in tears and vomit.
Motion sickness can quickly turn a cruise holiday into more of a nightmare than a relaxing break, with kids likely to struggle with the relentless, grinding nature of the feeling. In the caption, Victoria explains: “This simple trick helps prevent motion sickness in kids. Just place a band-aid [plaster] over their belly button. It really helped us on the cruise.”
READ MORE: Man slammed for ‘irrational’ reaction after he’s caught vaping on a planeREAD MORE: Grown adults seen pushing kids in shocking sunbed wars at four-star resort
The tip has been circulating for some time. One of the earliest examples online was posted by Thai Smile Airways, a budget airline that suggested the technique in 2014.
“Using two plasters and applying them on the navel in a cross shape will ease the symptoms caused by plane and carsickness! Isn’t it weird? Have you guys tried?” However, Thai health authorities say the claim is false.
Dr. Kajornsak Kaewcharat, deputy director‑general of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Public Health, told AFP: “Scientifically, [applying plasters] does not help prevent or treat symptoms of motion sickness. You can say it may work for some people, but only on a psychological level or a placebo effect.”
While the placebo effect may help seasick kids to some extent, marine blog Sailing Choices suggests that water should be your first port of call if you’re feeling poorly while on deck.
“I’ve found most holiday sailors who think they’re suffering from seasickness are actually just dehydrated. People simply don’t realise how much fluid you use sailing in the hot sun, so before you try my seasickness cures, make sure you’re full of water. And if you have got dehydrated and don’t have any flashy preparations from the chemists in the first aid box, flat cola works a treat,” the blog suggests.
When I visited Antarctica last year, I crossed probably the most notorious and certainly one of the least predictable stretches of sea in the world : Drake’s Passage.
Running from the southernmost tip of Argentina to the Antarctic Peninsula, the body of water is said to appear to sailors either as Drake’s Shake or Drake’s Lake.
Before I was allowed to board the ship, its operator, HX, required me to meet with a private doctor who offered advice on how to prevent or deal with seasickness. His advice was to get up on deck and look towards the clouds on the horizon, which can help to steady your brain.
Reading and drinking alcohol were best avoided, he said, while eating crisp green apples and drinking ginger tea were worth a go, even if the science on their effectiveness is not completely clear.
While my stomach was sturdy enough to avoid having to use any of his suggested remedies, my wife opted for the tried-and-tested method of seasickness tablets. They seemed to do the trick.