Mum shares plaster trick which she swears prevents motion sickness for kids

By ESTHER MARSHALL

Published: 11:43 BST, 6 May 2025 | Updated: 11:43 BST, 6 May 2025

Motion sickness can quickly make a cruise holiday more of a nightmare than a relaxing break.

And nausea can be even worse for kids who might struggle to understand why they feel unwell. 

But, according to one mum, there’s a ‘simple trick’ that could stop a child suffering from motion sickness. 

In a video posted to Instagram, @smart.move.family filmed herself sticking two plasters over her son’s belly button. 

The mum places one plaster vertically over the belly button before sticking another over the top horizontally. 

She then shows her son playing happily in the ship’s swimming pool without any signs of motion sickness. 

In the caption, the mum says: ‘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.’ 

In a video posted to Instagram, @smart.move.family filmed herself sticking two plasters over her son’s belly button. The mum places one plaster vertically over the belly button before sticking another over the top horizontally

The mum then showed her child happily enjoying the rest of his cruise holiday

But while the video got over 57,000 likes, not all the commenters were convinced that the trick really worked. Many thought it was more likely the child was feeling something of a ‘placebo effect’. 

‘Kookathome’ writes: ‘Sticking a bandage on the belly button to prevent motion sickness is not scientifically proven. It likely works through the placebo effect.’

‘Redalertison’ adds: ‘It’s the placebo effect’. 

However, one Instagram user says they found that the method works for them. ‘Nisaupik’ writes: ‘It works for me – I’ve been using that method since I was 12.’ 

The NHS recommends focusing your eyes on a fixed point in the distance, breathing fresh air or drinking ginger tea if you’re suffering from motion sickness. 

It adds: ‘Distract children by talking, listening to music or singing songs.’  

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Mum shares plaster trick which she swears prevents motion sickness for kids

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