Parents Are Putting Band-Aids on Their Kids' Belly Buttons for Motion Sickness—Does It Work?
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
If you've spent any time scrolling parenting reels on TikTok and Instagram that claim to teach you the things veteran parents 'wish they knew' earlier, you've likely come across this one: sticking a criss-crossed Band-Aid (or "plaster," as it's called in the U.K.) over your kid's belly button to prevent nausea during car rides, plane travel, and even boat trips.
While there's no solid scientific evidence backing the technique, plenty of parents swear by it. Influencers including @tsagana24 and @smart.move.family have posted about the trick, with videos earning hundreds of thousands of views.
In one reel, Artem from @smart.move.family shares, 'This easy trick helped my kid with motion sickness on road trips—just stick a band-aid over their belly button. Worked like a charm on our last drive.'
We turned to the experts to find out whether the belly button Band‑Aid hack is really worth trying on your next trip out of town.
Breaking Down the Belly Button Band‑Aid Hack for Motion Sickness
The hack itself is as simple as it sounds. Before heading out on a trip, place two adhesive bandages in an 'X' shape over your kid's belly button. The direction of the placement (a vertical cross versus a diagonal one) doesn't seem to matter, nor does the size of the bandaids. In fact, some parents, like Jasmin of @rainbow.construction even opt for one large bandage instead of two smaller ones.
In one video demonstrating the hack, the momfluencer with more than 200K followers writes, 'It sounds super crazy, but it totally works for both my children...This has saved us so many times and we do it every single time we go on a longer car ride."
She even suggests it might help adults too, though admits she's not sure why it works. 'It could be placebo,' she says, 'but I also read that the band aid stimulates some acupressure points to relieve nausea.'
While acupuncture may be used to relieve nausea, these points are usually in the wrist, not the abdomen. It's also worth noting that acupuncture relies on significant and sustained pressure being applied to a specific point on the body, something that a regular adhesive bandage can't really provide.
Besides this, there's also the simple fact that there doesn't appear to be much correlation between how motion sickness actually works (a disconnect between what your eyes see and what your inner ear feels), and applying an adhesive bandage to the belly button.
Why Motion Sickness Occurs
'Motion sickness happens when our ear senses motion, but our eyes are giving the input of standing still, usually because we are reading or watching something on a screen,' explains Ali Shehata, MD, a Las Vegas-based family and emergency physician. 'This mismatch in brain signals causes nausea and dizziness.'
Kiara DeWitt, BSN, RN, CPN, a certified pediatric nurse, and the founder and CEO of Injectco, agrees, adding, 'Seriously reducing screen time during car rides eases motion sickness by over 50% for most children.'
Of course, there are plenty of other reasons kids can get sick from car rides and long travel days, even if they aren't spending their time staring at screens. Since a child's sensory system is still developing, other factors like what they've had to eat or drink that day, or even a lack of fresh air, can all lead to feelings of nausea."From a purely medical/scientific standpoint, the use of a Band-Aid over the belly button is a placebo type of treatment."
Ali Shehata, MDSo, Does the Belly Button Band‑Aid Hack Actually Work?
The short answer? Probably not, at least not according to science.
'From a purely medical/scientific standpoint, the use of a Band-Aid over the belly button is a placebo type of treatment,' says Dr. Shehata. 'It has no neurological effect and wouldn't be expected to impact motion sickness.'
DeWitt agrees. 'To be blunt, I would not say belly button plasters have a sound physiological basis for motion sickness relief,' she says. 'There's no sensory nerve cluster at the belly button that links directly to the nausea centers in the brain. Most likely, it's the placebo effect at work.'
Still, neither expert is against giving it a try, provided it's done safely.
'There's nothing wrong with trying it so long as you keep things clean and safe,' says DeWitt. 'Use fresh adhesive plasters, swap them out regularly, and avoid using them for more than a few hours at a stretch. Kids' skin can get irritated quickly.'
What Actually Helps With Motion Sickness?
Here are some time-tested strategies for nausea that may help your kiddo more than a Band-Aid on the belly.
Choose the right seat. 'Strategically positioning kids in the car, like in middle seats where there's less motion, can reduce dizziness and nausea by up to 30–40%,' says DeWitt.
Cut distractions and encourage looking outside. 'Avoid the use of screens in the car by putting tablets and phones away, as well as books,' advises Dr. Shehata. Encourage kids to look outside and keep them engaged with car games rather than screens.
Try natural aids. 'Ginger chews or drops can help, especially if taken 30 minutes before a trip,' says DeWitt. For older kids, peppermint-flavored gum or candy can also help ease a queasy stomach.
Keep them hydrated. 'Even a 2% fluid loss can mess with your equilibrium,' DeWitt warns. Pack plenty of water and easy-to-digest snacks for your trip.
If your child continues to struggle with motion sickness, especially to the point of vomiting, turning pale, or avoiding car rides altogether, it might be time to check in with your health care provider.
'For the rare few that continue to have symptoms, more testing or medication might be needed,' says Dr. Shehata. 'Don't hesitate to check in with your provider.'
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