Can sticking a band-aid to your kid’s navel fix car sickness?

What’s your first instinct when you come across an easy hack video on social media that seems too good to be true? Whether you’re tempted to try the advice shown in it or not, the first thing you should do is fact-check. Social media has shown us time and again that not everything shared online is reliable.
One such video has sparked quite the conversation.
A video of a woman has garnered over 8 million views for sharing a unique hack to combat motion sickness. According to Jasmin, the woman in the viral clip, sticking a band-aid over your child’s belly button can prevent nausea while travelling.
“If your child suffers from motion sickness while travelling, place a band-aid over their belly button from top to bottom,” she says.
While she admits she’s unsure how it works, she stands by its effectiveness, noting that it has helped her kids and many others who have messaged thanking her.
Typically, the comments section is where viral myths are debunked. But in this case, many viewers are praising (and agreeing with) Jasmin’s tip.
An Instagram user, Mellissa Nonis, even mentioned a similar traditional Asian practice involving newborns, where a cloth is placed over the belly button to prevent gas or colic. While some doctors dismiss this as a myth, Mellissa found it helpful for her baby. She also referred to another remedy – placing a slice of ginger on a band-aid over the navel, as ginger is known to help with digestive issues.

Mellissa Nonis’s comment on Instagram.

However, a few people also mentioned that this could be a “placebo effect”.
The placebo effect is when a person experiences real improvements in their symptoms after receiving a treatment that has no active medical ingredients, simply because they believe the treatment will work. In short, it’s the power of belief leading to perceived or actual benefits.
“That got to be placebo, but I will totally be doing it!” says Instagram user Emma Louise Barton.
Here’s where it gets tricky – there’s no scientific evidence to support this method. Motion sickness happens when there’s a mismatch between what the eyes see and what the inner ear senses, causing dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. A band-aid on the belly button doesn’t directly address this sensory conflict, which is the root cause of car sickness.
Dr Poonam Sidana, director of neonatology and paediatrics at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, explains, “There is no solid scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of methods like the ‘band-aid trick’ or wristbands that claim to stimulate acupressure points for motion sickness. While such remedies are popular with some people, the scientific community does not have studies that confirm their efficacy. True, many placebo methods have been tried by different people, but there’s no scientific consensus or rigorous trials that prove their effectiveness.”

There’s no scientific evidence to support the band-aid trick. (Photo: Unsplash)

Dr Shobha Subramanian Itolikar, consultant-internal medicine, Fortis Hospital Mulund, Mumbai, says, “There is no other scientific basis for this although theories floating online suggest that this calms the vagus nerves and hence, alleviates nausea and vomiting.”
Medical expert Dr Sam Hay told news.com.au, “What we have here is an imperfect storm of the placebo effect, and bored parents sucked in by crazy internet influencers.”
“The placebo effect could be at play here. The placebo effect occurs when a person experiences a perceived or actual improvement in their symptoms because they believe a treatment is helping, even if the treatment has no therapeutic effect. Wearing the band-aid or wristband could give individuals the impression that they will feel better, leading to a reduction in symptoms, despite the lack of any direct physical impact from the method itself,” Dr Sidana further elaborates.
For parents, a question might pop up – could this hack, which seems helpful, harm my kids?
Well, the answer is no.
“While there’s no truth or science to back this trick, but will it do any harm? No. If you can convince your kids it works – then go for it, but don’t go kidding yourself, it’s real!” says Sam.
“In most cases, there’s no significant harm in trying these methods, as long as they are non-invasive, like wearing a wristband or a band-aid. However, parents should be cautious. For younger children, these items could irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction, depending on the materials used.”
“However, relying too heavily on such remedies may discourage seeking proper medical advice, especially if there are underlying medical conditions like issues with the vestibular system, which could be the true cause of the nausea,” adds Dr Sidana.
If you want to rely on proven methods to deal with your kids’ motion sickness, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
Since the safety of many motion sickness medications for children is not well-established, it is always best to discuss all options with a healthcare provider before trying anything.