Mazda Dissects a Parent’s Biggest Fears During the Holiday Season

As we approach the holiday season, many families across the country are preparing to travel. A new survey from Mazda North American Operations has revealed that 85% of parents or caregivers plan to travel by vehicle this year. Additionally, the likelihood of traveling by vehicle is even higher for parents with three to four children, with 93% of them opting for this mode of transportation.

Earlier this year, Mazda unveiled the 2024 CX-90, a premium three-row crossover that promises to provide a connected driving experience and a comfortable ride for families. With the holiday season fast approaching, Mazda conducted a survey to better understand the challenges families face while traveling. The survey found that over 60% of respondents worry about their child getting carsick when traveling. This concern is understandable as nearly half of the respondents (48%) have had to deal with a sick child while on a road trip.

Mazda has teamed up with Dr. Mona Amin, a Board-Certified General Pediatrician, certified lactation consultant, parenting coach, mother, and influencer, to help parents prevent and treat carsick kids during this holiday travel season. Dr. Amin has developed a set of tips for parents to address carsickness, while also highlighting how the Mazda CX-90’s features can help alleviate the discomfort often associated with sitting in the back rows of larger vehicles.

“Parents and kids alike come into my office all the time with questions about how they can treat symptoms of nausea particularly when riding in the second-and-third rows of a vehicle or on longer, bumpy rides,” said Dr. Amin. “Motion sickness happens when your brain receives conflicting information from the inner ears, eyes and nerves – essentially your body cannot infer whether it is in motion or not – resulting in a queasy feeling. There are many ways to alleviate carsickness symptoms and often you can start by taking advantage of features within the vehicle, especially a Mazda CX-90.”

Dr. Mona Amin’s tips for treating and preventing carsickness include increasing airflow, looking at the horizon or distant, stationary objects, and avoiding reading or looking at screens.

To alleviate symptoms of nausea, Dr. Amin suggests increasing airflow and keeping the vehicle at a cooler temperature. This can be done by using the third-row vents or opening windows. Mazda’s survey found that 87% of respondents agreed that this helps with carsickness symptoms.

Looking straight ahead can help reduce the intersensory conflict that causes motion sickness. Dr. Amin recommends encouraging children in the back to look ahead or play games like “I Spy” by picking objects in the distance. The survey found that 76% of respondents agreed that looking ahead helps treat carsickness, while 66% claimed gaze fixation as a successful remedy.

Reading or looking at screens can increase confusion between our visual cues and the inner ear’s sense of movement. Instead of screen time, Dr. Amin suggests using audio books or music to keep backseat passengers entertained. Mazda’s survey found that three-quarters of respondents said minimizing screen time helps to aid carsickness.

Aside from minimizing carsickness, seating flexibility and convenience are also important factors to consider during family road trips. Mazda’s survey found that the third row of seats can often be a point of contention, with 40% of parents saying that their children often fight over who gets to sit in the last row.

To address this issue, the Mazda CX-90 offers seating flexibility and convenience features. For example, the second-row seats can slide and recline, while the third-row seats can recline and fold flat. Additionally, the CX-90 has third-row vents to help keep passengers cool and comfortable.

To address these concerns, the Mazda CX-90 offers a range of features that prioritize the comfort and wellbeing of all passengers, while blending beautiful style and powerful performance.

The CX-90 is Mazda’s most spacious crossover and can fit up to eight people, with flexible seating options that include a third row, second-row bench seat, or dual captain’s chairs with the option of a center console. To address the issue of passengers not being able to see the road or out the window from the back row, the CX-90’s third row is elevated and has large windows, ensuring that all passengers have a clear view of the road ahead.

The CX-90 also offers convenient usability features, addressing concerns over difficulty in getting in and out of the back row. The rear doors open 90 degrees, making loading and unloading more convenient, especially for passengers getting in and out of the back rows. With a third-row ventilation system, Bose audio system, and USB-C ports for charging, the third row is not only comfortable but also convenient.

The CX-90 also boasts a sleek design and sophisticated color options like Artisan Red and Rhodium White, allowing drivers to personalize seating positions, audio settings, and climate control based on their preferences. All passengers and drivers can enjoy a smooth ride in a beautiful vehicle this holiday season.

Photo Source: Mazda Newsroom