Headlice (merged)

Carmina_Piranha_3

so much for the hedrin - the only one i found on son's hair tonight was alive and kicking! i'm going to the pharmacy tomorrow, but i think wet combing will be just as effective as chemicals. i'll have a look at nitty gritty combs.

i got one off me just now, despite having my head checked 4 times today because i was so itchy. it's still crawling around on a tissue having been off my head for more than 20 minutes, so they do seem to be able to live for a while off-head. and it's definitely headlice, i looked under a magnifying glass. the question is given that they CAN live for 20 mins or more on a tissue etc. would they actually move onto a tissue or car seat if they are already on a head? the links i read today say they walk from head to head, so perhaps they wouldn't walk from head to car seat voluntarily.

Edinburghlass_2

Have you got hair straightners? try zapping them

TAG

I've found a live nit crawling around on a towel the morning after DS had washed his hair before bed.

Edinburghlass_2

I need to stop reading this thread as the cat has fleas and I ordered Frontline on Saturday and meantime the cat is on the end of my bed

geekgirl

I tested the theory of 'nits can only live a few hours off of the head'. My son put one in a bug explorer jar and it was still alive after 2 days. Don't know if it was a super lice but the thing was still twitching about! (please don't call the RSPCI).

maria340

geekgirl wrote: »

I tested the theory of 'nits can only live a few hours off of the head'. My son put one in a bug explorer jar and it was still alive after 2 days. Don't know if it was a super lice but the thing was still twitching about! (please don't call the RSPCI).

We did the same. It finally stopped moving after 3 days so my son put one of his hairs in with it because he felt sorry for it.
I've found if you give them names my 3 year old daughter will happily sit still long enough to comb her hair, especially when trying to catch the pesky one that sticks his tongue out at me.

sarahg1969

TAG wrote: »

Can I just dispell what appears to be a myth (on this thread anyway) that your kids don't get nits once they're at high school. WRONG. Yes they can.

I agree. My girls are in y7 and y8 and they regularly have them even now.

I have heard that they tend not to go for men and boys over about 14, though.

ailuro2

Arggh! can't stop scratching now!!

We got an electronic comb years ago, but touch wood DD has never had nits, she has her hair washed on Sundays and Thursdays.

Maybe going swimming (the chlorine) kills them off? She's 9 and never had them,despite having long hair, and now shoulder length hair.Her hair is mostly left to dry naturally aswell.

2girlsforme

Sorry ailuro2 but chlorine doesn't kill them, the first time I found them on my daughter she was absolutely riddled with them (had obviously had them for ages and I hadn't noticed) and she had been swimming heaps that week.

ugh!! they are just so disgusting, off for a wee scratch myself!

aliasojo

pulliptears wrote: »

That's a bit mean It isn't the children's fault that the parents smoke around them, why should they be outcast for what their parents do?

Dont want to take this thread OT (but I'm going to for a minute, lol). Pullip, I dont think there's any meaness involved here at all. I think it's sensible and practical tbh.

My youngest is best friends with a girl whose folks smoke. The child comes into our house and wherever she has been (couch, sitting on daughter's bed etc) absolutely reeks of smoke. It makes me feel sick. On more than one occasion I've had to strip covers off and wash them simply because of the smell transferring from her to our home. Her folks are pretty much chain smokers and the smell really is intense.

Of course this is not the wee one's fault, but I stopped smoking many years ago and see no reason why I should put up with a stinky house now. I would never make the child feel awkward in any way, but I do try to discourage her visits and make excuses as to why she cant always play here. If anyone is making her an outcast, it's her parents who fail to realise what they are doing to their daughter in both health terms and also socially.


Back on topic.....:D ....my eldest 2 never had nits at any point and nor have I. I can almost guarantee though that it's only a matter of time before my youngest gets them. It's fate. Which is why I'm saving this thread for future use. Thanks to all for the tips and advice. :beer: