Headlice (merged)

blue_monkey_2

Charlie, I just wanted to add, there does not tend to be many nits at preschools/nursery because the children do not play as close to each other - once you get into school it is another matter though and they just get passed around, it takes just one parent to ignore the issue for it to become an issue. As I said though, don't be so hard on the mum, she is probably having the same problem as you are in getting rid of them but when I said about putting the conditioner on, put it on all over, no need to rub or comb but then rinse it out with lots of water, no rubbing or coming but the hair will be so coated the older nits will drop off. Just pour as much on as possible and put a towel on it it so the condition can soak into the hair and then rinse. The water will soothe her head too.

I can understand you don't like her much (from the tone of your emails) but she is her daughter and if she wants her hair like that then she is entitled to have it that way until the little one gets old enough to make her own descision. It is neither here nor there really how her hair is but you need to ensure that while she is with you that you help her as much as you can and make her feel better.

Again, while she is with you then she is not at school so the nits would not be caught as she is not in such slose contact with the other kids and parents usually get a letter home at the end of each term telling them to sort the nits (I know we do!!).

Savvy_Sue

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We have a little girl with at least the remnants of chicken pox, eczema, and headlice, and I can only begin to imagine how itchy and unwell that must make her feel. She needs to see a medical professional ASAP, and I don't think we can or should say a lot more than that, except we all hope this gets sorted out soon.

janehma

After years of dealing with nits, the only way to get rid of them is conditioning & combing (with a white nit comb from any pharmacy so you can see them!). Rinsing comb after every turn in a jug, or similar to contain the lice. I also sit child on high stool under a decent light while they are watching TV and literally pull the eggs off, so there is nothing left to hatch, Then its just patience, kindness and repetition being mindful not to make the child feel disgusting as its not their fault. Good luck

milliemonster

Hi everyone, I have just noticed this thread and really need some help, my daughter is 9 and has had headlice on and off since she was 2, she has had them now persistently for 18 MONTHS and I can't get rid of them, I have tried all the creams and I religiously go through her hair with the comb and conditioner every 5 days but still can't get rid of them, I am at my wits end.

My dd has extremely thick very curly hair and it takes me over an hour to go through her hair every time with the comb, I can only do it when its wet and covered in conditioner because of how thick and curly it is and you can't spot them in her hair.

We tried cutting her hair in a shorter bob last year but it made no difference, I tie her hair up for school but because of how curly it is there are always little bits sticking out.

Has anyone got any advice??

tiff

I think you have to comb through more often than every 5 days. When my daughter had it (she has very thick wavy hair) I had her hair cut shorter and combed through every night for 2 weeks then every other night for a long time.

milliemonster

tiff wrote: »

I think you have to comb through more often than every 5 days. When my daughter had it (she has very thick wavy hair) I had her hair cut shorter and combed through every night for 2 weeks then every other night for a long time.

I did comb through every night initially but their life cycle is 5 days I believe so the comb doesn't always get the eggs out, you have to wait for them to hatch, when I now comb though every night I don't get anything out but believe me if I leave it a few days, I get lice out, plus because of her hair type it is ruining her hair having if I have to go through with the fine comb every day, this advice was given to me by my health visitor when she was smaller

Savvy_Sue

I've never had to deal with that kind of hair, but have you tried a daily spray on mix to deter the little visitors? What I used to swear by when the boys were getting them was Quassia chips: I used to buy them from Culpeppers, and either boil them or steep them, then strain the mixture into one of those gardening spritzer bottles, spray it on and comb through. Then I would spray them every morning as they went out the door to school.

This stuff tastes foul as I found when I got it on my fingers, but didn't smell too bad in use and didn't leave a smell. And it did seem to put the headlice off.

I know other people swear by other mixes you can spray on: lavender oil and tea tree oil have I believe been mentioned. And those might be fine for girls, but I can't imagine the boys would have been too thrilled to go out smelling of lavender ...

vic1

Yes kids do get them at preschool. i caught them when supervising. i tried normal lotions to no avail still had them after three lots of treatment. i had long hair and i used to comb it with the nit comb twice daily for two weeks then daily. robi comb is okay but when the nit shorts the circuit it stops killing and acts like an normal comb. danger is you will dilodged they will fall on to clothes and reinfest. best advice i had was to use product of some sort on hair as it deters them - which is why most teenagers and adults don'r seem to get them. so basically conditioner and combing repeatedly

badgerbread

For years my two oldes suffered on and off from nits it drove me to the point of insanity. The best way I found was using a comb that basically looked like two combs put together with the conditioner method the only good point I have to say is once they get to secondary school and they are clear of nits they never seem to get them back (thank god) however I have heard that eating garlic is also good for keeping them at bay not too sure how effective this is

k1mmie

I have suffered with all my children. Especially my daughter as she is mixed race and had very tight curls that matted easily. I combed her hair everyday. Using conditioner as it smelled nicer than the nit stuff. However if its any consolation, by the time they all go to secondary school, none of them have ever had them again.