HEADLICE & to not cancel DDs birthday party

[Ketchuponpizza]

In 2 days is my daughters (very much anticipated) 6th birthday party. Grandmothers have travelled to celebrate with us and I have been working my ass off to get everything prepared. (30 kids and I am doing it all myself).

This morning I found headlice. DD had 4, DS had 1. I check them regularly, so am confident I have caught them early. I kept them off school, treated the whole family, brushed and brushed and brushed to make sure I had missed nothing and then sent them back in to school this afternoon. I also told the teachers straight away and they will notify all the parents for us. We have had little notices from school before, so I know the drill.

I told one friend this morning, asking her if she would help to check my hair next week (I have a thick head of hair and would prefer someone else to double check for me. DH is useless at that sort of thing).

She has just told me that they won't be coming to the birthday party (they have afro hair which I understand can be tricky where nits are concerned), but has also told me that I should either tell parents or postpone party. I think I have done my duty by informing the school and working diligently to ensure my kids are lice free for however long this takes. I can't bear the thought of everyone talking about us or (worse) staying away from the party. DD is such a good girl and we are all so excited.

AIBU?

[Nocabbageinmyeye]

Cancelling the party would be way ott in my opinion

[Littlepeople12345]

Yanbu, you've treated your DC so no I wouldn't cancel.

[LIZS]

Given they probably caught them at school, her reaction is OTT. Just keep combing through, and do yours asap.

[Passthecake30]

I wouldn't cancel, but I'd check after the party for reinfestation as its probably around the class...

I think your friend was OTT.

[Sandbrook]

You've done all you can
Don't cancel the party for an outbreak of head lice

[miraclebabyplease]

Your friend is bonkers.

[getlostdailyfail]

Get Derbac from the pharmacy and put it in your hair. It is v strong and will get rid of everything in one go

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[BusStopBetty]

I would not cancel for nits. Chances are at any social there will be at least one nitty child.

I'd tell friends so they knew to check their kids, but I see no reason to cancel. If you've treated your family they are unlikely to have any live ones at present.

Couldn't she find a compromise? Put a hat on the kid?

[longdiling]

Christ no, no need to cancel a party! If you've combed and treated them they'll be lice free anyway. Just give them an extra check the day of the party to be sure.

[BusStopBetty]

On her kid, not yours.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

No way can you cancel her party. She'll be devestating. Head lice are everywhere. They're been waltzing about since the beginning of time, and as disgusting as they are. I've never known any one to die of head lice.

[Marilynsbigsister]

Completely Bonkers (and very very mean to your child) to cancel party due to headline...when almost guaranteed at least 2/7 or the kids at the party will be jumping with them. Your DC didn't catch them from this air, so someone in the class has them.

If I cancelled and kept off school for half a day for every outbreak with 7 kids over last ten years, I would never have got to work !. Nits are sadly part of life nowadays and no matter how diligent you are, (and I was very diligent because I couldn't bear the thought of mine being itchy and not able to concentrate) it is will never be successful. Until the government bring back nit nurses and have a communal whole school one day mass de-nit , you will never be rid of them for any length of time.

I truly believe the governments refusal to do this is because the have a massive vested interest in hair conditioner, nit combs and nit treatments

[PrincessHairyMclary]

I can't actually believe you kept your kids off school for head lice! Kids have them all th time, they catch them at school, no way would I cancel a party just let school know and if you can plait your girls hair whilst at school and a little spray of hairspray helps prevent them hanging on in future.

[lougle]

Nope. At DD's school they'd expect you to treat then send to school the same day.

[HisNameWasPrinceAndHeWasFunky]

By "brushed and brushed" do you mean combing with a metal tooth nit comb?

Brushing with a brush will do fuck all for nits (bar tickle them) and eggs will be continually hatching so you will need to nit comb every 2-3 days for 3 weeks to eliminate them all. I will link to a lice eradication programme based on life cycle of the lice. You'll have to nit comb yourself too!

If you are dealing with the Lice properly don't cancel. If you are just brushing then I think you might be in for a shock.

Here you go: www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/theliceprogram

[RB68]

Don't keep them off, don't cancel the party, do comb through with proper nit comes and if you want to treat treat, check every few days for new ones for a few weeks (think its a 14 day cycle) the nits come out easily the eggs are little buggers and you kind of have to pinch them hard and pull through the hard without pulling hair out. Worst place is behind the ears so I always check there - its nice and warm etc.

She is being silly but in some ways I understand why given the afro hair - but I would be clear with her that everyone has been treated and cleared and they are more likely to get them in school now than at yours.

[Ketchuponpizza]

Hisnamewasprince... Of course with nit comb. And ALL of thenfamily was done this morning, including me. My mum is here to help me with mine until Monday, it was after that I needed help with my hair...


Thanks guys. Shall continue as I have been... I appreciate the input.

[edwinbear]

OP you sound like you have both lice and party well under control, I would carry on as planned personally.

[JenniferYellowHat1980]

YANBU. Bloody nits. We've just reached the end of the lice programme but I won't be able to rest easy now we've had them and will comb a couple of times a week.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Well if you found headlice on Thursday evening, nit-combed carefully and possibly treated with nit lotion overnight you'd definitely send kids to school on Friday so why would you cancel a party for the same kids on Saturday. Your friend is being ridiculous. Headlice are a minor inconvenience not something to change plans around.