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General health

I know it's been done to death... but NITS!

25 replies

GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 16:23

Ds1 has just been playing with a little boy this morning and his mother has just let us know she's discovered her son has nits and I'm sitting here scratching already.

Is there anything preventative I can do? I've been reading the past threads and see that tea tree oil shampoo is popular - can I use this on a 7 month old baby if I only use a small amount?

Thinking of just giving us all a hairwash with tea tree oil and a quick comb through with a nit comb (only own one though - is this likely to be a problem - should I send dh out for three more?!) - do you think we'll avoid the horror if we do that now?!

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happymerryberries · 23/12/2004 16:26

I nit comb will do you. The tea tree doesn't get rid of them just helps to prevent re-infection (but is far from 100% at this). If you do have an infestation you will need lots of conditioner, anyone will do.

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turquey · 23/12/2004 16:26

I'd just use sweet almond oil or similar on the baby - it's the combing that really counts.

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GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 16:28

So it's okay to share a nit comb then? Isn't that bad?

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MarsselectionboxLady · 23/12/2004 16:29

comb through his hair with conditioner and a nit comb. Do it in sections in different directions. You may not find any. I'm assumind DS is not the 7 mo old. You should be able to look in the baby's hair and see, dry comb it. Should be ok if you do it today as eggs can't travel. If you find any do it again tomorrow in case. hth

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GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 16:31

Yes ... sorry... ds1 is 3.5 and ds2 is 7 months!! Ds1's hair is quite short and due for a cut - would it affect anything for better for worse if I got the clippers out and gave him a short back and sides before doing the nit combing?

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ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 23/12/2004 16:33

One nit comb is fine as long as you check it each time it goes through the hair and remove any nits you find before combing again. Have fun!

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GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 16:34

"Have fun!"

You're taking the piss now, right?

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happymerryberries · 23/12/2004 16:34

Whe you comb pout the lice you will see them in the comb. The nits will be stuck to the hair shafts any way, but ewven if you do dislodge them you will still be able to see them and get them out of the comb. Swishing it in water helps to clear them out, and then wipe with tissue. The lice and nits are plenty big enough to see!

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MarsselectionboxLady · 23/12/2004 16:35

I tried the short back and sides once when DS1 had them, one of the little buggers was clinging on for dear life. Short or long hair makes no difference. Welcome to the world of nits. Yeurckk!!!!! I'm itching now just thinking about them.

BTW are you sure that your son has them?

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happymerryberries · 23/12/2004 16:35

You do get a strange pleasure from squshing the little critters, but then I like squeezing zits so I might just be odd

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GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 16:36

Not sure at all, Mars... but they were fairly rough and tumble this morning so there was fair "opportunity". Just want a bit of an insurance policy really!!

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ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 23/12/2004 16:37

Sorry. Have fun is the irritating catch phrase of my dh, always said when he is leaving me to a horrible situation. I seem to have caught it from him.

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MarsselectionboxLady · 23/12/2004 16:37

Fair enough. Always wise to do a comb through. Have fun [sympathy icon]

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ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 23/12/2004 16:41

It is catching!

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GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 16:42

Nits or irritating catch phrases?!

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ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas · 23/12/2004 16:43

Hopefully just the latter.

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GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 18:40

Well, two children thoroughly nit combed (ds1 is still screaming about it despite us being very careful not to pull his hair ) and not a single louse! Assume that means we're in the clear?

On the plus side, it seems to have done ds1's cradle cap no end of good

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DoesntChristmasDragOn · 23/12/2004 18:50

If I were you, I'd repeat the job in however long it takes for eggs to hatch...

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MarsselectionboxLady · 23/12/2004 18:50

Good, you probably have no lice. Combing through on a regular basis is a good idea. I normally do it on a Sunday whilst they are in the bath. Glad you didn't find any. Time to go to the mulled wine bar and have a large one on me.

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GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 18:54

Will repeat in 7 days time, just to be sure, but I think we're probably okay...

Mars - you mean I have to go through that level of screaming with him every single week?!! Don't think my nerves could stand the strain

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MarsselectionboxLady · 23/12/2004 18:55

He'll get used to it. You can probably dry comb with the nit comb and should you find anything then use the conditioner.

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DoesntChristmasDragOn · 23/12/2004 18:55

If his hair is very short, you won't need to comb, you'll be able to see, surely?

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GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 18:57

In that case, I'm shaving his head tomorrow

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DoesntChristmasDragOn · 23/12/2004 18:57

And won't that look attractive in all the Christmas photos?

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GeorginaAdventCalendar · 23/12/2004 19:03

Bwahahaha

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