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Original poster

Has your boy had headlice?

38 replies

HeadLiceFears · 30/11/2022 10:17

Just had notice from school there is a case in his class. He has very short hair, does it make it less likely for him to get them?

After a week of dealing with multiple viruses and worms and with now a huge work backlog in front of me, I honestly can't imagine adding this to my mental load and just want to cry.

So hoping for some reassurance. Did your short haired boys get headlice at school?

Should I take any precautions with his coat/clothes?

OP posts:
mamacattiva · 30/11/2022 10:36

Yes. Sorry 😬

BUT as hair was short I only had to go over once with spray in conditioner and a nit comb, and I used the hairdryer after I’d scrubbed their scalp in the bath! I then inspected and washed their hair thoroughly every night for a week but was all clear.

Talipesmum · 30/11/2022 10:38

Yes. But it makes it pretty easy to sort. I would just focus on hair. Get a nitty gritty comb and some conditioner and comb through his hair carefully while he’s in the bath. It’s the best way to check. It was much less horrible to deal with than worms for us.

ghislaine · 30/11/2022 10:38

Yes, a few times. But I think it’s easier to deal with them as they have less hair to hide in.

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Sunsetintheeast · 30/11/2022 10:39

Unless he has long thick hair down his back (that he ties up of course), I’m afraid I would celebrate the ease of dealing with them!

Nits are one of the many delights of primary school.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/11/2022 10:40

Yes, very easily dealt with though.

Original poster
HeadLiceFears · 30/11/2022 10:44

Urgh i don't think I'm cut out to be a parent, honestly so overwhelmed by life.

Will I and his sister catch it as well? She's only 1 how will I get her to sit still to comb through her hair?

I never had nits growing up but it seems here it's all I hear about, like all kids just have headlice all the time. What is that about :(

OP posts:
Notjusta · 30/11/2022 10:45

Yes - sorry!! But I'd say of all the annoying childhood ailments, nits are easiest to deal with. Get a nitty gritty comb - boots sell them - slather his hair in conditioner and comb through very carefully. Wipe the comb after each pass through the hair.

www.boots.com/nitty-gritty-nitfree-comb-10061485

Headlice don't live on clothing/bedding (or at least not for very long) etc I don't think, so don't worry about that for now.

Ducksurprise · 30/11/2022 10:45

Yes, I shaved his head. I was just in the middle of so much stress I thought fuck it and shaved it all off.

Original poster
HeadLiceFears · 30/11/2022 10:48

@Ducksurprise honestly i think that's what I'll do, as long as its not too late for the rest of us

Can't wait for him to be home so I can check now, just imagining the worst until then, and can't stop scratching my own head

OP posts:
Original poster
HeadLiceFears · 30/11/2022 11:26

@Notjusta thanks, getting one of those right now! Does it matter what conditioner?

Do you think I should do this to check if he has any or just a visual check? He sort of has a buzz cut which just a quiff bit at the front (his hair does this naturally!) So I can mostly see through to his scalp all around.

OP posts:
AllOfThemWitches · 30/11/2022 11:28

Yes, one has (not a chance the other would be close enough to his peers to catch them 🤣) and as pp said, very easy to get rid of.

Notjusta · 30/11/2022 11:30

HeadLiceFears · 30/11/2022 11:26

@Notjusta thanks, getting one of those right now! Does it matter what conditioner?

Do you think I should do this to check if he has any or just a visual check? He sort of has a buzz cut which just a quiff bit at the front (his hair does this naturally!) So I can mostly see through to his scalp all around.

Nope any old conditioner will work. You'll be able to see when you comb it if there are any lice (sorry!). You can do your hair as well - and the baby's if she'll let you!!

If lice are rife at school using the the comb/conditioner once a week is a good way of keeping on top of it and getting rid of the little buggers before they go crazy.

The itching is totally normal - as soon as you start to think about you, you'll start to itch!

motheroreily · 30/11/2022 11:30

HeadLiceFears · 30/11/2022 10:44

Urgh i don't think I'm cut out to be a parent, honestly so overwhelmed by life.

Will I and his sister catch it as well? She's only 1 how will I get her to sit still to comb through her hair?

I never had nits growing up but it seems here it's all I hear about, like all kids just have headlice all the time. What is that about :(

Yes sorry. I've caught nits off my daughter twice. It's not so bad though. But took a week or two of combing to get rid of them.

I put a film on, put alot of conditioner in and comb while we watch it. It's quite nice in a weird way

Notjusta · 30/11/2022 11:31

Oh just seen your question about visual check. I would condition/comb to be sure. They can be hard to spot depending on the colour of his hair. I swore they camouflage themselves to match hair colour but I am sure that's not true!!

Nadal · 30/11/2022 11:33

Neither of my sons got headline even though we often got notifications from school. It's not inevitable

Original poster
HeadLiceFears · 30/11/2022 11:35

OK thank you! Amazon can't get the comb to me til Monday, not good enough Amazon! Will see if I can find one somewhere else.

I'll do a visual check tonight and conditioner/combing when it arrives.

Definitely worth the hassle as I'd rather prevent than cure once it's gone crazy and been passed on to everyone!

I'm feeling a bit better after this thread so thanks all! I can sort of see it could be quite a nice ritual @motheroreily, will definitely be combing through mine too.

OP posts:
Original poster
HeadLiceFears · 30/11/2022 11:36

@nadal so lovely to hear! And at least if it happens I am now prepared

OP posts:
Orla32 · 30/11/2022 11:40

I've also had a text from DDs school saying it's in her class. However, her whole school career we've had this (in year 6 now) and she's never once caught them - despite having very long hair!!!

I agree with others though, it's super easy to deal with!

queenofthewild · 30/11/2022 11:41

Yep. At secondary school Halloween Confused

They are really, really hard to find with the naked eye. A comb through with a nitty gritty dislodged a family of them and we comb at least twice a week to check they've not come back.

I really recommend every family keeps a comb at home. Combing is the only way to really check and be sure.

Original poster
HeadLiceFears · 30/11/2022 11:50

Wow @Orla32 amazing she's managed to dodge them all these years!

OP posts:
Pictograph · 30/11/2022 12:01

My DC (2 boys and 1 girl) have never got them either. They're all in secondary school now so I'm hoping we've dodged it! Fingers crossed for you OP.

Notjusta · 30/11/2022 12:25

If you can get to a boots today you'll probably find them in store - even my tiny village branch has them in stock.

Figmentofimagination · 30/11/2022 12:27

I get the text from school about it at least once a month. DS (year 1) has had it twice in the last 15 months and passed it onto me once when I had long hair. His hair (when he's not fighting it) is easier to comb then mine. It helps he is very blonde so it's easier to spot the lice.

Any conditioner will work, though I have heard lice don't like tea tree. Use the nitty gritty comb, making sure to wipe the comb off after each brush through. If no lice or eggs are present just keep an eye on it, maybe do it again once a week for a few weeks.

If your DS does have lice, the NHS website has instructions about what days to comb hair to ensure you get all lice and eggs. Also consider if you want to use lice shampoo or repellant spray. I use them mainly because I struggle with my own hair.

Terracottage · 30/11/2022 12:34

My kids haven't had them, male or female. Not sure why, just been lucky. They have had worms, impetigo, veruccas, etc. but managed to avoid the dreaded lice. I check with a nitty gritty comb every few weeks to check.

Had them a fair bit as a kid, and my brother and sister both got them too unfortunately, and even my poor mum. We all got are hair cut shorter so it was easier to comb through as less knots, but more sure it helped us get them any less. My Dad didn't get them but probably because he wasn't there much and didn't do much hands on childcare.

Sunnidaze · 30/11/2022 12:44

FWIW, I have three boys and none of them have had nits. They all had quite short hair in primary, and they only washed it once a week. A hairdresser told me to avoid over washing their hair as lice don't like the natural oils in hair (I have no idea if that's true or not!). Anyway, despite being in the midst of multiple nit outbreaks at school, we managed to avoid them. So it is possible!