Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

DS 9 riddled with headlice, have tried everything under the sun. Please help!

456 replies

Hanarb · 14/05/2024 22:39

DS 9 has been riddled with lice for 3 weeks now. I have tried treatment and spent nearly £100 on various remedies. He has very long, thick surfy hair and it is a nightmare to treat. His teacher has notified me which is mortifying. His childminder said she would get the clippers and shave his hair off (I’m not sure if she was joking). I don’t own any hair cutting equipment but this is seriously taking up so much of my time and causing a lot of stress. What should I do?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
seller2456 · 14/05/2024 23:05

There is no point spending £100 if you're not been doing it tight. No wonder it won't work.

Mumoftwo1316 · 14/05/2024 23:06

I have been there so I don't mean to be harsh. But if you think you've got rid of them and he's just caught them again, it's probably actually that you've just removed the live ones and had a lull before the next eggs hatched. In other words, you're the family that is keeping them in the class.

I'm saying this in all sympathy because when dd first got them I had no idea what I was doing and thought I'd got rid of them initially but I hadn't.

catlady7 · 14/05/2024 23:07

Hanarb · 14/05/2024 22:58

Ok, his childminder offered to shave it all off. Do you think I should say yes?

Show quote history

Yes. It will grow back

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Beauty General health
nodogz · 14/05/2024 23:07

In fairness @Hanarb you are taking this well and keep coming back. Sometimes you just need to take a Mumsnet pile on of sensible advice.

Please cut his hair.

Scarletttulips · 14/05/2024 23:08

Try Avon skin so soft, spray in and comb through, it washes out great and the bits slide out. Buy the cheaper white combs as they have winder prongs. Then buy some tea tree oil and add to shampoo and conditioner. Add a few drops between washes.

Don’t cut his hair unless he wants it cut. People wouldn’t be saying this about girls hair! DD had thick waist length hair. Make sure you tie it up and keep him from getting too close to others - wash his bedding in high temp daily. And coats with hoods.

Itsdefinitelytimeforanamechange · 14/05/2024 23:08

I think at 9 he’s old enough to have an opinion on his hair and if he’s happy to have it shaved or cut shorter without causing him huge upset it sounds like this might be the way to go as your combing technique is not getting to be bottom of it. However if he would be devastated by this then I would be YouTubing videos etc and doing it differently as he shouldn’t still have loads after combing for hours every day. I really wouldn’t want to be sending mine to school and the childminder knowing they had this issue, my head is itching reading this!

rainbowlou · 14/05/2024 23:08

Nitty gritty comb, a ton of conditioner then hot hair straighteners.
then spray with tea tree spray every day before they go to school.

Original poster
Hanarb · 14/05/2024 23:08

Mumoftwo1316 · 14/05/2024 23:06

I have been there so I don't mean to be harsh. But if you think you've got rid of them and he's just caught them again, it's probably actually that you've just removed the live ones and had a lull before the next eggs hatched. In other words, you're the family that is keeping them in the class.

I'm saying this in all sympathy because when dd first got them I had no idea what I was doing and thought I'd got rid of them initially but I hadn't.

I know! I feel like a little bit of hyperbole in my comments has made me seem neglectful. This is my first time dealing with them.

OP posts:
Mumoftwo1316 · 14/05/2024 23:08

EarringsandLipstick · 14/05/2024 23:04

I just wanted to gauge whether it was cruel to cut his hair.

Don't be silly. This can't be a serious question.

No, don't shave it all off 😵‍💫 talk about drawing more attention to him.

Cut it to a reasonable length, slather in conditioner & treat using a nit comb, Nitty Gritty only, as others said.

It will take ages the first night, yes. Just accept it.

Do it 2 or 3 days later (no point in doing it the next day, you are waiting for any eggs to hatch), it will be much shorter. Keep going with this until you've fully cleared it.

No need for treatments. They are messy & less effective.

And without being harsh, be more of a parent. 3 weeks is awful, to have let your DS endure this.

No, don't shave it all off 😵‍💫 talk about drawing more attention to him.
[Edit- meant to use bold not underline!]

But the way kid-logic works, if his classmates have noticed he had lice, they'd be less likely to treat him as a pariah if he comes in shaved. Because they'll know for sure he's no longer got them

Scarletttulips · 14/05/2024 23:08

Those recommending the north gritty comb have not tried it on thick hair - it’s useless, stretches the hair and is painful for the kids.

Sunsetlullaby · 14/05/2024 23:09

If you are having trouble combing it then the sections are too big so make them smaller. My did has the thickest curliest hair and I've been through it many times.

RandomMess · 14/05/2024 23:10

4 daughters with long thick curly hair.

Film/TV on, dry hair, cheap conditioner, Nitty Gritty Comb every 3/4 days.

It works.

If he comes back from school with big fat fuckers some else is reinfected them.

The nitty gritty comb gets out a lot of the eggs and all the babies or at least damages their legs.

Only people allergic to their bites find them itchy.

dementedpixie · 14/05/2024 23:10

If his hair is long and thick then it's likely you're not using enough product to fully coat all his hair and then you end up missing some. You may need multiple bottles to just treat it once.

Original poster
Hanarb · 14/05/2024 23:10

Sunsetlullaby · 14/05/2024 23:09

If you are having trouble combing it then the sections are too big so make them smaller. My did has the thickest curliest hair and I've been through it many times.

Yes, this is exacerbated by the fact that he essentially won’t sit and have his hair combed. Trust me, I spend a lot of time trying to treat them, none of his 3 siblings have them so this is an anomalous case.

OP posts:
dragonscannotswim · 14/05/2024 23:11

Ask ds what he wants to do. Does he want 'long, surfy hair' - or do you??

I'd cut it and treat it properly, or the nits will keep coming back.

TTPD · 14/05/2024 23:12

Don’t cut his hair unless he wants it cut. People wouldn’t be saying this about girls hair!

I would if a girl had thick hair that couldn't be combed, and several weeks of multiple treatments hadn't worked.

Original poster
Hanarb · 14/05/2024 23:12

dragonscannotswim · 14/05/2024 23:11

Ask ds what he wants to do. Does he want 'long, surfy hair' - or do you??

I'd cut it and treat it properly, or the nits will keep coming back.

Yes that is a good point, it’s probably more that I like his hair. I’m thinking about getting the child minder to buzz it tomorrow.

OP posts:
HedgehogB · 14/05/2024 23:13

I have dealt with three kids two straight one very very curly - conditioner and nitty gritty comb, daily for two weeks . No chemicals. Then check daily - for years …….

AStrawberryTart · 14/05/2024 23:13

rainbowlou · 14/05/2024 23:08

Nitty gritty comb, a ton of conditioner then hot hair straighteners.
then spray with tea tree spray every day before they go to school.

This! You also have to be consistent, if you’re not getting rid of every egg and live louse you’re never going to get rid of them. You’re his mum for goodness sake, you need to make sure you get rid of them and it’s not difficult.

Personally, I never understand the sentiment of not cutting hair, it grows back and if he’s not willing to l stay still to let you deal with headline the. `I know what I’d be doing.

Original poster
Hanarb · 14/05/2024 23:14

HedgehogB · 14/05/2024 23:13

I have dealt with three kids two straight one very very curly - conditioner and nitty gritty comb, daily for two weeks . No chemicals. Then check daily - for years …….

Yes, part of issue is he won’t sit and be treated so I might offer an ultimatum to let Sarah (childminder) shave it or sit still and allow me to treat him.

OP posts:
Ioverslept · 14/05/2024 23:14

Just cut it. As a child my mum used to rinse my hair in diluted vinegar after washing to prevent head lice, it seemed to work!

TokyoSushi · 14/05/2024 23:15

It does sound like you've tried, but if you really can't get it under control then it's a welfare issue and it needs cutting/shaving asap.

paulhollywoodshairgel · 14/05/2024 23:15

You don't have to shave it. Just cut it to a more manageable length so it's easier to come. Tea tree or lavender scents seem to work.

Scarletttulips · 14/05/2024 23:15

If you have a child in the class who’s parents refuse to treat them, you’ll keep getting them back.

I’ve seen kids dripping in them and school can not approach the parents, or raise the issue.

US schools won’t allow them in school until treated.

ouch44 · 14/05/2024 23:15

I'd check your own hair too. In case you're giving them back to him. Bloody DD was a cuddler and we are a cuddly family. She even gave them to DH who has a crew cut! Nasty little things. Hedrin once always worked for us but you have to follow the instructions to a T. She had hair down to her bum but we managed to get through it!

The good news is it stops at secondary!

Swipe left for the next trending thread