Nits 😭

[twirlywooooooooo]

Ds never got them, he is autistic and I honestly think it’s the fact he played on his own lol
dd3 had been scratching her head the past couple of weeks, yet every time she has let me check her hair I haven’t found anything, well yesterday I spotted one right at the front of her head, grabbed it and it was most definitely a lice ! I went and got lyclear and combed her hair through with the nitcomb (she needed bribing with an ice lolly as she doesn’t like her hair brushed as it is) I only found one, not even sure I saw any eggs.
Is it possible to only have a couple of them?!

No, she will have loads. They can be hard to spot and you've probably combed out more than you think, though the combs that come in the boxes with the treatments aren't much good. It's best to comb in good natural light or to use a head torch. You also have to be really systematic about the combing. Make sure you follow up with more lice treatment- usually a week after the first. I usually comb as well.

It’s making me itch like crazy, I’ve probably got them too !!
She has thick wavy hair and I really struggle to get the comb through, plus she is 3 so was not happy !

So I should do it again next week ? I don’t understand how I couldn’t see anymore

When I used a plastic comb on DD’s hair, I got virtually nothing. It needed a proper metal comb and for her hair to be wet with the shampoo stuff. Took ages for me to be convinced she was completely nit free.

I’ve got a plastic comb and the nitty gritty metal one, both were tangling in dds hair !

And you need to do the treatment at least every couple of days. A week is far too long. You want to catch the nits before they lay more eggs and catch the eggs before they hatch.

I've not used Lyclear, but most nit treatments recommend treating again in a week to get newly hatched ones. Some will claim to kill eggs with one treatment, but I don't think that's reliable and would always treat again in a week.

Was your child's hair totally saturated in conditioner when you combed, and did you have excellent lighting and section her hair systematically to get to the whole scalp? I didn't think mine had lice the first few times I checked, but they can be hard to spot in thick hair. Nit combing toddlers is a massive drag- I'm sorry! You might get away with just doing the treatment rather than the combing. I have always treated myself when the kids have head lice, but that's partly because I don't trust my husband to check my head properly.

Use conditioner to help untangle her hair.

I would put lots of conditioner in her hair and comb section by section while she watched copious amounts of TV. If the sections are getting caught they are too big and you are loosing nits in the knots. Also I “trimmed” bits towards the ends that were getting caught. A nittygritty comb is great, wipe the comb after each pass on a white kitchen paper. You are looking for white/greyish sesame seed type things. Concentrate on the nape of the neck and behind the ears, I would do this every day if possible and treat again on day seven

The key places nits like to be is behind the ears and at the base of the skull. I used to check both areas thoroughly first because that would give a clear idea of if there were any nits left.

So I should treat again in a couple of days then? How can I prevent her getting them again if I manage to get rid of the little bastards ?!

Prevent by keeping her hair tied up.

All of the above. DD1 never caught them despite being very sociable and I didn't either despite working in school but I think that there was a child in DD2's junior school class who was never clear of them because every term DD2 would catch them. We'd use a chemical on the whole family with the metal comb. Then a day or so later the metal comb with lots of hair conditioner, again on the whole family. Repeat again later in the week. If you wipe the comb on a piece of paper towel between combings there will probably be more eggs than you want to see. DD2 never caught them at infant school or once she left junior school so I'm very sure we weren't the source.
Probably over the top but I used to hit wash everyone's bedding on the day of discovery too. I used to do a regular check on DDs hair too, focus on the hair at the nape of the neck and above the ears, the little feckers like to party there. I think nits would survive a zombie apocalypse but declared war on them...💪

Check the instructions on the product you used for the recommended interval before treating again. If it claims to be a single treatment thing, I would go for treating again in a week. Ideally, comb too- check NHS guidance for intervals on that.

From bitter experience this might help but even plaiting hair every single day does not prevent fully.

Prevention- hair braided/ tied up, but it isn't foolproof. There are essential oil sprays that claim to deter them- worth a go IMO if you know lice are doing the rounds in her class, but I don't know how effective really.

How do I tell nursery to basically tell all the other parents to check their kids hair too without sounding like a dick?! All this effort will be for nothing if she goes back to nursery and gets them again. Also I have tape extension there is no way I’ll get a bit comb through my hair 😫

Just say DD had nits, I’ve treated her. They are used to getting the message and will send one out to parents. As regards keeping her from getting them again- hair up, tea tree oil spray every day before heading out and checking once a week to keep on top of them (our Friday evening job) I find they always seem to appear when I really do not have time to be dealing with them! You could be lucky and not see them again or they could be a regular visitor!

My sister went to a special school and would come home with nits CONSTANTLY which meant I would get them too, it was only when she left the special school at 18 it finally stopped. I think it’s awoken some trauma in me 😆😆

Ive tried to have a look at my hair but I can’t tell if any little white flakes/bits are eggs or dry shampoo

My hairdresser said to slather hair in a cheap conditioner every wash, preferably at least every 2 days, and comb and comb in sections. It always worked for us