To think this Mums Attitude is just plain slack

[rockinhippy]

Okay I'm sure the whole headlice thing has been done to death on here as on probably all parenting forums, so I will try not to "go there" too much.

DD is at a Summer School this week, realised last night she had picked up the dreaded mini beasties, & considering she was checked thoroughly on Sunday with her weekly hair wash & was clear, & we've been lucky in that she's only ever had them 3 times, & previously most found were 2......so I was a bit gobsmacked to find 6 adults, & tons of eggs.........whole family suitably treat, deloused, & repelant etc etc....so lots of hard work & over £30 odd lighter & neck ache later

I did the responsible thing & let the Summer School leader know straight away, wasn't accusing, I'm well aware its all part of the joys of having kids she was grateful, especially as her own Kids are also in the class. & also did the responsible thing & let the other parents know

on over hearing her tell 1 Mum, the response was..."oh don't worry about that, mine have them continuously, they are super bugs these days, can't get rid of them, no point in worrying about them

IMO bad enough having that attitude, but FFS, at least be embarrassed to own up to it

I'm dreading them. My DS is 2 and so far he's clear. The thing I don't understand is I'm one of 5 siblings and we never had them as kids, not even once. So what's changed that has made them so prevalent?

Maybe I just don't know the facts but I can't imagine not even trying to get rid of them.

Why be embarrassed to own up to it? Lice happen. They have happened forever and a day and will continue happening. No need for embarrassment. Constant need to check. Certainly not worth getting precious over.

Can I recommend a regular shampoo in Vosene/Tea Tree and a good spray of head-lice repellent every morning?... Hair tied well back if long, etc. It's not 100% perfect on the nit-proofing but it's not bad at all. There are always people like the woman you describe and they don't seem to give a toss about anyone else.

The mum may have just been trying to make light of it. She might not have meant she doesn't do anything about trying to get rid of them.

Kathy - I think overuse of insecticides (for the head) has left them immune. It's now the tedious combing and conditioner method to get rid

zandy i think op meant the parent could atleast be embarressed that shes not treating her children?

im itching now

Agree with zandy. The women could be seen as laid back about the critters rather than slack.

Kathyjelly - headlice tend to be more prevalent these days due to central heating, also more likely to get them in rural areas apparently.

Have to say I was very laid back about head lice until my ds actually got them! Wish I's had shares in Conditioner that day

I agree with you, this woman should be embarrassed about the fact that she can't be bothered to get rid of them. Yes they will always keep happening, especially if parents make no effort to remove them!

All you can do is use the repellents but, wrong as it may seem, I would also be very tempted to tell my dcs to stay away from the dc's of that lazy woman, and tell them the reason why.

Why did it cost you £30?

That sounds unbelievably expensive.

Nitty gritty comb is £10, you have it forever and it works with cheap conditioner - no need to put insecticide on your hair and it pulls out eggs as well as adult lice.

cheesesarnie..... sorry for the itch lol, & thank you for clarifying, ...yes thats exactly what I meant ..........& zandy definitely agree no need to be embarrassed to have them, I'm well aware its all part of School life & having kids these days & definitely not precious here either......

we keep on top of it with regular checks etc & are lucky that repelants I use work on DD.......& thanks Chil, I use that stuff too, but usually add Rosemary oil to the spray, so have come to the conclusion its THAT thats working to keep them away....DD is nearly 8, & as I said this is only the 3rd time she's had them......& every time I've used repelants, but ran out of Rosemary Oil (this time hadn't ran out but couldn't find it)

& fare point said , it didn't come across that way, but then I suppose I'd been up since stupid o'clock washing gunk off my own hair & then nittygittying & washing gunk out of a very tearful DDs hair....& DD had me up sevral times in the night, as she was really upset to have them.....sadly she's at an age where you can't really hide it from her

OP, you only wash your child's hair once a week??

herbeaute Headrin is £12.95 a bottle here, it works to kill them & makes it far easier to comb them out with the nittygritty we already own.....needed 2 bottles for 2 lots of long hair & then DH too........by the time I've re done next week, I will have had to buy 3 lots then I needed to buy more Rosemary Oil etc

what's your point lucygoose? I only had my hair washed once a week when I was a child - didn't need it more often

lucygoose depending on what she's been doing of course, but try too yes....

She has very long hair, & its far better for her hair than over washing it & stripping it of its natural oils........its only hair thats washed more often that needs washing more, because of grease etc....if that makes sense........though of course if shes rolling in mud or similar...then thats another story........though we do also have an electronic nit comb that is used on dry hair, so she is checked with that.........its meant to kill them, but having experimented on the little bastards, the first time DD ever got them...it doesn't work, just stuns them .........rosemary kills them, hence why it works as a repllant

lucygoose Washing her hair only once a week is probably why she has only had headlice a few times. As headlice love a 'clean' head of hair!!
Plus as the op says she shouldn't need it washing more often as it's not good for the hair.

same here-dc hair washed once a week,or more if theyre dirty.

Sorry, I am not implying that dirty hair = lice. Its just that with the hot weather, heads get sweaty. I know I do!

Some people are more susceptible than others. My ds has never had them, but my dd is always getting them, despite treating them. And we comb on a very regular basis, whether she has them or not.

And head lice like clean and dirty hair equally! The idea that they only attack clean hair is a myth.

you can get nit stuff free via the care at the chemist scheme. as i was helpfully told after buying the stuff..

DD's nursery had an infestation last year and she picked them up twice. Since the policy is to wear her hair tied back and them seems to help.

And yes you can get hedrin free on the NHS. I got a two dose supply along with a nitty gritty comb.

nitty gritty won't work in DS2 and 3's hair (particuarly not DS2's....it takes chunks of his hair out and no bloody nits).

Only solution for him is to have it all chopped off and slather with hedrin.

And it's ALWAYS him that brings them home......

I didn't know you could get Hendrin on the NHS....damn I could of saved my money, but will look into that for the repeat dose & futer

THANK YOU!

LucyGooseSorry, I am not implying that dirty hair = lice. Its just that with the hot weather, heads get sweaty. I know I do!

don't worry, I didn't read it that way..... I think with Kids hair its a bit different, they don't sweat in the same way adults do until the hormones kick in, she will get hot & sweaty, but it dries in the same way it would with water, no smell, grease etc , & thats with waist length hair..........

sadly I'm the same as you, could never get away with it though seeing how DDs hair is without washing so often, I've adult friends who get away with similar, but have never washed it frequently, they need to wash more in this weather, but otherwise no

...lost half my post??

.....otherwise no need, just wish I hadn't got into the habit of washing mine so often as I do....