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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not look after DN on tuesday as she has head lice?

111 replies

ceasar04 · 17/04/2011 16:54

As its says really. DSis works full time and I'm on mat leave so offered to have DN next week but she has got nits, Sad was exposed yesterday and head full of it this morning. Have got DS 2.9 and DD 20 weeks. DSis getting Headrin stuff from docs on prescription tomorrow so DN won't be treated till Mon night. Has been through with tea tree and nit comb though.
She is spending tomorrow with the family who she got it from but I really don't want my two exposed.

How quick does Headrin work?

And AIBU if I can sorry can't have her?

Actually I think in reality I won't refuse to have her, DSis will be really stuck if I say no. Is there any way my LO's won't get it??

In a dither.....

OP posts:
MillyR · 17/04/2011 16:57

There are two types of Hedrin. One works in an hour or two but is very difficult to wash out. The other one gets left on overnight. If you have her on Tuesday and she is treated on Monday night, she will not have live lice in her hair on Tuesday.

If for any reason she can't be treated on Monday night, then you could just get her to wear a shower cap. Mine wear shower caps if they have Hedrin in. I don't know how many times mine have had nits over the last ten years, but I would put it at over 50 times.

GypsyMoth · 17/04/2011 16:57

er,why is she getting it on prescription?she could just BUY it for quicker results!!

slartybartfast · 17/04/2011 16:58

can you offer to treat her? have you told your dsis about the lice.

you could treat all at the same time. how old is she?

MillyR · 17/04/2011 16:59

I don't know about where you live, but here it can be got on prescription at some Chemists.

If she was only exposed yesterday, she can't have a head full of nits. She must have had them a while to get a head full.

slartybartfast · 17/04/2011 17:00

re-read.
her mum will treat her on monday night and you will have her on tuesday? is that righht.
shoudl be fine then.

you wont be able to escape it for ever

HansieMom · 17/04/2011 17:01

I wouldn't needlessly expose your two to head lice. You don't want to use chemicals on your baby's head.

I thought conditioner was supposed to work--you put it on thickly and comb through.

And why is she sending her child back to the house with head lice? Cannot your sis stay home and take care of problem?

FollowMe · 17/04/2011 17:01

So your neice got headlice yesterday and your sister is not treating her till Monday? How odd!
And spending today again with a family who still have headlice?

I'd say to your sister that you are happy to have your neice as long as she is fully treated by then. Then its up to her whether she goes and buys the hedrin today and treats her promptly so you can babysit her, or if she dilly dallies and waits until Monday night and risks having no babysitter!

Fresheye · 17/04/2011 17:02

Oh god, they're only bloody nits. I'd be furious if my sister wouldn't help me out because my dc had bloody headlice. How ridiculously precious.

GypsyMoth · 17/04/2011 17:03

hansie......no,not if an infestation has taken hold.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 17/04/2011 17:03

Why doesn't she just buy some.

Original poster
ceasar04 · 17/04/2011 17:03

Slarty DSis rang me today to tell me about the lice and that she has arranged other ccare for tomorrow, DN is 7.

Milly I'm sure its the overnight stuff and swim cap is an ace idea, will def do that, thankyou!

dragonfly DSis is single parent and skint, she went to boots today and would have cost her £17 for all the stuff she needed. I was a bit [sceptical] about her not doing it today but know her pay day is this Fri so she is poor!

OP posts:
fluffygal · 17/04/2011 17:03

If you're worried about your two catching them you could make sure any long hair (on DN or DD) is tied back, possibly spray tea tree oil onto hair to minimise risk whilst your DN is visiting.

ENormaSnob · 17/04/2011 17:04

Yabu

as long as she is treated tomorrow then I don't see an issue.

cat64 · 17/04/2011 17:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
ceasar04 · 17/04/2011 17:15

Am giggling at me being precious...really not that kind of person!! Usually wouldn't mind and just deal with nits but I'm having 2 fillings tomorrow due to teeth being knackered from HG, DD is still up at least 3 times a night and DS fully into terrible twos and hates having hair messed with so could just do without it right now.

But hopefully if she uses Headrin/swim cap/tea tree combo then DC's might escape it.

I can't really leave her in the lurch, we have no parents and just have each other for child care buit thanks for helpful tips.

And DSis IS treating nits with nit comb, conditioner and tea tree, its old skool Smile

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 17/04/2011 17:28

keep their heads away....thats the onlt way they transfer,they dont jump

GKlimt · 17/04/2011 17:38

The whole nit thing is such a bloody nuisance.

Maybe it would it reassure you if you did the full conditioner/nit comb on your children at bathtime after yr DN has gone home?

PlopPlopPing · 17/04/2011 17:50

NO DON'T LOOK AFTER HER!

Original poster
ceasar04 · 17/04/2011 17:51

Ok so not having DN is BU and plan is:

No heads together
Nit comb/cond/t tree the DC's after bath on tues
Spray all of us with diluted t tree before DN arrives
Make DN sit in garden all day wear a swim cap

Sorted!!!

Thank you mnet jury x

OP posts:
PlopPlopPing · 17/04/2011 17:53

YABU to let someone down that you have promised to look after their child, yes.

What are you talking about!?! The child has something which is extremely contagious, manky and would require chemicals and a whole lot of trouble to get rid of. Yes she could comb the hair but what if she does a crap job of it? You can't get rid of the lot overnight. Did you see Embarrassing Bodies when there was the little girl who had had it for YEARS! Despite her mum treating it and combing it and treating it and combing it!

slartybartfast · 17/04/2011 17:54

they all get it PLOP - at some point in their lives.
there is no escape,
mark my words.
just keep treating

ivykaty44 · 17/04/2011 17:58

Put olive oil all over her hair - and leave it in her hair for the duration that you have her.

  1. olive oil will stop the nits moving - it cloggs them up and they go to sleep.
  2. when your dn goes home her mum can run the nit comb through her hair and pull out the sleeping nits - then wash her hair and she will be louse free - though of course the eggs will still be cemented on to her hair shaft.
  3. the next course of action is to dry the hair and then use straightners to kill the nit eggs with the heat. if then you want to get rid, repeat this every 4 days for three weeks and keep her hair olive oiled each time she is with other family with nits as a prevention.
slartybartfast · 17/04/2011 18:00

ooh does that work/

but the straighteners woudnt go to the scalp, and isnt that where the eggs lie?

pigsinmud · 17/04/2011 18:01

Well mine have all had them at some point. Have never used chemicals - condition and comb. Do that after dn has gone and you'll be fine. Poor girl.

musicposy · 17/04/2011 18:02

If she's treated her with conditioner and nit comb, you should be fine. I've never used headrin because I'm always a bit Hmm about it working completely. I just bug bust every night/ other night for 2 weeks and they are gone. If she's done it really thoroughly the night before, DN whon't pass them on.

If you're worried, go through her hair yourself with conditioner/ nit comb when she gets to you. Then you can be doubly sure.

I wouldn't refuse to have her.