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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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, 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:

GKlimt · 17/04/2011 18:06

Maybe, maybe don't let your DN cuddle or have physical contact with your baby just for the day. Depends a bit on how old yr DN is?

muminthemiddle · 17/04/2011 18:11

I wondered why she didn't buy it. I didn't know that you could get free hedrin on perscription.
Treating with tea tree with do sod all, you may as well put butter on her hair.

Personally I cannot stand anyone who has such a blase attitude towards headlice. I would tell her to get rid of them. I also would not knowingly send my child back to a family where headlice is untreated. Headlice if untreated can start to run a child down just the same as any other illness can run you down. Living in squalid conditions is also not a crime but any decent parent just doesn't do it.
If it were me I would ask her to make sure the headlice had been treated and then perhaps do some checking myself but still look after your neice.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 17/04/2011 18:13

Nits do NOT require chemicals to get rid of them. The wet-combing method is a bit time-consuming, but it works.

Wash the child's hair and apply plenty of conditioner, then use a nit comb and comb through the child's hair in sections, wiping the comb on kitchen roll after each stroke, and keep on going until you can't see any more nits or lice in the hair or on the kitchen roll. Repeat in two days time, then again in another two days time. That has worked for us every time we've used it - and your children end up with beautiful soft shiny hair - and NO chemicals.

Frankly, OP, your dsis could wet-comb your dniece every night between now and when you have to have her, and she would probably be pretty much nit-free by the time she came to yours.

ilythia · 17/04/2011 18:19

Oh fgs, they are only nits. They don't kill you.

And you don't need chemicals either. Just comb properly.

muminthemiddle · 17/04/2011 18:23

Lots of things will not kill you.

Going without food for a day, sleeping on the floor, wearing filthy clothes, not bathing for 2 weeks. All of which will not kill you but people would be up in arms over them on mumsnet if their child were to visit someone who lived like this.

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 18:28

Blimey its nits, not the bloody plague!

Criticising a woman for not having the money to buy Hedrin (which is fecking expensive imo) the week before payday and waiting 24 hours to get it free is shitty! She isnt leaving a child to fester in its own filth, merely wet combing now and treating with hedrin tomorrow. Whats the big deal?

I suppose I would be considered blase about headlice because we have had no point in the last 5 years without someone in the house with them. ah the joys of a large family! So we just bug bust every night, with a big bust on a Sunday and if 2 of them have them at the same time then we hedrin. I dont make a fuss and I certainly dont make a big deal out of it when it comes to going places because if I did we would never go anywhere. Nits are a fact of life with school age children, but when they start to get towards the end of primary and into seniors it does finally stop!

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 18:32

Oh and Muminthemiddle....if someone else checked my child for headlice I would go fecking mental. There are some things you just dont do.

If the mother is treating the child then there is no need for anyone else to check her and if she isnt then the OP should have a word with her about it or refuse to babysit, but checking herself is totally out of order

juuule · 17/04/2011 18:35

I agree with the repeated combing to get rid completely.

However, she could also buy Full Marks which is around £5 (somewhat less than £17) and only needs to be combed through and left on for 10mins(although I usually leave it on longer than that to be more thorough). That should get rid of reproducing adult lice. Claims to get rid of eggs too but I'd redo with the Hedrin a week later to make sure and also advise her to continue with the conditioner and combing to prevent further infestations.

If you are particularly paranoid about nits then maybe treat your children with something like Fullmarks after your niece has left.

noodle69 · 17/04/2011 18:46

Think you are making a bit of fuss out of nothing tbh. I would take them and its only nits not some major crisis.

kitbit · 17/04/2011 19:04

FWIW I wouldn't be looking after a child with a head full, no.

And for everyone who would send their kids here there and everywhere 'because they're only nits fgs' this is probably the reason why they're so bloody prevalent

kitbit · 17/04/2011 19:05

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 19:33

Kitbit, I think there is a difference between ignoring the problem and not caring, which is not acceptable, and doing what I do which is doing my best to keep them at bay but accepting that at some point one of my kids will have them.

I nit comb, I hedrin when needed but as I said, not a week goes by that I dont get something out of atleast one of them. There is no point me getting annoyed at the parents who dont treat (thats not to say I dont, but I know there is not point in it!) I just have to keep combing and combing.....and combing. Aslong as i am doing that then I see no reason to stay in the house with a red cross on the door as I know that we arent the problem.

iamamug · 17/04/2011 19:39

They are just nits!! Chill people please. It's perfectly normal and very easily treated.
Can't believe anyone would even consider letting someone down over childcare because of this.
Precious doesn't come close - sorry!

Original poster

ceasar04 · 17/04/2011 19:44

Am back was doing bath and bedtime!! Lets get a few things straight.

Bogeyface Thank you for those words of support for DSis choices and to re-iterate SHE IS WET TREATING TODAY AND GETTING CHEMICAL TREATMENT TOMORROW.
Not neglecting to treat her DD's head lice.

My query about whether or not to have her was about DN passing it onto my DC not questioning my DSis parenting capacity.

And she is not sending her back to a house riddled with lice, the family in question has one DS (PF and only B) and he has been combed, washed, chemically treated to within an inch of his life. I know the mum quite well and she is precious to the point of bonkerness about him so no worries on that score. Better DN goes there where they have all the stuff to treat her aswell than bring it here no?

After reading that DN might have got it earlier (we did see her every day last week) I decided to get on with checking DCs and me...all clear for now thankfully...and put some diluted tea tree on them.

Searched and found comb, conditioner and tea tree oil but couldn't find a spray container.

So rummaged through the big box of crap toiletries box and found a perfect sized bottle..... of sex toy cleaner !!!!!!!!!!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!

Decided that would be ok after a good rinse out because is used to clean something that goes up your fanjo is probably ok for DC head!!! (never thought I'd write that sentence out)

Made me chuckle all through bedtime (although did pick label off, seemed wrong to be spraying DC's head with picture of naked woman on it)

OP posts:

compo · 17/04/2011 19:46

Lol

love it

I'd be a bit meh about it too Caesar , it's Easter hols , who wants a nit infestation in the Sch hold there's plenty of time for that in the Sch term

Wormshuffler · 17/04/2011 19:51

Does anybody else get immense pleasure from picking them out by hand and crushing them between their finger nails until they make that satifying crack noise???
OP you wait til they get to school and they get paired up on a table with a child that always has them........now that is a challenge!!

blondebutonlyfaking · 17/04/2011 19:52

PMSL at sex toy cleaner as nit killing aid

PlopPlopPing · 17/04/2011 19:53

slartybartfast - Yes they might all get it at somepoint but that doesn't mean you have to go looking for them! Inviting someone into your home who has them is doing just that!

Bogeyface - If you've had no point in the last 5 years without one of you having them then you are doing something wrong. That's not right and I feel sorry for your kids, imagine being known as the nit family at school! Sort it out woman!

kitbit And for everyone who would send their kids here there and everywhere 'because they're only nits fgs' this is probably the reason why they're so bloody prevalent - Totally agree (tut tuts at Bogey)

BTW, this is coming from the perspective of someone who had them as a child several times, who's parents had to wait until payday until they could afford the treatment (it was a bloody long time), who had to go to school with nits crawling down her face and neck, oh and is bloody traumatised by it!

noodle69 · 17/04/2011 19:54

kitbit - I work in a nursery and deal with nits all the time. Have hads nits a fair few times etc. It doesnt seem like a big deal after that. Its only harsh if people go a long time without treating them but if they are treating them its hardly a major deal.

noodle69 · 17/04/2011 19:55

'BTW, this is coming from the perspective of someone who had them as a child several times, who's parents had to wait until payday until they could afford the treatment (it was a bloody long time), who had to go to school with nits crawling down her face and neck, oh and is bloody traumatised by it!'

Why on earth didnt your parents just wet comb them out every night? You dont have to have the proper stuff in order to get rid of nits.

RumourOfAHurricane · 17/04/2011 19:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

PlopPlopPing · 17/04/2011 19:59

Why on earth didnt your parents just wet comb them out every night? You dont have to have the proper stuff in order to get rid of nits.

They did, it didn't work.

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 20:01

When I say that there is no point in the last 5 years that is because one of the children will bring them home. Its not actually true that theyhave never had them, because during the holidays they are totally clear but during term time, week in and week out, someone will bring them home. ITs called having school aged kids and I am fucking fuming at you implication that I am neglecting my children. How fucking dare you?!

At one point I had 5 school and pre-school age children, you try having that without picking up nits regularly. How many kids do you have? How old are they?

Do you even have a clue about how easy they are to pick up? You are talking shite and insulting me in the process. And as for being known as "the nit family" well sorry to disappoint you but that title is taken, sadly by the family of DD2's best friend which is why we have them all the time and I have actually posted on here before for advice on what, if anything I should say to the very unapproachable mother of the family who doesnt seem to give a shit that her dd is crawling with them

Bogeyface · 17/04/2011 20:02

Why on earth didnt your parents just wet comb them out every night? You dont have to have the proper stuff in order to get rid of nits.

They did, it didn't work. sad

Well thats not right, they should have sorted it out shouldnt they?!

blondebutonlyfaking · 17/04/2011 20:02

I do the conditioner/nitty gritty thing every week on DD's and me

There's a child in DD's class who constantly has them.

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