to think that the producers of nit shampoo have us over a barrel?

[DrSeuss]

So, DS (6), and DD, (14 mths) have come home with what DS informs me are correctly called "visitors" (I am told off regularly by him for using the words "lice", "louse" or "nits") so it was straight off to Boots to buy the gunk. So expensive! The cheapest one was no good as it had to be done daily for a week, some required a long period of siting there and so I went for the one that takes only 15 mins, bearing in mind I had to sit with the baby playing games and singing songs to keep her hands out of her hair. £17.99! DH is an industrial chemist and read the ingredients. His estimate is a fiver tops! What a rip off!

They don't have me over any barrel because DD2 is allergic to everything available here in Chile. I do it the old fashioned way, olive oil on the hair to kill the little fuckers lice and then physically remove them. Conditioner is easier to rinse off than the oil, but I want to kill them

BTW, WTF are you not allowed to call them lice?

I haven't used nit lotions for years. I'm actually a bit shocked that the NHS is providing it for free - what a diversion of funds that could be used to give asthmatics drugs they need instead of charging them?

Conditioner and comb. Every other night for a week. Then every third night. Nits all gone in first two combs and you're just removing the immature young from then on.

It's a pity that schools are so lame regarding headlice. This is the place where they are spread, yet they low children to stay in school with lice and issue ineffective and ignored statements about combing.

When we lived in the US for several years, we never encountered headlice because affected children were not allowed in school so they could not pass them on.

DS's Y1 teacher refers to them as "visitors". DS insists that I do likewise even though I think it's cobblers!

Not everyone could afford to be shelling out on drugs - calpol is free, infacol is free hayfever tablets are free - on prescription - why would anyone pay over the counter if they are entitled to free medical care?

I'm actually a bit shocked that the NHS is providing it for free - what a diversion of funds that could be used to give asthmatics drugs they need instead of charging them?

There a lot of things the NHS funds that I thoroughly disagree with, but that is a whole different debate.

Hmm - I'm a childminder and our regulatory body in Scotland has told us all we cannot exclude children because they have "visitors."

the health protection agency says no exclusion is required for head lice

I comb weekly with nitty gritty and conditioner - after 2 1/2 bug-free years we got another infestation at Easter and since then they have been hitting DD2 regularly because some bloody parents will not check and treat their offspring.

When we have bugs, we use Hedrin first, then the following night we soak the hair in vinegar (this dissolves the glue that binds the eggs to the hair so they wash out) and then we use Hedrin in follow-up as recommended. It works. Weekly checking means you catch them early too.

I only used it once. Conditioner and a nit comb is best.

Poundland sells Lyclear but you need to comb.