Aibu to expect school teachers to use head lice treatment?

[Everywhereilookaround]

We've got them AGAIN, itchy nasty little blighters. Got my shampoo ready to use this morning, before DS goes back to school Monday.

It's a common occurrence, we've had them repeatedly over last year at school, as have other families.

I know it's just one of those things, but what's irking me is that a Friend told me DS's teacher publically refuses to use treatment on herself or her own kids, because...toxins... chemicals.... environment....etc.

So instead she combs them out weekly with nit comb and tea tree rince.

So she doesn't get rid of them, just reduces their number every week.

I've seen her itching, (right now we all are!)

I respect that we all have a right to lead our own lives our way...but why must we all suffer for it?!!

If the teacher won't take the treatment, and keeps reinfecting us, there's just no hope.

Or AIBU to feel annoyed by this?

I've never used chemical nit treatments.

I used a comb, conditioner etc On myself and 2 dc (and a combing schedule). If you do it properly it is much more effective that the chemical stuff.

YABVU.

Here you go OP:

www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/theliceprogram/

You are welcome

If you don't use conditioner combing won't be so effective as the lice just run away. One if the things conditioner does is slows the lices movements down.

🙄 ok of course conditioners may have some chemicals in, depending on which you use, but nit treatments are toxic chemicals which are not suitable for certain ages or pregnant and breastfeeding women. Unlike a conditioner off the shelf. They are not necessary and only line the pockets of the manufacturers.

ok of course conditioners may have some chemicals in, depending on which you use, but nit treatments are toxic chemicals

Everything is made of chemicals. Some are toxic to certain species, eg pesticides.

I’m scratching my head reading this and I don’t have headlice!

I work in a nursery and the only way I can keep live at bay is weekly nitty gritty comb use. Repeated use of the chemicals just means they become resistant and the comb is a better option.

@tittygolightly are you just annoying yourself for no reason? The point as you well know is that the headlice treatments are very strong toxic chemicals and not suitable for certain people to use. They are expensive and not necessary for effective headlice treatment. Pregnant women and very young children are advised to not use them, standard conditioner does not come with such advise or warnings. So yes of course chemicals are everywhere but what is your actual point?

The active ingredient in Hedrin and most other modern head lice treatments is dimethicone, which smothers the lice and is also an ingredient of conditioner. These treatments don’t contain pesticides or very strong toxic chemicals and are as safe to use as conditioner.

^^ that.

Thehop, weekly combing may keep them "at bay" as in keep their numbers low, but if you have them you will stay infected. Hope you mean everyone combing weekly then treating (possibly by more frequent combing) if any are found? But it's worth being clear about that or it propagates the myth that weekly combing is an effective treatment.

what is your actual point

That your (and others’) use of the words “chemical treatments” show that you don’t really understand what you’re saying. It is very lazy which makes absolutely no sense.

See, Sunday is a school day too. :)

Combing every few days with a nit comb and conditioner works BETTER than chemical treatments which clain one use does the job. It is people who use one use treatment who reinfect everyone.

do you think this should be legally enforced, maybe to all?

Combing every few days with a nit comb and conditioner works BETTER than chemical treatments which clain one use does the job

Oh FFS.

CONDITIONER IS A CHEMICAL TREATMENT.

Sorry haven't read the whole thread so maybe repeating advice. Have you washed all bedding, towels, hats, hairbrushes etc. in teatree oil added to laundry when you are treating your dc hair? Children can be re-infected by their own bedding etc.

I swear by the nitz naturals as a preventative.

I spray the kids weekly so their hair is damp with it. Then comb to check and wash with the vosene repellent shampoo.

The spray has tea tree and neem oils in, which lice don't like, and it apparently kills live ones, not that I've tried it as a cure. However, it makes nitty gritty combing really easy and weirdly, the kids love the smell.

There was a girl in DD's class at junior school - crawling with nits. Her parents did her hair once and that was it! I had to do DD's hair with nitcomb and tea tree conditioner every hair wash for 3 years! Was I glad when DD left that school!

We used to treat with just the comb and conditioner....lots and lots of combing with a magnifing light, kids used to watch a dvd while we were doing it over multiple nights
Easier with boys as you can give them a grade 1 hair cut..,.more difficult if child has long hair
There is always a couple of families in every class who dont treat in any way tho, never had the issue with any teachers who I think normally try and stay away from head contact
Not alot you can do apart from keep your own child nit free

@Everuwhereilookaround there is a children's shampoo - can't remember the name - that is supposedly a repellent to keep the lice away once you're clear. It's organic and comes in a red bottle.

@Everywhereilookaround see above post!

@tittygolightly you are derailing and being obtuse. I'm not lazy and couldn't give a monkeys what you think. I did not buy unnecessary 'nit treatments' that cost between £10-26 and instead used conditioners and tea tree oil that cost 50p-£2, I object to companies making money out of people when there's no need.
I've learnt nothing from your posts except that you get annoyed by the way people talk and express themselves and think you are better than other posters despite not actually contributing to the discussion.
My advice regarding not treatment would be to use regular shampoo and whilst conditioner is on the hair, comb daily.
When hair is clear of nits and eggs comb weekly to ensure you keep on top of it.

The point (I always thought) re conditioner is that you can use the cheapest one you can find, actual head lice treatments are expensive and dont tend to work as it is the combing that will get rid of EVERY egg

Ok so substitute "pesticide" for chemical then :)

I’ve never used chemical treatments either. My daughter had lice ONCE I used the conditioner and comb method. If done properly it is a great way of getting rid. DS had lice ONCE, used the same method on him too.

The standard letters we send out when aware of a case of lice in class actually details the “Bug Busting” method of conditioner and comb. Many of the chemical treatments are ineffective anyway as lice can become immune to some of them.