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?

Are you actually joking? Teachers go to more meetings than they teach.

the chemical shampoos never did much when I was a child, they only aggravated mine and my siblings eczema. Tea tree is a strong natural alternative treatment with the fine toothed brushing. She had probably gotten used to it as many staff do. My SIL is always getting headlice from her nursery kids. Usually there are particular children whose parents don't treat it effectively or tell their children to avoid touching heads with peers until its been treated. contact your child's school nursing team/ community nursing team (funding has been slashed so they have had to merge provision in lots of regions) to raise the issue with parents school/ class wide. If still no joy school governors.
Staff can sometimes just put up with this rather dealing with it but I'm pretty sure it's just as annoying for her as for you or anyone else!

Modern treatments smother lice @Biblio78. Used according to the instructions they can't fail.

I don’t bother with coconut oil! Just nitty gritty will do. Sometimes with conditioner, sometimes I just rake the kids heads dry, none of my 3 have lice so I know it works, my daughter last caught lice in the wasted break, all gone within a single combing, Ok I combed for bloody ages!! Checking and checking whilst she watched a film. I then recombed every 2 to 3 days for 2 weeks to make sure I hadn’t missed any eggs! I hadn’t, but I’ve become pretty good at using the nitty gritty effectively ;)

Easter was the last time we saw lice, before that it was more than a year. I hope to be quick off the mark every time! I’ve only recently checked again as one child said they had an itchy head. Turned out to be just dry skin. But they all got checked just in case :)

Easter break! Not wasted break.. silly autocorrect 🤣

Not surprised, combing it's what ills them off the hair shaft isn't it? I think if you use any treatment without the fine combing they can linger? Might be wrong though!

I used the nitty gritty method for nearly a year and my dd remained infested because you only need to miss one! It's ok if you've only a few but we tried all the natural methods and nothing worked. You need a good dose of nit killer, then a nifty gritty! Teacher sounds a bit blase about it all. If you think it is them infecting the class, mention quietly to the Head your concerns rather than angry appointments.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-lice-and-nits/
I also use a preventative spray on ponytail which meant we have got away lightly only had them when I forgot to spray hair but this isn't recommended. We have only had them through direct hat sharing, so educate your children to not share hats, clothes, combs etc..

I use nitty gritty, I think the main thing is to realise a lotion bought at the chemist generally kills the live lice not the eggs so as more hatch you need to repeat the process before the new lice reach the age when they lay eggs.
When using the combing method, lots of conditioner, after each pass wipe onto a tissue to remove from comb any eggs or lice. Repeat every other day for two weeks or until no eggs or lice found.

If lice are continually being found it's either down to not being thorough enough or reinfection.

This will get rid of them but you have to be thorough- use a sectioning comb and put the tv/tablet on to prevent squirming child :-)

cks.nice.org.uk/head-lice#!diagnosissub

cks.nice.org.uk/head-lice#!scenario

The chemical treatments don't kill the eggs so chances are you haven't broken the cycle. I do my girls hair with conditioner and nitty gritty comb. Every week. This was in response to my eldest getting nits 3 weeks after starting nursery. I have found the occasional fully grown louse but have never had an infestation since. When I did find lice I comb every other day for 2 weeks regardless of if I find anymore it's the only way to make sure your child is nit free.

You can get rid of nits with just the nitty gritty comb and lots of tea tree conditioner, I have used this method successfully on my own children. It’s the parents not treating their children that re-infect the rest of the class.

You sound charming...

It’s none of your business how she treats lice in her own home but the nitty-gritty comb and tea tree oil is most effective cure I’ve found...and I’ve tried a few on my DC.

I have only ever used chemical treatment on DD1 a couple of times. By the time I had DD2 and DS, I kew better anyway and never use them at all now. The best practice treatment in nitty gritty comb, loads of conditioner and comb through. This should be done more than once a week with an infestation though, at least every other day. This does effectively get rid of them.

Using chemical treatments, I used them, then my DD would go back into school and pick them up again. I refuse to A, spend that amount of money repeatedly, and B, subject my children to chemicals that ultimately achieve nothing.

I'll stick with the nitty gritty, but definitely do it more than once a week!