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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Fucking NITS!

78 replies

PyongyangKipperbang · 18/09/2020 18:50

AIBU to think that there is no reason why nits should still be doing the rounds?!

We managed to be completely nit free for what felt like the first time in years during lockdown. Not back at school a month and already they are back in the house.

I cannot fathom anyone who allow a child to go untreated for that long, it is neglect surely?

OP posts:
tobedtoMNandfart · 18/09/2020 18:59

Oh I don't know theyre clingy little buggers who have managed not to go extinct thus far. You have my sympathy. Gallons of cheap conditioner.

SparkyBlue · 18/09/2020 19:02

I'd be fuming as well OP. It was one of the jokes at the school gate recently that at least everyone should be nit free after a six month break from school. We had an awful problem last year in my daughters class with head lice.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 18/09/2020 19:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

purpleboy · 18/09/2020 19:29

I have literally just pulled a massive one out of dds hair. I am so cross, she got them halfway through July after playing with a particular girl, she played with the same girl on Wednesday, Nits found tonight😡
Can't even avoid said child and don't think the parents would care if I told them.
It's neglect plain and simple, no one should be having nits after spending so long away from other children.

RunningNinja79 · 18/09/2020 19:36

We finally got rid of Nits this year too. So far we're still nit free, but I expect them back by Christmas - that's if we can get to Halloween first.

Original poster
PyongyangKipperbang · 18/09/2020 20:33

I thought we would have until at least half term Hmm

But I just cannot get my head around the fact that they are still doing the rounds. If all (ok, most) of the kids where off then there is no reason why they should be other than some parents not giving a shiny shite that their kids are suffering with them for the last 6 months. Those poor kids.

OP posts:
SchrodingersImmigrant · 18/09/2020 20:58

I have to ask. Is it a generational thing?
I had nits once as a child. That was the only time we had them at camp. None at school. I actually even asked my mum after reading about it here.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 18/09/2020 20:59

Mind me I am just early thirties

RhodaDendron · 18/09/2020 21:02

Yanbu, my dd went back to reception in June last year and got them within three weeks. How the F did they survive lockdown!?

Original poster
PyongyangKipperbang · 18/09/2020 21:02

I had them a handful of times at school maybe 4 or 5.

I had my son in 1990 and since he had them a couple of times but since DD (who was born in 1997) and their 4 other siblings started school, we have rarely had a month without them. Maybe its because I have had a child in primary school since about 1994 and there are so many of them, but it does seem that the nits are going about faster and staying longer than they did when I was a kid (am almost 50).

OP posts:
ThirteenRed · 18/09/2020 21:02

I'm late 30s & I remember having them on & off my whole education due to a particular family where the children were never treated. I don't know how the children were left to live like they were Sad

Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd · 18/09/2020 21:03

@SchrodingersImmigrant

I have to ask. Is it a generational thing? I had nits once as a child. That was the only time we had them at camp. None at school. I actually even asked my mum after reading about it here.
There are now 'super lice' and nits which are really hard to get rid of.

DD is a teenager and still has to nit comb her hair about 2-3x/week.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 18/09/2020 21:04

Bloody hell😱
I shall keep bit further away from kids on buses now😐

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 18/09/2020 21:05

I posted a thread at start of lock down asking if iwbu to think we had a one off opportunity to eradicate nits and would know after this who wasn't fucking treating.

I was so right.

Original poster
PyongyangKipperbang · 18/09/2020 21:06

I do know that they are resistant to the "slash and burn" chemicals we used to use (Derbac anyone? Remember the smell?!), which is why Hedrin etc has come in. But that involves some spade work in terms of combing and I suspect that many parents simply cant be arsed.

Also, logical head on, treatments are expensive and although Nitty Gritty combs are available on prescription, many people dont know this. So a family who are low income due to chaotic circumstances and may already be on SS radar may avoid the doctors and struggle to find the money to treat......

Answering my own rant here arent I?!

OP posts:
Original poster
PyongyangKipperbang · 18/09/2020 21:07

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

I posted a thread at start of lock down asking if iwbu to think we had a one off opportunity to eradicate nits and would know after this who wasn't fucking treating.

I was so right.

It was the perfect opportunity but your theory was based on everyone giving a shit, which clearly many parents dont. Again, those poor kids :(
OP posts:
Nightmanagerfan · 18/09/2020 21:08

I think they are now resistant to many treatments. I had them in 2000 and remember treating my hair once and that was it. I formed a support bubble with my sister in June and she and her kids had them, at that point they’d had them three months and hasn’t managed to get rid of them. Of course we caught them. I’m now clear but the kids still have them. We’ve done everything - Treatmenta, conditioner and wet combing nightly for weeks, and the buggers keep coming back!

Justgorgeous · 18/09/2020 21:08

I have written to the Head of our primary school asking her to make it mandatory for girls to have their hair in plaits or tied back tightly. I literally have smoke coming out of my ears when I see hair down at school !!

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 18/09/2020 21:08

Ps its not a generational thing schrodinger. Nits (including eggs) used to be killed easily by pesticides such as permethrin etc. Now something like 97% of nits are resistant to all safe pesticides. You can suffocate or electrocute adults but none of the treatments really 100% gets the eggs. This means nowadays a nit outbreak requires all parents to treat repeatedly
& thoroughly over a 3 or so week window to kill new lice as they hatch before more eggs are laid. Too many parents can't be bothered.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 18/09/2020 21:10

We’ve done everything - Treatmenta, conditioner and wet combing nightly for weeks, and the buggers keep coming back

You are not combing well enough then..are you sure they've got them? Nothing will get rid of empty egg shells, so unless you are seeing lice you may have got them.

Original poster
PyongyangKipperbang · 18/09/2020 21:10

@Nightmanagerfan

I think they are now resistant to many treatments. I had them in 2000 and remember treating my hair once and that was it. I formed a support bubble with my sister in June and she and her kids had them, at that point they’d had them three months and hasn’t managed to get rid of them. Of course we caught them. I’m now clear but the kids still have them. We’ve done everything - Treatmenta, conditioner and wet combing nightly for weeks, and the buggers keep coming back!
Are you boil washing all the bedding/towels? And hanging their clothes out for 3 days? Doesnt help the clothes but makes the nits die.
OP posts:
whattodo2019 · 18/09/2020 21:11

My 15 yr old has nits at boarding school!!!

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 18/09/2020 21:11

It also doesn't help that its fashionable for little girls to have very long hair. When I was at school in the 90s only 2 girls in class had longer hair (most had shoulder length) now they all seem to have bum length hair!

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 18/09/2020 21:12

Aaargh this thread has made me itch

passmethewineplease · 18/09/2020 21:13

We had a problem pre lockdown and managed to get it sorted. Got the dreaded email the other day that they are back in school. Angry

It baffles me why parents don’t ensure their children’s hair is tied up. I work in the school and so many of the girls have their hair down.

Don’t get it nits aside it’s just easier for them to have their hair tied back. Confused