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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

shaving girl's head ot get rid of nits?

79 replies

marykat2004 · 29/08/2010 14:54

Hello has anyone done that? my friend kept her son's hair at a 'number 1', which means extremely short, hair for the duration of primary school.

But has anyone cut their girl's hair short to prevent nits? I once met someone in Devon who had done so but I don't know how to get in touch with that person. All the girls in DD's class have long hair. DD does not want her hair cut short.

we have gone through 2 treatments already and doing a third tonight. on the 6th of September i have an operation. I will not be able to be nit combing for several weeks after the op at least, and DH won't do it (he cut his own hair to "number 1" rather than deal with the treatment.)

thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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POFAKKEDDthechair · 31/08/2010 09:53

I really don't see why girls have to have unmanageably long hair. What is wrong with a nic bob? And a friend of ds's [girl] has a very sweet short haircut, it looks lovely. And yes I think in part it was to make nit combing easier. Very long hair does make it much harder to get rid of nits. I think often it is parental vanity imposed onto children, this obsession with little girls have fussy long hair.

POFAKKEDDthechair · 31/08/2010 09:55

obviously though you cannot shave her head. And yes your dh should comb but I see nothing wrong in a bob haircut to make it easier.

booyhoo · 31/08/2010 10:00

this little girl has said she doesn't want short hair. surely that means something POFAKKEDD

POFAKKEDDthechair · 31/08/2010 10:07

Having nits you can't get rid of means something too. If my dd [when she gets older] has nits that are tricky to get rid of I will negotiate with her to have shorter length hair that she is happy with.

rainbowinthesky · 31/08/2010 10:08

Of course you can get rid of them it can just take some time and a bit of effort sometimes.

POFAKKEDDthechair · 31/08/2010 10:09

I think it is shit and lazy parenting the number of girls at school who have impossibly long hair and nits all the time, actually. I think it is quite responsible parenting to take measures that make nits easier to get rid of [shorter length hair or tightly plaited hair]

POFAKKEDDthechair · 31/08/2010 10:09

OBVIOUSLY NOT SHAVING A GIRL'S HEAD THOUGH!

rainbowinthesky · 31/08/2010 10:11

DD has long and very curly hair that knots very easily. We have no problem getting rid of nits using conditioner and a nitty gritty comb. Takes about 15 minutes to go through her hair over a few night. She's nearly 7 and only had nits twice. The op's dd has only had it for 2 weeks and doesnt state what treatment she's been using.

POFAKKEDDthechair · 31/08/2010 10:14

Good for you. I know parents who have had a lot more trouble, especially with recurring bouts. And you just do pick up nits much easier with long loose hair.

seeker · 31/08/2010 10:15

What's she got - a new breed of super-nits? Of course you can get rid of them - it's not rocket science. Hedrin to get rid of the initial infestation then proper combing.

If the OP's dp won't comb, he can Hedrin once a week and pay for it himself.

PosieParker · 31/08/2010 10:16

My dd has long hair, although it will be cut before it gets to that hideous waist/below shoulder length, and it's curly and we got rid of nits....dss both have very thick curly hair (not tight curls) and it's never been very short and we got rid of theirs too.

rainbowinthesky · 31/08/2010 10:17

We'll have to agree to disagree. I personally wouldnt enforce a short hair cut on a child who didnt want it because a parent couldnt be arsed to treat the nits.

sundew · 31/08/2010 10:18

The treatments are all hopeless - the only thing that works for my dds is a nitty gritty comb (which is fantastic). dd2 has a short bob - but not because of nits she has really thick hair and is impossible to brush (+she looks really cute).

Tall dh to get real and start combing - its not that bad really.

POFAKKEDDthechair · 31/08/2010 10:19

I wouldnt enforce it either, see earlier post. I don't know why people get so outraged and over-emotive about the suggestion of cutting a little girl's hair into a bob.

TanteAC · 31/08/2010 10:56

Please don't do this - there is something very inhumane about the whole sentiment. She's not an animal.

Lots of advice o how to keep nits at bay here - use it! It's just a normal part of childhood.

Original poster

marykat2004 · 31/08/2010 22:09

(So I am back, not disappeared. For whatever reason, not everyone's on here 24/7.)

DD agreed to a bob, as her best friend at school cut her hair into a bob several months back. And we have renamed the "bob" haricut a girl's name.

But there are still nits. I have ordered a "nitty gritty" comb online as the other 3 combs I have don't get the eggs out. The latest treatment is an overnight one called "Derbac M". The one before, I don't remember, but it didn't work.

At DD's school they have to have hair tied back. And all school year I dutifully inspected and she had nothing. Then just two days in a summer playgroup where there were no rules about hair being tied back - I guess this is where it started.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 31/08/2010 22:19

What about having her hair all tied up, maybe in two buns, one either side, covered with a bun net?

seeker · 31/08/2010 22:24

OK> Are you combing ptroperly? Lots of conditioner and comb the hair in sections for at least 30 minutes.

None of the treatments get the eggs out - that's why you have to repeat them.

Here is my failsafe way to get rid of nits on my nit magnet ds (who has long, surfer dude hair which he does not want to cut)

Hedrin. properly applied and left in overnight, even if it says I hour. Then wash out the hedrin and the dead lice in the morning. Then, that evening, slather the hair in conditioner, sit in front oof the telly with a packet of chocolate digestives and comp until the head is clear. This can take a very long time. Up to an hour if the infestation's been bad.
Repeat the condition and comb on day 3 and day 7. If you do it properly, you will get ri of them, I promise. But, sadly, regardless of the legnth of the hair, you will get them again.

Oh, and make sure you do everyone in the family. Including you and dp. It's not just children who get nits.

Original poster

marykat2004 · 31/08/2010 22:54

yeah, i am doing me, but DH has a number 1 now. Luckily it suits him. And at his age (almost 50), short hair looks good. Long hair on older men can make them look like bums.

Found none on me last comb time but will do my own hair again.

OP posts:

RonansMummy · 31/08/2010 22:57

my DH was shocked that your DH refuses, and thus is a man who HATES all bugs and creepy crawlies!!

he said "tough, you can't shave a little girl's hair off!"

seeker · 31/08/2010 22:57

He still needs to comb. he may be the carrier. My ds got nits when he was a tiny baby with practically no hair at all.

RonansMummy · 31/08/2010 23:01

ah i just read you aren't shaving it :-) phew!

unfitmother · 31/08/2010 23:05

I was hoping this was a piss-take.

Original poster

marykat2004 · 31/08/2010 23:23

not a piss take but "shaving" was the wrong word, I meant cut short! I would never "shave" bald a child's head!

But I really did meet a friend of a friend's kid's friend, and this girl had very short hair. I was told it was to "prevent nits." SO I was really wondering who viable this option was.

At least some people think this mania of having long, difficult hair when you are too young to take care of your own hair, was unnecessary.

OP posts:

aegeansky · 02/09/2010 21:54

Hi marykat2004,

Do you have the right comb? Not sure what it's called, but you need the metal one. It basically crushes the nits AND eggs, whereas the plastic one doesn't. One treatment usually works.

I would not ever advocate shaving it all off as a solution - it's degrading and attracts attention. Kick your husband up the arse if he can't be bothered to do a treatment every few days until they're gone.

I'm a bloke and I researched the treatment and dealt with/deal with it when necessary.

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