Nits. What if a child won't be nitty-gritty combed?

[megletthesecond]

12yr old DS got nits for the first time last week. We've all had Hedrin a couple of times already and will re-treat this week.

But 11yr old DD won't let me nitty gritty her hair and has a meltdown over it. Shall I just use Hedrin/ lyclear a few extra times to make sure she's ok?

I've been through her head with a torch and can't see anything, although I'm not sure how visible nits and eggs will be. The hairdresser found the nit on DS's hair.

At work, will check back later.

And when I saw meltsown, I mean screaming so loudly at even gentle combing that someone will eventually call the police. It's awful.

You do it anyway. You're the parent and nit combing is non negotiable.

Get DD to nitty-gritty comb it herself.

And make sure an adult supervises.

I’m not being funny but regardless wether she wants to have her nitty head combed or not; it has to be. Your the parent and you know what’s best and she can’t go around with live everyday....

She’s 11 fgs, tell her to sit down and have behave her age !

You do it anyway.

Or you shave their head.

Non negotiable, especially at 12. Please dont be that person that doesnt treat properly it keeps the cycle going and we have a massive problem in DTs school where someone isn't doing it properly. Get loads of conditioner through wet hair and comb it, it doesnt hurt, stick her in front of the TV while you do it.

Is she NT?

If so, I think it has to come down to tough parenting, sadly... it's not pleasant but it's really the only way of getting rid of nits and eggs.

If she's not, you might be able to get a consultant to prescribe her with a stronger headlice treatment, although it is much harsher on the skin and hair and I don't believe it's available unless she has a diagnosis.

The nit treatments like Hedrin are good for killing the live nits, but they still need to be removed and eggs removed by combing, by itself it's unlikely to do enough to stop her from having nits.

An 11 year old screaming hysterically about something like that sounds unusual to me?
Would she rather be walking round with nits than have it combed?

It’s not a choice. It needs to be done, so it gets done. As pp have said just sit her in front of the tv or with a tablet while you’re doing it.

it's not a choice, like cleaning your teeth.
If she doesn't do it, eventually her hair will be crawling and it will be obvious, people will see them.
A girl at my ds school many years ago went untreated, even after letters home.
I helped out in class and you could see them, giant bloody lice.

In theory the expensive hedrin (is it called once?) should be sufficient to kill live live - all the combing does is remove the dead bodies and the nits

If you use it weekly over three applications then any nits still to hatch will be killed each time once they have hatched before they can reproduce

At the end of the final treatment everything should have died with nothing left to hatch

Needs 3 treatments due to the life cycle

Agree with others. It's a pain but it has to be done. TV on, dry brush to remove tangles, lots of conditioner and slow combing section by section with a reward afterwards.

In my experience nits aren't visible until you have a massive infestation. They are also quite quick so a dry check wont pick them up.

7 days apart exactly

Hedrin Once is meant to kill eggs too. I’d just use that and check everyone every so often.

I agree. Its non negotiable. She's 11, you're in charge

You are the adult not your dd

anchor I doubt it . I've spent six years trying to get help. But she doesn't show any problems at school, the usual story.

I should have fully explained how dangerous it will be when she lashes out. She punches and bites me and we're at the stage where one of us will be injured when I have to restrain her. She will try and smash and climb out of windows so I do need to prevent her hurting herself. I have asked for help with restraint but was palmed off. She doesn't brush her teeth often either, I spent 9 years with every technique in the book and it was impossible to continue.

ilove I will Hedrin her every day for month if it works and keeps us safe. It's cheaper than replacing damaged items.

I'm expecting a call from the school nurse about some recent problems so I'll ask if they can prescribe anything stronger than over the counter stuff.

Get another adult to restrain her while you comb her, every time. You’re not doing this for fun it’s for her health and you absolutely need to stop feeling guilty. You are not hurting her.

The Hedrin once should work, but is very gloopy and takes some effort to wash out - it is silicone-based, so imagine washing out an overload of straightening serum or similar!

I think it would still need combing though.

teddy I don't have any other adults I'm afraid. Family have all moved away.

Hedrin Once and then repeat 7 days later. The other Hedrins don't work. I always did this on my DD1 who doesn't have any additional needs but has very thick hair and is extremely sensitive to pain. I completely disagree with holding her down and doing it by force if there's another alternative. Just because it's not painful for most children doesn't mean it's not for this child.

Although if she doesn't actually have nits do you need to treat her again? You should be able to spot eggs by just looking through carefully

You tell the child it's not an option. It has to be done.

yy need. It's Hedrin Once. I've already done it twice in 6 days. And will treat again tomorrow. I was going to lyclear shampoo her tonight. It's like chemical warfare.