Oh help - headlice have arrived just in time for half-term ....WWYD

[MillieMummy]

Oh buggar !

For the first time DD has headlice, have just spent the afternoon treating her and me - will do DH and DS when then get home.

But what do I do about the two play dates DD has later this week:

Say nothing
Cancel
Go ahead but pre-warn the parents

HELP !!!!!

go ahead, pre-warn.

Also each evening condition and wetcomb. That's all you can do. Sadly lice is part of childhood.

Lots and lots of lice threads on MN.

Carry on. Warn the parents - but if you've combed and combed and comb again before the playdates you should be OK. If you cancel everything for head lice you'll have a very restricted social life during the primary school years.

Hedrin, I find, is the best - and my ds is a nit magnet.

Oh and remember to comb again on days 3 and 7 to get the stragglers!

If you've treated her she will be fine to go to the play dates. What treatment have you used? I always use conditioner and a nit comb every other day. I would probably go through her hair before she goes just to make sure she's clear. You could let the parents know but if she's being treated and been checked before I wouldn't worry too much.

Don't treat your DH and DS unless they have them.

You don't have to keep them off school for a week if they have them so the playdates are fine, mention it to the mum if you want but as long as you are wet combing it shouldn't be a problem.

The little buggars only appeared today, but I think she must have had them for over a week - we've always checked regularly.

Just done a comb through then followed with a Hedrin spray which I'll wash off in the morning.

I found it really hard to comb through even with some top quality conditioner - she does have very fine and tangly hair.

I've got friends coming over to see me for a drink later - do you think I need to confess to them ?

Only if you plan on rubbing her head against theirs

It's almost worth waiting 'till they are both sitting down with a drink then telling them .

One of them is a real 'anti-kids' person - her reaction to this would be priceless.

to avoid catching them again, make up a plant sprayer bottle full of water and add tea tree oil, about a tea spoon to 500ml, spray it on DCs hair before they go to school

you can buy similar products but very expensive, use combing with conditioner every time you wash DCs hair

nitty gritty combs are the best, very fine gaps, long teeth and little sharp grooves thsat catch all the eggs too, they are about £10 though

bit of a rite of passage, I think!

I would warn other parents if you hadn't had time to treat yet, but as you have, I wouldn't bother.

Lots of combing with dd in front of a dvd is the only solution really. Boring, but necessary. Good luck!

I agree with loobeylou. We've got a nitty gritty comb too and wouldn't be without it. They have a lifetime guarantee, if they break they replace them for free. Definitely worth the £10.

Some doctors will prescribe them.

There's a letter on the Nitty Gritty website you can download to get the comb on prescription