we can't get rid of the nits!!

[Clure]

DD (and myself) have had headlice for a good couple of months on and off (mainly on!) I've tried Hedrin and Lyclear twice each and they've not worked.
At the moment I'm using the Nitty gritty comb with the vosene anti nit shampoo and loads of conditioner, I'm combing DD's hair every 2 days (her hair is SO long) and I'm still getting lots of eggs and live ones out.
She goes to nursery 3 days a week but all they can do is put out a letter.
Can anybody suggest anything else I can do. DESPERATE to get rid, driving me potty! Thanks

I think if its really bad you need to condition and comb every day (sometimes twice!. Have you tried Full Marks? Its a bit toxic compared to the others I think, but if it nails the little critters it might be worth it. The other thing is maybe cutting her hair. At least always ensure that its properly tied back. Do you have any idea about who at nursery might be passing them on?

I've found that Hedrin and Full Marks solution do work, but you need to use them once a week for at least 4 weeks, despite the instructions in the packet saying two applications are all that's needed. My guess is that there can be more variation in the life cycle of the louse than is generally accepted, and that lice are still hatching out even after the one week period usually cited.

Thanks, I'll condition and comb daily and try the Full Marks

You need to break the cycle. You can buy tons of products and kill the ones on your head but as long as she continues attending nursery that will be useless. And remember, all these products are toxic and may have long terms side effects www.acute-myelogenous-leukemia.org/aml-leukemia-news/leukemia-cancer-news-0126.htm.. Your DD must be quite young if she is still in nursery.
So my suggestion is : buy tea tree oil. Not a product with tea tree oil, but a small (usual size 8ml or 10 ml) bottle of pure tea tree oil. Buy a tiny cosmetic spray or use one you have at home , and mix 1/3 tea tree and 2/3 water and spray 2 or 3 times every morning before school. Tea tree oil is safe to use and will avoid getting new ones, meanwhile continue the nitty gritty and your nails and you will see amazing results without risks for your DD, and it is very cheap too.
You have to use tea tree oil all year long. Every morning. I keep it by the door, and in the winter I put some on scarf,coat, ...

I would stick with Hedrin. It's not an insecticide like the others - it kills the nits by smothering them so can't have any side effects for the child. Hedrin does work - but you do have to use lots, which is expensive, and leave it on overnight, which is messy!

Are you religiously combing yourself and DP too?.

Is your dd's hair tied up or plaited for nursery? I found that helped a lot.

Olive oil as it doesn't have all the chemicals, it works really weel and also can be used as a preventative. It was the only way I could get ride of my dd's nits and lice, far cheaper aswell than all the chemical products.

Cut her hair or plait it back tightly when she goes to nursery. They crawl to spread from head to head, so this should help a lot. You may just have to live with ongoing close vigilance. Tea tree conditioner seems to help repel the blighters.

...Oh, and huge sympathies. I have caught headlice a few times off of DC or their classmates (shudder)

Had a long think and am so loathe to use the nasty insecticide treatments (was getting desperate) have decided to try the hedrin again (even though its vile stuff) meanwhile I'm combing everyday, have got some tea tree oil which I will hunt out.
I am also treating myself as I know when I have the blighters - get a real bad reaction to them
Thanks ladies for all your suggestions

It's time to be a monkey. By that I mean spend cosy hours removing every single egg by hand and using the nit comb religiously. I have become quite the expert and it's the only method which really works.

I never use insecticides and once I caught 5 adult lice on the top of my dd's head which I gleefully removed one after the other on the day she came home with them!

So they never had the chance to go forth and multiply. She has long hair and it makes sense to tie it back or up. You can also get lice from going swimming.

We haven't had an outbreak for ages but I check regularly and get my eldest dd to comb her hair through with a nit comb whenever she washes it just as prevention.

Sorry to re kindle this thread but I just removed 7 of the dreaded things from DD, she's 20 months old!!!!! Quite young to get them but has spent last weekend with her cousins who are both at school so I guess thats from whence they came.

AAArggghhhh!