DS1 has nits, what do I do, what produts to use?

[Disenchanted3]

Our first encounter,

am clueless!

I just use a cheap tea tree conditioner and smother washed hair in it, then comb through with a Nitty Gritty comb. I do this every other day during infection and then every Sunday when they are clear as a preventative.

So I don't need any nit Killing type stuff?

I only use it if I get a really bad infection that just won't shift.

You must be religous about combing because of the life cycle of the lice.

www.nit-nurse.com/nit_lice_life_cycle.html

If you use a liquid then you need to put it on once and then again a week later.

It is up to you if you want to use chemicals or not.

Disenchanted. Both my dcs have had a few cases of nits and its a total pain. I used to be in the camp that bought the expensive preparations from the chemist (they are at least 8 or more to choose from) - but as with a lot of other issues with raising children, I soon realised that actually using masses of conditioner and a good nit comb ( I personally think the Nitty Gritty is the best I have ever used ) is equally as effective and much cheaper. As MrsGokWan says, the key is regular combing and checking - just build it into the weekly routine and then it doesn't seem such a major hassle. I have been known to bribe my ds (aged 7) with a packet of chocolate buttons in the bath to keep him quiet while I give his hair a check over.

Hope you get it sorted - really do recommend the Nitty Gritty comb though - the ones provided with the nit treatments are crap imo.

We have nit sunday, I wash the dc hair put on loads of conditioner and comb it through. Works every time.

I used to be a primary school teacher in rl, before being at home with the dc, and I gave up using products to kill nits then. A nit comb pulled through will do the job, and I always wash hats, pillow cases and hair brushes too, just in case. Then comb through a week later, and then again another week later.

Good luck, and congratulations on your initiation into one of the joys of having school age children!

Thanks

I just put conditioner on his head and combed through, there are lots of egg/lavea but no adults at all, is that normal??

Have combed it alot, all through but not confident that will do it as there were quite a few eggs.

He has long hair, DH is saying shave it

Should I condition and comb again tomorrow night?

Tried all the nit killing products and nothing worked. Used nitty gritty comb which was brill. By accodent found that head and shoulders shampoo killed them stone dead.

A severyone else has said, there are only two words to remember.

Nitty. Gritty.

The best £10 I ever spent!

we have that comb, it didn't seem to grab the eggs at the scalp well TBH!

All mine have long hair, it's one of those things you have to put up with long hair, the faff it is to do. But I won't have it cut short as it doesn't suit them.

I have three to do so my routine when nits make an appearance is wash hair, comb with an ordinary comb (to get the tangles out), put on conditioner, comb through with NG, put a little more conditioner if needed and use the cheap plastic nit comb, then a final comb through with the NG before washing out. I do this every other day.

Any other time I just give them a comb through on a Sunday with conditioner and NG.

Don't shave his head....if he isn't traumatised you will be!

Don't worry if the comb hasn't removed all the eggs, check his hair every day and if there are any hatched lice then wash, condition and comb. Otherwise do it after a week and keep doing that for a while. When all the eggs are gone then you can just go to checking once a week. As for long hair, well my dd1 has long hair, which she refuses to tie up at school and she has never caught them despite friends getting them repeatedly, she is 4 nearly 5. Just the luck of the draw I think, and maybe some children are more prone to catcht them than others.

I did the killing shampoo once and it was rubbish, adults still crawling around next morning.
The combing with conditioner to make it soft and easy is the way forward. My ds is blond and fine hair which admittedly isprobably easier as they show up well.

Hedrin worked for mine.

Hedrin works really well, 2 applications 7 days apart.

Nits and head lice are extremely common and have nothing to do with cleanliness or hygiene, but somehow, there is still some stigma attached to having 'nits'. If you get them, you are just unlucky. If you know how to get rid of nits, they do not need to be a problem.

When head lice lay their eggs they attach them to individual strands of hair with a glue-like substance. This is a survival technique, ensuring that the eggs will not fall off. The eggs hatch after about a week, leaving the empty egg behind. The word nits actually describe the empty egg cases. These look like white pin-heads on the hair, close to the scalp. The term 'nit-picking' most likely comes from the painstaking process of picking individual nits out of the hair. A nit comb is a time consuming way to get rid of nits but because of the glue you will need a solution to dissolve the glue and release the nit.

Nit shampoo products are now widely available, but some of these contain strong chemicals such as permethrin. These toxic chemical-based treatments were initially considered an ideal way to get rid of head lice, but the chemicals come into direct contact with a child's delicate skin, sometimes causing rashes and irritations. Some children have to be treated for head lice several times a year, so possible long-term effects were also a concern.

Many mums are now opting for natural treatments.

More nit facts especially about natural treatments for nits and head lice can be found at www.nit-nurse.com/facts.asp

I use Derbac M on the rare occassions ds gets them.
It's strong and always works for us. Never had to use a second treatment.

Also regularly use conditioner on ds's hair to make it more slippery.

My friend doesnt like usuing strong chemicals on her ds's. And they get nits a lot. I think in reality she's never actually got rid of completely, she just thinks she has.
If my ds gets nits it's usually after he's been to their house I have to say. Last time she I mentioned it she said she'd come to the conclusion nits are a part of life and everyone has them

I can also recomend the Nitty Gritty comb. I try to use it once a week to check my kids hair. Then if I find anything I put conditioner on their hair and comb very thoroughly. It can be quite time consuming but I usually get rid of everything - eggs and lice in one go. I do comb again the next day to check and keep doing that until they are clear. There are plenty of other treatments. but they are very expensive especially if you need to treat the whole family and if they are used frequently the lice can get immune to them. Good luck - when DS started school his headteacher told us about how to treat nits and said "It's horrible the first time you see them....but you get used to it!"