Enid's Newbie Nit Questions

[Enid]

So I just wet combed dd1's hair (tea tree conditioner and Nitty Gritty comb)

LOADS of the little buggers came out - didn't see any eggs coming out though

1. I didnt carefully split hair into sections - just combed it thoroughly all over - bad?
2. Do they live off the hair - do I need to wash pillows, toys etc?
3. I clearly haven't got them all so does that mean the whole exercise was a waste of time?
4. How many days shall I do it for (luckily dd1 really enjoyed it so she doens't mind how long I do it for)?

Vets are a weird bunch! I once used a product which was sold for the treatment of lice in fish. It was made from fruit skins or something. You had to leave it in for 30 mins then wash out. Think it suffocated them or something. It did work but I find combing just as efficient especially with the nitty gritty comb.

yes comb and conditioner excellent she hsa almost none today

will do again for rest of week - she loves the pampering

Mine have got so used to it now that it is not too much of a bother and both have long hair too. I am wet combing weekly just to make sure they are caught quickly if they get them.

the word in the playground is that there is a little boy who has them constantly with no sign of treatment

never quite sure whether to believe people on this though (feel sorry for poor little boy)

Enid - - Frontline! I used to use that on my cats! It's oral isn't it? And quite clearly says on the packet - "keep out of reach of children - for animal use only". Is the man bonkers?

Btw - we have been battling the dreaded lice for getting on for 5mths now. Have tried everything - chemicals (don't work - the little blighters are still wriggling when I comb them out), herbal stuff, tea tree shampoo and conditioner. I spend hours wet combing dd1's long hair ("have you finished yet??") until I can find no more, but then a few days later they're back. I am at the end of my tether...

I'm afraid this will always be the problem. The hairdresser who cuts my children's hair and that of most of th eschool children says there are some parents who absolutely refuse to check or treat their children. In fact when she refuses to cut their hair when they have them the parents get really stroppy. One of th eteachers herself has told me that she has seen them creeping over children's heads and two weeks later they are still there despite the letters being sent home.

Oh - in the past, the only thing that worked was daily wet combing for 2 weeks, but since we've had the baby I just don't seem to have the time for that these days.

Bonym - I don't know how old your children are but my DDs are 9 and 7 and I'm thinking of letting them wet comb each other.

• dd1 is 7 but dd2 is only 10mths - can't see it working somehow!!