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Original poster

Nits - advice please!!!!!!!

29 replies

KPB · 19/03/2004 21:05

My dd came home fromschool on Weds. with Nits. Treated them with lyclear and combed them through for about an hour. Spoke to her teacherand she went back in Thursday as she had been treated. Thursday washed her hair and put loads of tea-tree oil conditioner and combed through their was a few, tonight same thing but she had more. What can I do it is really freaking me out. Does anyone have any good suggestions to eradicate the evil little things.

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 19/03/2004 21:14

Comb through with a nit comb and conditioner and keep doing it for about 10 days until they're gone. It does get rid of them.

Original poster
KPB · 19/03/2004 22:48

thanks for that!!!
10 days!!! I really thought that the lyclear would do it in 1 go!!!

OP posts:
mummytojames · 19/03/2004 23:43

what also helps when they have gone is if her hair is long enough put it back in a french plat also sounds disgusting but vinegar is the best thing to kill them wash her hair in it but dont rince it out for thirty minuits not many survive that if any but apart from that feep at the conditioner

juniper68 · 19/03/2004 23:59

I got the electronic comb from boots (£21?) and it works a treat. It buzz'z and goes quiet as it kills them! I got rid of my son's with oil and tea tree and he wore a shower cap through the night but I used it on my mate's little girl as she always has em.

batey · 20/03/2004 06:14

We've been battling with the little b***s for a while, and what worked for us was, Nitty Griity nit comb (cost ten pounds but worth every penny as it gets the eggs out), and Botts Tea tree conditioner that you leave in their hair, as that does repell them. Check out other nit threads for Nitty Grittys web site. HTH.

hmb · 20/03/2004 07:26

Nothing kills the nit which is why you have to keep combing outthe recently hatched lice. When they are just hatched they cannot spread from head to head and they cannot lay eggs themselves. You have to comb them out before they can. 10-14 days every 2-3 days will do it, as long as you do it carefully. Been there, done that, got the itchy head!

roisin · 20/03/2004 07:41

KPB I presume the ones you are finding are babies that have just hatched out? These just-hatched babies are not yet big enough to crawl onto another child's head, so there shouldn't be a problem with school.

You have to bear in mind the lifecycle of the headlice. Despite marketing claims, no chemicals on the market can kill the eggs, and it's impossible to get all the eggs out - if you've got several adults in there laying eggs, then there will be a LOT! Eggs take 7-10 days from laying to hatching, then the baby lice take 7-10 days to mature to egg-laying stage. So even if you decide to use chemicals, you still need to keep combing afterwards for a couple of weeks, or until you stop finding any.

If you have a cooperative dd, and are sure you are doing a thorough job, then combing every 3-4 days will be enough. If not, then it's safer to comb every 2 days to make sure you catch all the little blighters.

You can get rid of them just by combing.

Bug Busting site has loads of helpful information. Or alternatively your school nurse will be able to advise you.

robinw · 20/03/2004 08:58

message withdrawn

Original poster
KPB · 20/03/2004 09:06

Thanks everyone for your advice. So there aren't any other treatments I can use - insecticide ones? I was dreaming about them last night!!! the other worry being that even when they have cleared up dd must have caught them from school and surely will get them again. I told her teacher on weds and usually they send out leaflets but they haven't so maybe I need to have another word.
Dd didn't have many,but how badly infested can children get?

OP posts:
hmb · 20/03/2004 09:19

As far as I know nothing will kill the nits until they hatch. So you will have to re-treat once you have killed the original set of adult lice.

Combing does work. But you have to do it with care. I found that doing it in front of a video, with a reward of some sweets was the key to sucess.

I didn't want to use insecticides, and felt OK about combing the little horrors out! It is reasuring to see them getting smaller and smaller as the treatment continues!

kiwisbird · 20/03/2004 09:52

cheap conditioner a good metal fine teeth nit comb and combing it through every day in the shower for a few weeks, rewards obviously for cooperative kids. I can also recommend a spray of lavendar and tea tree as repellent it does work,also hair gel mousse etc as the nits find it hard to cling on to greasy/coated hair.
Ran out of patience with DS though as boy eh sits next to in class never ges treated, so shave his haed every few weeks now

Original poster
KPB · 20/03/2004 11:22

do you know where I can buy the lavender and tea-tree spray or can I make my own with aromatherapy oil? Thanks

OP posts:
roisin · 20/03/2004 13:53

KPB on another thread Jaybee gave me a link to a repellent spray. It's this De Valle one scroll down to second item. They sell it in her Tescos, but unfortunately they don't sell it in mine

The good news is, once you've 'done' headlice for the first time, subsequent times never seem quite so horrific!

In answer to your questions, some children get very badly infected ... literally crawling with them. It must be horrid for them.

In terms of prevention: tying up long hair really does help. And as they get older, kids tend to 'keep their personal space' more, so are less likely to get lice. It is much, much easier to treat if you catch it early. So try and establish a routine where you check for headlice - proper comb through with nit comb and loads of conditioner - one a week. (First places to check are behind the ears, nape of the neck, and in the middle of a ponytail/bunch for girls with tied-up hair).

HTH

noddy5 · 20/03/2004 14:00

its so annoying but i love combing them out and seeing them floating in the sinkBoots tea tree kids leave in conditioner comes with a really good comb and it works a treat

Original poster
KPB · 22/03/2004 08:50

Do you think the plastic or metal combs are best?
Thanks KPB

OP posts:
hmb · 22/03/2004 09:00

I have read that metal are better as they don't bend as much and this makes it harder for the little crawlers to escape!

That said, I have the bug busting kit and find their system for 3 combs very effective. The comb that you can open out to clear is very good if you have a lot of nits to clear. Dd's school has just reported an outbread, so I will be bug busting tonight, just to be sure! I coudn't see any this morning.

Original poster
KPB · 22/03/2004 12:36

Thanks for that. Also, I sprayed her with a repellant spray today - was that a good idea. I am getting desperate as I am sure she will pick more up from schoool. It's a catch 22 situation!

OP posts:
Original poster
KPB · 22/03/2004 12:38

One last thing HMB, can I buy the bug buc=sting kit/combs from the chemist as to buy on-line will take too long to deliver!!!

OP posts:
hmb · 22/03/2004 12:55

I bought mine from Boots. That was some time ago, so I don't know if they still sell them. I'll have a quick google

jampot · 22/03/2004 13:02

We've have a few incidents of nits in my dd's hair. I found the best comb to be one that BodyShop used to sell (don't think they sell it any more - certainly don't in Solihull) coupled with Original Source Mint & Tea Tree Conditioner. I don't rate the lotions. Although I'd love to have a go with the "zapper".

hmb · 22/03/2004 13:12

I can't find the Bug Buster kit listed on the Boots website. I'd phone your local store (or other pharmacy) and ask them.

ScummyMummy · 22/03/2004 13:16

OOO! Very topical for me! Found that my sons' were crawling with the little beasties this weekend! I have to say I found grooming them with the conditioner and nit comb and murdering the wee cooties (the nits not my sons!)with a satisfying crack quite a pleasant experience in a way! Am I wierd? Also the boys and I had a hilarious time flattening my partner's curly hair with leave on conditioner and then attacking him with multiple nit combs. I hope he never wakes up with straight hair. His greasy flat nitless barnet made him look a right fright by the time we were finished with him.

roisin · 22/03/2004 14:44

When ds2 had them we ran a book each combing day on how many of the critters I would find!

Original poster
KPB · 22/03/2004 16:46

Thanks everyone, it is nice to know I am not the only one (get the violins out). I seriously thought that once I had used the lyclear that would be the end of them, obviously not. Also did Fullclear yesterday and they were still moving even after 2 hours of highly toxic fumes!!! I spoke to dd's teacher again and she is going to put letters out tomorrow as there is no point treating if the very next day dd goes back and becomes INFECTED again. I am seriously traumatised but as my dear mum keeps reminding me - get used to it, it won't be the last!!!

OP posts:
hmb · 22/03/2004 16:48

SM if you are wierd, then so am I Quite satisfying in a horrid way

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