Nits / Head Lice - Any recommended natural remedies....???

[mammamic]

Hi. the nursery have just called me and said that they have a couple of cases of nits going round and that we should check our dd's hair and scalp, and if necessaary, treat. I don't want to use any horrible chemicals but as our dd has very long, thick curly hair (she's nearly 3), i also don't want to rely on just oiling and combing. Any tried and tested natural remedies?

Thick cheap conditioner, left on over night kills lice. Tea tree oil kills lice, but there is a risk of causing little boys to grow breasts.

Prevention is better than cure. If you fine tooth comb your child's hair two to three times a week then hopefully you will avoid a bad infestation

best thing really is conditioner
you don't have to leave it on all night - just a cheapie conditioner will do, and maybe use a tea tree oil shampoo

when dd1 had nits we slathered on the conditioner and then she watched a dvd while I combed it out. would take ages

We had this recently and the recommended NHS guidelines that our neighbour (a pharmacist) kindly brought home from me is:

• wash hair and work in conditioner and comb through once - I think the conditioner slows the little buggers down!

• rinse out conditioner and comb through again

You have to do it every 3-4 days for a minimum of 3 weeks and twice after the last time you see any live headlice...

Wow - comb it twice a week!!! Have we been really lucky then??? I've never even thought about it before and she's been with a childminder since 6 months old and nursery for the past 16 months

I'm not sure this is going to go down too well with dd. It's a bribery battle and a half just having an event free washing of hair!!

I think I'll try the conditioner and tea tree oil shampooo. From now on, it's braids and oiled hair

thanks for the advice - and so quick too.

Message withdrawn

another vote for conditioner here. No chemicals necessary then.

It makes the hair slippery so they can't hold on.

I do my son's hair once a week regardless, and often find a lone one. It stops them multiplying [yuck]

Speaking as someone who has had the less than pleasant experience of being infested, I am sure your dd will comply pretty quickly once her head starts to itch. I have rarely been so distracted, uptight and generally p*ssed off in my life as a result of relentless itchiness...