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Original poster

First time to be 'hit' with lice in dd's hair... advice please...

58 replies

MrsBigD · 02/09/2007 17:04

Since dd's started nursery/school and there have been a few cases of nits/lice I've been very paranoid about checking her head every 2-3 weeks and so far she's been clear. Today however I spotted some, used our zapper and some wet combing and killed off 3 of the little blighters. Couldn't see any egg casings so assuming it's a new 'infestation'.

Was going to go out tomorrow and get some Lyclear (?) as I've heard that's quite good. Any experience on that one anybody?

Just my luck that she doesn't catch it during term time but during holidays!!! Only place I can think off is at the childminder's who I've just notified so she can get her other mindee's parents to check as well.

My questions now...

Am I correct that I best check every couple of days now?

I'm going to wash all the bedding on 60 degrees but do I also need to wash cuddly toys that shared the bed with the kids?

DS hasn't got any but they probably ran away when they heard the clippers coming for him his no. 1 haircut today

With school starting on Wednesday... do I need to tell them when school starts or should we be ok?

Any advice/recommendations highly welcome and appreciated

OP posts:
MaryAnnSingleton · 03/09/2007 10:32

I'm no hippy but swear by Biz Niz and Nitty Gritty - ds has never had nits/headlice (touch wood) and is ten.

BarbieGirl · 03/09/2007 10:56

I too am sick to death of my 5 year old DD getting lice every two weeks or so. I have tried every lice treatment there is but nothing works.

You know those leave on overnight treatments the bloody lice were still alive the next day . Proves they are resistant to the treatments and what a waste of £10. I have spent about £50 in lice treatment since September when she started reception - could even be more than that.

Another problem I have at the moment is my niece who is also 5 with very long thick hair is constantly scratching her head and my DD plays with her. When I mentioned to my parents and my sister (her mum) about head lice they replied "Ella would'nt have nits, we are spotlessly clean and wash her hair every day" [hmmm] - that's ok then.

My parents still believe that only dirty unclean kids get nits which obviously annoys me because they must think my DD must be unclean then. I too bath her everyday and live in a clean house etc. Ignorant sods.

I might stop DD playing with her just to see if she stops catching nits - however she is back in school Wednesday so will get them from school.

It's a never ending problem which is so bloody time consuming.

lucykate · 03/09/2007 11:13

i don't use chemicals, every time the dc's have their hair washed i use a herbal tea tree shampoo and leave in conditioner. plus every school/nursery morning, they get spritzed with a mix of an oil from the local health food shop called 'lice n easy', mixed with water, seems to work, dd nit free since easter.

during term time, she has a nit check twice a week. dd's hair is so fine though, it slips through the combs with eggs still attached so i do it dry now, pulling eggs out with my finger nails. have only ever found 1 live louse on her.

chinwag · 03/09/2007 12:48

I have 2 x dd's. DD1 has straight hair, and picks them up often. DD2 has slightly wavy hair, and has never had them!!

Very strange.

BarbieGirl · 03/09/2007 13:58

Just been to boots to buy a nitty gritty comb. It's very good - just used it on my own hair luckily no nits or lice .

I will be using it regular on my DD's hair.

Original poster
MrsBigD · 03/09/2007 14:21

The NittyGritty looks like a murder weapon but it's superb! Bought it this morning myself and just just gave dd a wet combing... eeeeeek. At least 6 biggens and about 15 littel ones!!! Does that count as a proper infestation?

Shall do my hair tonight for sure as well with lots of teatree conditioner!

OP posts:
tissy · 03/09/2007 15:24

Mrs BigD- well done! The littlies will have been born there, so deffo an infestation

Keep combing at least every 2-3 days now for the next fortnight- hopefully you've got all the biggies out now, but you need to get all the littlies who are waiting to hatch, before they are old enough to reproduce.

stleger · 03/09/2007 15:37

fillyjonk -I feel your pain after a year of trying everything from mayo, conditioner, etc to harsh chemicals and a nice herbal one which brought dd2 out in a rash! Perhaps some people are more prone to them? (Hair tied back, currently not plaited as advised that was now considered bad practice as they are in a student hostel environment in there!)

Original poster
MrsBigD · 03/09/2007 15:37

defo will be combing every other day! DD was funny as after combing she had a bath and rinsed her hair off with some bugs ending up as floaters... she very proudly collected them to show me LOL. I'm quite amazed at myself though as I'm not grossed out! I generally hate anything bug related...

OP posts:
seeker · 03/09/2007 15:47

Lice Attack is brilliant. It works, it isn't chemical based, it's easy to use and it leaves the hair lovely and shiny. Only downside - it's expensive.

Nitty Gritty comb is the only comb to get IMHO.

Don't use chemicals - they don't work, they are potentially harmful and makes the lice immune.

chinwag · 03/09/2007 17:30

It's very satisfying seeing them all there in the bath water.

(Or maybe I'm just strange like that!!)

Mumpbump · 03/09/2007 17:43

My dh's ex says Lyclear is no good as they are resistent to it now. I think I used something called Derbac when I caught them of dsd last year and that definitely worked, followed by rigourous combing in the morning and evening. But I would go for the conditioner and combing option for a child to be honest as they are likely to have repeated infestations during their school career. My pharmacist neighbour gave me the current NHS guidelines last time and they say to wash the hair, then comb conditioner through and use nit comb before washing out. Repeat every 3 to 4 days until you don't see any more and continue for a couple of extra times to be absolutely sure... I had forgotten how awful it is and now poor 19 month old ds has them and has given them to me again!

Peachy · 03/09/2007 17:49

Lyclear worked a treat on my lot alst weekend tbh, aren't different nits in differenta reas resistant depnding on whats used around there? sure I read that.

Generallya dvocate wet combing and tea tree oil, dont think a bit of chemical hurts oce in a rare while (twice in 7 years so far!) or i'd never get all the family done at once, as Filly said.

ZoMbIeTaLcY · 03/09/2007 17:50

you not alone chinwag.......

BarbieGirl · 03/09/2007 18:01

I have tried Lyclear - crap
Derbac - crap
full marks -crap
The lice were still alive after all of the above.

The only thing that works is tea tree conditioner every 2-3 days combed through using the nitty gritty (the other combs are no good because DD's hair is so fine).

I have just gone and bought some tea tree oil plus the nitty gritty comb (recommended by someone on here) and I am going to comb the tea tree oil through DD's hair every morning before school. Hopefully that will work. If it doesn't I don't know what else to try.

DarthVader · 03/09/2007 18:30

Don't let them float in the bath water!
You need to wipe the lice from the comb onto kitchen roll then bag and bin the kitchen roll - otherwise the lice can crawl back onto the head!

fillyjonk · 03/09/2007 18:35

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew at letting them float in the bathwater

have only had to use harsh chemicals once in 4 years, but I WILL, I WILL. Actually we've only had nits once in that time, but as I say, I am RELIGIOUS about combing

my antipathy to not using harsh chemicals is born partly out of having hippy parents who used vaseline and so forth in preference to stuff that actually worked. Aside from the shame of being sent home from school by the nit nurse (jesus, would you put that as your occupation on your kid's birth certificate?) it also was TORTURE. Nits itch like nothing else.

chinwag · 03/09/2007 19:08

I think combing breaks their legs. I'm not convinced they can crawl back in.

But...I could be wrong. Has been known

fillyjonk · 03/09/2007 19:09

now I have seen lice (eeeew etc)

their legs are VERY small

I fear this could be an urban myth.

fillyjonk · 03/09/2007 19:09

also-does chucking them in the bath not hinder them in climbing back in?

Peachy · 03/09/2007 19:11

My nan used to comb all 16 in successiona nd chuck the buggers in the fire

I bet that worked

Original poster
MrsBigD · 03/09/2007 19:45

re bugs floating in the water... dd collected them in a babywipe and then we squished them and put the whole lot in the bin. Very satisfying!

Use teatree conditioner but balk at thought of combing neat teatree oil into dd's hair before school because great as the stuff may be... to my sensitive nose it stinks . do live have a sense of smell???? If so ... make mine a gallon of teatree as well as aniseed oil

OP posts:
ja9 · 03/09/2007 19:46

i started scratching as soon as i read the thread title!

Elibean · 03/09/2007 20:53

re Nitty Gritty: does anyone else find it tears at their hair? Have tried it on both my own and dd's hair - we both have fine hair, dd especially - and it seems to rip it. IYSWIM. Did ask about it on another thread, and got some very good combing technique tips, but still seems to tear

Also, can lice be seen easily on very fine very blonde hair? Imagine eggs impossible to spot, but am looking out for black specks, on dd - does that sound right? Have yet to encounter any, as far as I know, but keeping an eye out as they crop up at pre-school every now and then...

BarbieGirl · 03/09/2007 21:19

Elibean - the only way to check for nits or lice is to use a nit comb and you will see the lice on the comb wriggling. If your DD has blonde hair like my DD then it is impossible to see them just by looking. I think so anyway but maybe my eyesight is crap.

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