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

[MrsBigD]

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

elibean, nittygritty does also tear our hair if trying to use it without conditioner. Think it's because it has spiralled teeth. No problem when using vast amounts of conditioner though.

What I do now is when conditioning use nitty gritty when just doing a quick check, comb through use one of those simple little white combs.

Call me paranoid, but I'm going to comb dd's hair every morning with little white comb and every time she washes her hair with copious amounts of conditioner and nitty gritty.

Has anybody hear of/used nitmix? www.nitmix.co.uk

Thanks. Nothing found with Nitty Gritty when used, but seems to tear even with tons of conditioner

I use the nitty gritty as I have very fine hair. it does tend to rip the hair to shreds. don't get me wrong it is far better than the "original" nit combs and is far better for people with fine/thin hair but it does tend to pull shit loads of hair out.

i am glad i am not the only one with head lice probs.

The only real way to check for lice is wet combing - you are unlikely to spot an infestation unless it has been there for months and is very heavy indeed.

I use the plastic bug busting combs with no problems and I have fine hair. They do snap eventually though.

So when you wet comb, and either wipe comb on white tissue/towel or rinse in glass of water, what do you see? I found a few teeny black specks once - and I mean teeny - but they didnt' move and didn't seem to have legs or anything London dirt, or London lice??

I even scrutinized them with a magnifying glass, in case they were wiggling on the spot

Basically, would I know a louse if I met one?

Yes you would know a louse if you saw one on the comb. They are a light colour and you will see them wriggling, the eggs are brown - they are small but quite visible and tear-shaped.

Too be honest I have never found lice just by looking in DD's hair - you have to use the nit comb - dry or wet to see them.

nitty gritty is the best comb as it is suitable for fine hair.

It's hard work trying to get rid of them especially the eggs as they are so hard to get out of the hair - they stick like glue to the hair.

Thanks, BG. Not seen any yet, then. I've wetcombed myself with a Nitty Gritty, and will do dd tonight - we've both been a bit itchy since coming back to London after a holiday: probably allergies/eczema, but dd did play with kids on holiday who had recently been infested, so just checking.

Am not looking forward to the Real Thing but know there are much worse things in life!

Lice do not look like black specks - they are light brown with obvious wriggling claws - really freaky the first time you find some but you soon get used to it and it becomes more of a sport.