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Original poster

Headlice....my grand plan.....

97 replies

Blandmum · 26/09/2006 12:35

We should start a campain to get rid of the little bastards.

We need to get it sorted as lice seem to be getting to epidemic levels, I bet there are very few parents of school age kids who have not had to deal with these little bastards at some point.

Round one. Education. Having hedlice doesn't make you a bad person/parent/child. It does not mean that you are dirty.

Round two detection. on one day of every year health visitors should look at every primary childs head. thise with lice should have their parents notified and sent home with infomation on how to shift the little bastards. There should be no shame attached to this, it is a simple statement of fact.

two weeks later we should check again. parents who still have kids with lice should be given more help in shifting them.

Please can we have Nitty Nora back? Who will be the Jamie Oliver of the headlice world????

OP posts:
2plus2plus1 · 27/09/2006 18:15

I don't rememver having lice as a child. Is it more of a problem these days?

Do remember nit nurse checking about once a year though.

Original poster
Blandmum · 27/09/2006 18:18

It is more of a problem. Lots of reasons have been put about...one being growing resistance to the insecticides. I think a big reason is that lack of the nit nurse. Another possible reason is the decline in the style for tightly platted hair , and an increase in group work....as a child I sat at a two person desk....none of these nice 'open' style classrooms

OP posts:
Blu · 27/09/2006 18:20

It's working mothers, not having time to look at their kids hair.
If you ask me.

Original poster
Blandmum · 27/09/2006 18:21

.....where is Suzy wong when we need her?

OP posts:
berrycherry · 27/09/2006 18:38

Blu, was that a wind up??? I am a working mum, and I check my dd's hair every morning. I then plait it, as I am sure it makes it harder for the little buggers to get in.

my dd's got then 3 times last year, but because I am vigilant, I spotted them early before they had time to breed.

I never put any chemicals on them. I comb with conditioner, but I have found the best thing by far is to coat the hair in baby oil, cover with a shower cap and leave for 1 hour. then wash and any left in jsut fall out - dead! It suffocates them within half an hour apparently. Keep rechecking and then redo the oil 7 days later - sorted! until the next time they get around in class.

Spidermama · 27/09/2006 18:42

Good tip about the baby oil berrycherry. I do that with nitty gritty oil which probably costs about ten times as much for the same effect. Actually they come out alive after several hours, if a little woozy.

Do you have any tips on washing the oil out of the hair? My dd has long hair and I always need to wash it twice, which adds even more time to the whole nit management nightmare.

Beccarolloveragain · 27/09/2006 18:47

I always think that if they were far more visible less parents would be lazy about them.

If you could tell a child a mile off with fluorescent pink and green insects jumping up and down on heads I bet you there would be far less cases of chronic headlice that arent treated!

Original poster
Blandmum · 27/09/2006 18:49

But my, don't you get good at spotting them after the first time

I can spot an empty egg sac at about 5 paces

OP posts:
berrycherry · 27/09/2006 18:51

The few that fell out were definitely not moving after one hour with baby oil! I put them on a piece of tissue to take a closer look at the little horrors! I got this tip off an american website, which explained that they can close their gills for up to half an hour, which is why they can survive water, but the oil is too gloopy and sticks the gills shut (charming!).

I apply shampoo to their hair without water, and then wash off and apply again. and then condition and comb through. Unfortunately some of the oil remains, but this is fine if hair is plaited until next wash.

It is time consuming, but you have to do it. It is a shame when you know some parents do not take this time and effort - and I should point out that I know 2 mothers in particular who I know are guilty of this and - shock horror - they are not working mums!! (jsut for you, Blu

berrycherry · 27/09/2006 18:52

and when you do spot one - I become almost manic about getting the little f**r out!!

Blu · 27/09/2006 18:56

I used some stuff called Hedrin (recommended lower down, I think) which is a silicone liquid that glues them shut, too. It was very easy to shampoo out, but £11 a bottle (does 2 applications for 3 heads)
I also combed twice, with conditioner and a nitty gritty comb.
Taking no chances, me.
(yes, it was a wind up!)

Original poster
Blandmum · 27/09/2006 18:59

berrycherry, they can go without breathing longer than any other animal!

persistant little buggers!

OP posts:
berrycherry · 27/09/2006 19:02

pleased about that

Baby oil is probably cheapest option, but it is a pain to get out

my dd's have the shiniest plaits after a treatment though!

southeastastra · 27/09/2006 19:07

i wondered if you could use babyoil, it seems the be the same sort of stuff as hedrin (which is very oily and i found hard to wash out), if they can shut their gills (hate that word urgh) maybe keeping it on for a couple of hours would have the same effect as hedrin?

berrycherry · 27/09/2006 19:11

I only did an hour and they were not moving,and anyone who has seen a live one go - they are fast!

Blu · 27/09/2006 19:11

I read some research that said they could survive 14 hours under water. You have to leave Hedrin on for 8 hours anyway. It dries.

berrycherry · 27/09/2006 19:13

thinking about them has made my head really itch...I am now goiung to chweck my dd's hair...if they have picked them up I will crack up for sure!

Blu · 27/09/2006 19:14

I liked Hedrin because it dried and I left it on DS overnight, it didn't stin his pillow or make it smell (though I did put it straight in the wash), or leave oily marks.
I juts washed it out with Tesco baby shampoo without problem.

Spidermama · 27/09/2006 20:13

We once put a live one under the microscope which we had bought for my ds. It was amazing. It was sort of transluscent and we could see the blood pumping round it and the special spikes on its legs which are used to grip onto the hairs. It took ages to die on the slide. The kids were fascinated though.

joelallie · 28/09/2006 10:59

Might try the baby oil thing. Hedrin works beautifully but so expensive and I really can't see how you can ever get really clear even ig you do repeat in 7 days - won't there be more eggs by then anyway.

But on the subject of school and headlice - DD came home with another headlice advice sheet and strict insutrctions from her teacher that EVERYONE must have their hair checked and treated THAT NIGHT! Normally I have to beg, bribe of force to have it done - last night she wanted me to. Glad to say there was not a single one. Felt very smug....

waterfalls · 28/09/2006 11:03

DS school are'nt allowed to inform you directly that your child has headlice, they give a letter to each parent just to inform them there is a breakout.

Blu · 28/09/2006 11:27

Joellallie - no. Any eggs will have hatched after 7 days, but the baby lice will not yet be capable of laying thier own eggs. You have to re-apply soon enough before they re-start the cycle, that's why the length of gap is important.

Of course another fertile adult could have taken up resident form another child during the week....that's why I have been combing and Hedrin-ing!
But i am a bit neurotic about it atm!

foxinsocks · 28/09/2006 11:30

would I notice by just looking at their heads (i.e. not combing)?

dd in yr 2, ds in reception and I've never had more than a cursory look but I've never seen any evidence of them.

berrycherry · 28/09/2006 11:57

foxinsocks, I think it depends on the colour of the hair, as to how easy they are to spot. THe best places to look are above the ears, and the nape of the neck, alkso watch out for scratch marks. If left untreated, you would see them, they don't just go away on their own!

foxinsocks · 28/09/2006 14:11

thanks berrycherry!