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Original poster

Help, headlice in child who refuses to let me comb her hair!!

34 replies

LUCIA22 · 21/10/2010 14:03

My DD (3yrs) had her first case of head lice at the weekend. I had never seen them before and was quite shocked to suddenly see them crawling through her hair. Went straight to the chemist and bought Full Marks as it looked easy to use and only took 10mins. It successfully killed all the lice but I couldnt really get a good go at it with the comb as she wouldnt sit still long enough so I was pretty sure I hadnt got all the eggs out. It said to repeat in 7 days but I noticed some tiny ones crawling around this morning so did it straight away as I couldnt bear to leave them and she has a friend to play today and would be mortified if she caught them!!! This time she completely rebelled and all I could do was get the solution on, leave for 15 mins and then wash off, she wouldnt let me anywhere near her with the comb. Am I ever going to eradicate them? Does anyone have any ideas?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 21/10/2010 14:14

you'll have to be firm with her. many a parent has dragged the comb through a screaming childs hair

one of those things in life which is non negotiable!!

TrinityRhino · 21/10/2010 14:18

yep sorry non negotiable

my dd2 screams like a banshee every week when being checked

I hate it but its neccessary

GrimmaTheNome · 21/10/2010 14:19

Yes, non-negotiable. Put loads of conditioner on, and get someone to cuddle her while you comb if necessary.

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thewishingchair · 21/10/2010 14:23

Non-negotiable, but it may help to do it with a DVD on to hold her attention.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 21/10/2010 14:23

Either she lets you comb it or she has it cut off. My DD was very reluctant so I gave her those two choices. She refused to let me anywhere near her with the comb so a short hair cut was in order. She's never refused since.

WingsTHEangel · 21/10/2010 14:26

Try with lots of conditioner on her hair. The comb will glide through.

But as others have said it just has to be done.

GypsyMoth · 21/10/2010 14:27

maybe showing her the lice you find will work....did years ago with my reluctant dd!!

she was horrified,but wanted them OUT so let me comb

Original poster
LUCIA22 · 21/10/2010 14:33

This morning she had to be held down by DP just to put the solution on! I have threatened her with haircut before as she has curly hair and it got so knotted. She did have it cut then but that threat doesnt make any difference now, she is a red head and very strong willed!!!!. Its a battle just to brush it everyday so the fine comb is a nightmare. Is there a solution which kills the eggs so that at least they wouldnt be able to hatch?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 21/10/2010 14:35

no. no solution that effective

experienced mum of 5 here,and interestingly,the dd i had trouble with was red headed too!!

she needs to realise she wont be able to play with ANYONE unless this is sorted....now....in prep for schooldays,when it will be every week!!
along with the threadworms!! (sorry,guess you dont want to think about that!)

TrinityRhino · 21/10/2010 14:50

nope no solution

she will get used to it eventually

mamatomany · 21/10/2010 14:53

Am now shitting myself, I have a red haired boy he's going to be trouble isn't he ?

peasantgoneroundthebend4 · 21/10/2010 14:57

if dd hair very curly try using condtioer aimed for afro hair works wonders what use for dd curly hair

Original poster
LUCIA22 · 21/10/2010 14:58

We havent told her that she has lice, didnt want to freak her out. I told her that it was special stuff to make her hair shiny, did my hair too to so that she didnt feel left out. DS is 19months but I havent seen any sign of them in his hair yet thankfully. I guess we will just have to keep trying, just like we have to with everything!!!.

Mamatomany - I dont know if the thing about red heads is true but it certainly is with my DD, maybe its different with boys. Good luck!!

OP posts:
peasantgoneroundthebend4 · 21/10/2010 14:58

oh and should add if you dont get dd used to it now and as dd goes to school you cant use chemicals weekly and will be choice of do it or people wont want their dc coming around

loonyrationalist · 21/10/2010 15:09

"She did have it cut then but that threat doesnt make any difference now, she is a red head and very strong willed!!!!"

Don't just threaten you have to follow through.

You - DD you must have your hair combed
DD - No
You - You can have your hair combed or it will all have to be cut off
DD - No

You then take her to the hairdresser & have it immediately cut short enough for you to be able to comb without a problem.

P.S. This red haired stereotyping is untrue & offensive. Whenever you feel the urge to generalise about those with red hair substitute the red head part with a generalisation on race or gender - if it then sounds sexist/racist you can assume you will be offending if you use the term about someone because of the colour of their hair.

juuule · 21/10/2010 15:23

For our headsore child we used Hedrin. Brush your child's hair as usual and then comb the Hedrin through. Leave on overnight. Wash hair in the morning and maybe nitcomb through at that point as the Hedrin will make it easier to get the comb through.
Repeat weekly (or whenever you see a crawler). Eventually all eggs will hatch and be killed before laying more eggs.

As a bonus, once your child realises that it doesn't hurt going through with the comb once the Hedrin/lots of conditioner is put on then they might be more willing to let you comb through.

Some children just seem to be have more sensitive scalps than others (regardless of hair colour).

BlueberryPancake · 21/10/2010 20:28

OK I'm a softie but here's how I handled it with DC (I have two boys - short ish hair so easier). I used Hedrin, which is I think (my own tests - as I also used Head First) much better at killing even the smallest of the smallest headlice. It also has an agent that kills some of the eggs, although some eggs might hatch so the treatment should be repeated three times.

www.hedrin.co.uk/hedrin-range.html

They have different products, and you don't have to comb the hair (although I did, probably just for the satisfaction of seeing the dead insects). Here's how I did it - mine was the 15 minutes lotion - expensive but worth it.

I put their favorite movie on, and got them two lollies each. If they'd sit still and watch the movie, they'd get a lolly. So whilst they were enjoying the movie, I applied the gel, which is quite easy and doesn't smell too bad, and followed all the instructions to the letter.

After the movie, they had a shower and we washed their hair. Followed by the same process one week later.

Bribery and distraction. It worked for my two.

BlueberryPancake · 21/10/2010 20:30

Yes forgot, the treatment should be repeated three times at one week interval.

BlueberryPancake · 21/10/2010 20:31

By the way, I really really don't agree with this 'I'll cut your hair if you don't do what I say' It's not her fault if she's got headlice. I think it's cruel. But then, I said it, I'm a softie.

TequilaMockinBird · 21/10/2010 20:34

Tea tree shampoo and conditioner are really good for repelling head lice aswell (they dont like the smell or something!). It wont get rid of them but once you are rid, it will help to repel them from coming back!

pointythings · 21/10/2010 21:16

Cheap hairspray is also good to stop them coming back. I'm a big fan of Hedrin, my two are older (7 and 9) so combing not an issue, but I do so enjoy watching the dying critters fall from the hair WHOHAHAHA! We haven't had an infestation for over a year now, one straggler 2 weeks ago which we treated (but found nothing else) so the prevention works. And Hedrin is non-chemical, it works by suffocating the lice and you can't become immune to suffocation.

frikadela · 22/10/2010 00:47

Do they still sell the old style nit lotion, that stinks out the house, stings your scalp and has to be left on for hours at a time?

Just the threat of having to have that stuff on my hair was enough to make me sit still as a kid and I have nightmare hair to comb.

Appletrees · 22/10/2010 00:58

won't she let you do it while she watches tv?

I wouldn't use the paraquat, combing is marvellous.

charmander · 23/10/2010 10:18

I give ds3 aged 4 a nintendo ds and pick them out by hand dipping my fingers in oil everytime I find a creepy crawly or using a tea tree oil spray. He has a very sensitive scalp - possibly through weekly application of anything noxious I could find. They still keep coming back which amazes me, he has fine short blond hair so you would think they would be hard to miss.

BlueberryPancake · 24/10/2010 07:43

Charmander, it's probably because you can't see the eggs. They are very hard to spot. You can get a nit comb (Nit Free are good, with the round handle). You put lots and lots of conditionner in, and comb carefully. With this comb, you might be able to get some of the eggs. Is he at school/pre-school/nursery? There might be someone there who keep on reinfecting him. You should maybe tell the school so that they send a letter to everyone.