Head lice

[itchtitchy]

Just found head lice on both dc. When your dc get them do you tell school?

Yes.
Discreetly.

No.

No. Never. But in my defence, I treat them immediately. Although it normally takes weeks, £££, and loads of combing to kill the little blighters.

That what worries me Jeee, Going alondgwet combing route but its driving me mad already. Think I need to get a better comb. Are Nitty Gritty any good?

I have been using tea tree shampoo and conditioner (tescos do their own brand of it)on my dc since we got them 18months ago. I was recommened this as a chemical the little critters hate.
Since then we have not had them back. Dunno if it really keeps them off but we've been clear so far.
Just thought I'd pass this one one.

(we got headlice 18 months ago...not the dc!!)

Yes please! And then we send out a headlice text for the rest of the class

Fifteen years ago I made my own head lice repellent...and my now 20 year old never once had lice, despite the normal, many outbreaks (AND even sharing a room/pillow with a friend on a sleepover who I later discovered from his hirrified mother was crawling with big fat ones. Ugh.)

I used an old spray bottle and filled it with a mild solution of water, tea tree and rosemary essential oils. I used to spray it on my sons head in the morning before school - it just became routine. I have to say - poor lad - it did stink a bit but he never complained about being singled out, or bullied because of it! I think you can buy similar products (Happyheads?) but why bother when you can go to the chemist and buy essential oil and make your own. You can even combine it with a tangle free spray on conditioner (like a cheap supermarket own brand.)

I HATED the thought if lice. (Itching now!)

Sorry for all the typos! Hirrified?? LOL

dc not yet had them (4 and 7) but YES, other mums at their school does tell. It serves to reinforce 'tie hair back and check check check' advice, and they send a letter out to all parents.

I do use the Vosene equivalent of PrincessR's homemade stuff, and I use it daily on both dds then plait their hair...not sure if its helped or not, but so far so good!

meant to also say nitty gritty comb is the business!

Do always tell...its only fair on the rest of us (and the teachers!)

As a teacher I like to know, but lots of schools now have policy of NOT telling parents!

I think it is shameful that some parents do not tell the school.

As Migrating says, it is only fair to do so.

Ironically my dc use vosene shampoo. They are obviously the 2 out of 10. We are forever getting notes about head lice at school so at least they do tell parents if only generic some have been found.

You do need to tell the school.

Like MigratingCoconuts I've always used Tea Tree shampoo since the once my kids got nits. They've never had them again. I get mine from Holland & Barrett, but will look at the Tesco one now as it's sure to be cheaper.

We ask parents to inform us so we can ask other parents to check in the hope that we can get rid of them and not have a cycle of infection

May I ask about the Tea Tree shampoo? How many times a week do you have to use it? We wash kids' heads once or twice a week. I think I am now going to buy this shampoo and the comb. Can someone please give me the link to the comb which does this excellent job. Shall I also buy a hair conditioner?
I like the idea of the spray but what is proportion between the oils and the water to have a scary effect on these terrible creatures. I remember in my childhood I got them twice and my mum used vinegar to kill them.
May be I should try to find a styling gel with tee tree oil? wink

Many thanks!

If it is a boy,give him a "no. 1" or shorter all over - you can then see the little b*rs and any eggs clearly (though many eggs go with the hair anyway) Pick em all off (eww but totally effective).

And they look well 'ard afterwards.

I only wash hair once a week Octavia09. They also do spray in conditioners - I have one but no idea where it is - hence rely on the shampoo only.

Tesco do an own brand shampoo and also a conditioner from teatree. they also sell the comb. I wash my kids' hair once a week too, and always use these products.
this is the comb here

Octavia
It is a looong time ago - but I think I just used a few drops each - about ten - of both rosemary and tea tree in a normal off the shelf 150ml spray bottle (used to hold my leave in spray conditioner) then filled the bottle up with water. Have a look at the instructions on the essential oil bottle and see how many drops it advises for 'use' (ie, ratio to water.) You can't really go too wrong at such a weak strength, but used undiluted it would burn the scalp!

Using it every morning meant I knew the concoction was fresh on the hair as opposed to shampooing once a week.

Certainly worked for my son!

Or if you are lazy, buy the Vosene (or Nitty Gritty) leave in spray. Use it daily - the smell wears off after a day, so not effective if weekly.

'lazy like me' I meant to say

of course, elibean!!