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Primary education

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Original poster

horrified by the headlice

40 replies

fernie3 · 13/02/2010 15:19

My daughter started in reception in September and not long after for the first time she got head lice. I treated them and did what they said afterwards combing hair with conditioner etc. I didnt find any more for in her hair for about 8 weeks. 8 Weeks after treating her for the first lot I checked and found a couple, treated her again. No more then until a couple of days ago when I found some AGAIN.

I have combed and combed in between these times and found nothing but is it possible it is just them coming back from the original lot or could she be RE catching them at school?. no one else in the family has had any (although I have treated all of us each time just in case).

I have no idea how to stop her getting them and its driving me mad is it normal for them to get them this often or am i just not doing it right?

OP posts:
belgo · 13/02/2010 15:23

she is probably catching them from the same source.

Good reason to have very short hair imo.

You can try tea tree oil behind her ears every day as a deterrent.

juneybean · 13/02/2010 15:24

I think she's probably re-catching them! Are you treating her 10 days after the initial treatment?

Comewhinewithme · 13/02/2010 15:26

We have the same problem and with 4 girls in primary school it is a massive PITA.
I have discovered some tea tree spray which I picked up in homebargains and I spray it on their hair each morning and tie their hair up tightly (usually in a plait then a bun).

Also worth giving a quick brush through each night.

humptynumpty · 13/02/2010 15:29

fernie unfortunately some people seem to be more susceptible to them than others, like some people get bitten by mosquitoes etc and others don't so much.
The only way you can keep on top of it IME, is to wash hair regularly, say twice a week and use a ton of cheap conditioner and comb with nit comb. Once you get into the routine, it's not that bad. That way, you should catch them as soon as possible after getting them.
Like belgo said, probably the same kid is passing them on all the time .
I speak from experience, I am a teacher and I used to get them from the kids in the class despite always keeping my hair tied up. I just got into the routine of checking myself every couple of days and although i did find them, I never had a major infestation!!!
Also, make sure you are checking yourself and dh, other kids etc in your family once you notice them.
hth!

Chinwag · 13/02/2010 15:47

Get a really good nit comb, and comb once a week with conditioner.
There is obviously a child in the class who is causing re-infestation.

Unfortunately there isn't much else you can do.

I would let the teacher know, and maybe they can send a letter out.

WeddingDaze · 13/02/2010 15:49

although I have treated all of us each time just in case

It isn't really a good idea to do that. Only treat if you find them.

The nitty gritty comb is fab fab fab, and removes the white eggs too, unlike most other combs.

ToccataAndFudge · 13/02/2010 15:52

belgo - short hair doesn't seem to stop DS2 getting them - he has a 1 1/2-2 cut - and has STILL had headlice on more than one occasion in the last 6 months.

belgo · 13/02/2010 15:54

no but short hair is easier to de lice with a comb

bibbitybobbityhat · 13/02/2010 15:56

She needs to wear her hair tied back and use an everyday leave-in tea tree spray. Could she wear one of those nice little handkerchief shaped headscarves?

MaggieTaSeFuar · 13/02/2010 15:56

There are headlice going round my son's school and I have doused his head with a tea tree spray every morning, as a precaution, and so far!!!! so far........... he has not had... I'm not going to dare finish that sentence.

Lighteningbugs · 13/02/2010 15:59

Sadly, if you have one child in your class who is never treated properly you can end up in a situation where you keep getting them. One of my dds has a best friend whose mother "prefers to live with them" rather than get rid of them. This leaves me in the frustrating situation of having to nit comb my dds very regularly.

I agree you need a nitty gritty comb and one of those mahooosive bottles of cheap conditioner. I comb mine at the end of every week. Sadly, after a day in school we often find adult nits that have come from other kids even if they were clear the night before. It is deeply frustrating. If her hair is long enough to plait I would do that daily. We also use those headscarf type hair accessories. I think they help a bit.

ToccataAndFudge · 13/02/2010 16:00

well in theory .....- the Nitty goes through DS1's hair ok at any length.....but trying to de-lice DS2 (especially if he's just had his hair cut) is like trying to make a pot of tea with a chocolate tea-pot

Thankfully DS3's lice that he definitley had - I saw the little buggers myself, appear to have bee living in the midst of his curls and when we chopped it all off in order to a) make it look neater b) actually get a comb through of any description they'd all gone.

I SWEAR there were lice in there - I saw them......

CardyMow · 13/02/2010 22:23

I have nit combed every other day for 8 farking years. DD has FINALLY (now she's gone to Secondary) stopped getting them, but DS2 keeps bringing them home (I know who it is in the class, again someone who would rather 'live with them' ). Then DS1 gets them. I will be very very relieved when they are all too old for the grotty buggers little visitors. Plaits for girls, very short (number 2) cut for boys, and comb comb comb with a nitty gritty. Always treat a week after you treat IYSWIM to kill any newly hatched ones. Repeat ad infinitum.

sugartits · 13/02/2010 22:27

Someone suggested that you spray their hair with hairspray - have been doing that with my dd (and plaiting) and so far, so good.

bibbitybobbityhat · 13/02/2010 23:23

Yes, sugartits, I forgot to say earlier that ordinary hairspray is a good defence too.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 14/02/2010 06:22

Since I read that tip, I've been using mousse in dd's hair before she puts it into a pony tail. so far, nit free. I loathe the families who don't treat their children. IMO, it's child abuse. One of my dd's friends had such a bad infestation her whole head of hair was moving [sick and nauseous emoticon]

humptynumpty · 14/02/2010 17:38

jesus Kreecher

CardyMow · 14/02/2010 18:09

Double .

Builde · 15/02/2010 08:56

Be patient...we had lice on and off for about 6 weeks and then none since. I think that we were either missing some eggs or our dds were recatching them.

One mum reckoned she got lice on three occasions; she kept on getting her hair re-died to kill them.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 17/02/2010 10:06

My dd hasn't had them for a good four months now. I don't know if they are more active when the weather is warm , but since late autumn we haven't had any visitors.
Sorry for the boakworthy post, I am afraid it's true.

maverick · 17/02/2010 13:20

Your children need one of the Maperton Trust's HELRU's, only £19

www.mapertontrust.com/headlice/

JessAssassin · 06/03/2012 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

whyme2 · 06/03/2012 14:45

But getting rid of 95% is not enough is it?

EdithWeston · 06/03/2012 14:50

Don't feed the spammers!

TheIIlusiveShadow · 06/03/2012 14:51

Repeat business, perfect in today's economy, you don't want to sell one razor, you want the purchase of blades & hooverbags over a lifetime.

Jess loving your advert, what was it that attracted you to the lice business - the glamour, the chemical whiff, the way peoples eyes light up when seated beside you at dinner parties.