How do you deal with nits with an ASD child?

[TheDevilWearsPrimark]

DS (5yo) has massive problems with hairbrushing/ cutting/ nail trimming.

Hence his curly hair is usually in a ''neat as I can get whilst chasing him around the room snipping'' messy mop.

He wasn't so bad last time he got nits, I stealthily used the nitty gritty as he slept and he didn't mind hedrin.

But this weekend I've found he's infested and he won't let me anywhere near him.

I've kept him off school, not just for this but it added to the reasons and am not sure what to do?

Do any of you have some magic trick that will help?

My DS also got them when he started school.

I use a product called Nice n' clear that I got from boots. It is a leave in conditioner that Contains natural Neem Oil.

I put it on my sons hair, left it for the ten minutes and then combed out the dead lice and eggs. You can use it whenever you wash you little ones hair to keep them away.

It must be pretty effective as we have not had them return for the past couple of years.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the advice.

That is our problem though, DS won't have anything 'gooey' as he says on his head and combing is all but impossible. He's only 5 but shockingly strong.

I ended up with a split lip last time I tried to cut his toenails.

Erm... one child in dd2'as class ended up with an almost shaven crop (having had long plaits for years) because her mum had the same problem.

Sorry!

The problem with lice is the eggs just will not come off without actual nit-combing or cutting off the hair.

A tip for the nails: dd2's school offered to cut her nails - they have the staff and time apparently!

I use the hedrin spray and then i chase them around spraying it at arms length.

I don't cut toe nails , i have tried and failed.

Hairbrushing is a night-mare ,dd1 has long hair, refuses to have it cut and screams when i brush it, dd2 has curly hair but luckily i manage to cut it short(ish) when she's sleepy.

Would bribery work?, dd2 will do anything for a easter egg .

Good luck.

We have the same curl issues with ds1, he's older- 1- but I can't get enar it and truly, it looks horrendous AT.

I find they don't get nits as much as other kids (becuase they don't get close enough to anyone physically I imagine) but when they do force is the only asnwer, within reason, or failing that applying deraded chemicals when asleep.

I probably won't get time tonight but its something I might ask my friend (a hairdresser specilaisng in ASD ) about as it is one of those useful things to store up tips on.

Oh bribery yes I have tried!

I tried sweets but he'd just run away (sometimes clutching sweets in hand)

I tried small playmobil sets (I have a stash from sainsburys half price sale) but he would let me do 1/8 of his head then run away.

Do I have to resort to harsh chemicals on his head for 10 mins as I pin him down?

I've tried the ones that you leave over night but woke up to find he'd wiped his hair on every available bit of linen and so I doubt it did any hood.

Preacy if you can It would be fab
Now another question should he go to school tomorrow?

He's in reception, first term in a new school and struggling anyway.

Ds was rather older before we found a solution that sort of works for him! ds will do anything for a later bedtime and when he is tired will sit mesmerised infront of the tv (short dvd), wrapped in his blanket. So the deal is extra tv if we get to check his newly washed conditioned hair. His head is in constant motion but we do get to check. Fortunatly he seems to avoid them mostly! To treat I use lyclear sprayaway because it only needs 15 mins and ds likes the strong smell of aniseed so can tolerate it ( I think others have a more neutral smell). I put it on in tha bath whilst he plays - spraying on the most important bits first( top, nape behind ears).
I would think keep your ds of school till you can treat him.

We use Hedrin and I'm afraid the only way I've found to apply it is through sheer brute force, it may take two of you to hold him down(my DS also has terrible issues around his hair, hairwash etc). Then I comb out the nits in the bath, also with conditioner and a nitty gritty comb, also with sheer brute force ( my boy is big and hefty, and 7, but I am still bigger than him and I really really want those nits gone!). I have tried all the different treatments over the years with both my kids and Hedrin seems best, as long as you do both doses. Good luck!

We have a similar problem. My sons hair is bum length, thick and curly.He won't have it cut. He has AS and won't have chemicals anywhere near him.

I buy Quassia tree wood chips, boil them up, strain and keep a spray bottle of the liquid. It kills the lice, prevents the eggs from developing. I used to soak his hair and put a shower cap on for 1/2 hour then rinse off in the bath. If the little blighters are going round the school I spray lightly every day and brush it through his hair. It seems to put them off him and despite his long hair he doesn't seem to get them now. It doesn't smell of much and just looks like water in a sprayer.

I got my DS used to it by spraying him with just plain water, like a game, then spraying his hair, then swapping to the Quassia spray.

I'm thankful that we haven't had to deal with that, yet. DS2, with the long hair, would be fine with the brushing, but DS1 hates having his head touched.

Fingers crossed, despite almost weekly outbreaks in DS1's class, they've stayed clear, so far. I think using copious amounts of spray in conditioner has helped with that (and also makes combing so much easier and quicker and less stressful for everyone.)

I wrapped them while my husband did their hair.

wrapped - legs round their legs, arms round their body, pinning their arms and head tucked into their back (this bit is VERY important. Failure to to this results in broken nose. ow. )

Did it for meds too.

Fortunately, we don't need to do this for meds anymore and they've not had nits for years, but I doubt we'd have to do it anyway.

Sadly, it was the only way to get things done, ds1 in particular was very uncooperative. Brought a whole new meaning to the damn word!

I've tried pinning but yes - feared for my jaw/ nose

It's harder as a single mother,

Maybe I'll ask a friend...

that'll separate the wheat from the chaff hhehee

got my DS out of bed super early ( which he loves) sat him in front of the computa (which he loves) with gallons of pink milk ( WHL) and than I had to pick them out by hand. took ages, but the chemicals hadn't worked. over a hundred but it worked. nitty gritty was good but not as good a fingernails- plastic nit comb was no good at all. secret was to get the child mesmerised, as previous suggestion, then go to work.

I have heard suggestion that dying the hair will get rid of them, but haven't tried it.

Also reading up on the internet put me off using the chemicals on child with epilepsy... or any child for that matter. toxic to nit...toxic to child also.

good luck, it IS horrible. took me months to stop itching!

I get in the bath with my DD1, and wash her hair as nornal and condition as normal. Then while she plays I brush though her hair, then comb though and then nitty gritty it. Take a while but we do this every week and keep ontop of it. HTH

With great difficulty?? It's not so bad with DS2, he actually stims by rubbing/scratching his head, so he enjoys the sensation of the combing, but DD . She has very long hair that she will NOT have cut. And will NOT tie it up...even for PE or science(H&S nuts at school love that one!) She wears an alice band and nothing else. So even at 12, she is still catching them constantly. Full marks oily stuff is the only thing she will let me (ish) use, and it is getting very difficult for even two fully grown adults to hold her down to comb her now as she's 5 foot tall and nearly 7 stone. AARRGGHH!! I hate the little fuckers. I can't use the sprays as the smell of aniseed actually makes both her and DS2 vomit (really), they are very sensitive to that smell. (as an aside, DD once threw up into a party bag because she opened it and smelt a blackjack sweet!!) I will be glad when I no longer have to go through the weekly torture combing sessions anymore!!

Loudlass I think the new hedrin gel spray (also an oil that drowns the things) is almost smell free - no aniseed. It says leave on an hour.
Forgot to mention in case it helps someone else- I pre-warm the bottle SLIGHTLY on the radiator then tip it in my hand to rub on the hair like a massage - ds like that but hates cold sprays.

I'm so glad I found this thread. I've already started worrying about it before it's happened. I'll get down to boots for the conditioner.

Thanks for all the tips.

xx

Thanks again - this thread has been so helpful.

I managed a quick going over with a plastic comb last night as he was sleeping (he sleeps very deeply)and got loads out.

I've asked my friend and she said she will help me when she comes over tomorrow night so I can give him a thorough going over with the Nitty Gritty - wish us luck!

She suggested strapping him into his 5 point harness car seat when we do it - maybe a good idea!?

Sounds like a good plan TDWP, cover seat with plastic & towels tho he could 'clamp' his head to it and defeat the plan.

Could you do a drastic trim while he is sleeping?

Thanks for the tip about the Hedrin Gel spray!