Guest guest Posted November 12, 2001 Report Share Posted November 12, 2001 Vicki wrote: > Well, DD1 has had an itchy neck for *weeks* (probably since the beginning > of term now I think about it) and I have today found at least 4 headlice on > DS ( > > I know the commercial shampoos for nits are frowned on - since I think we > will all 5 need treating does anyone have any bulletproof de-lousing tips?? > Even the thought brings me out itching. My boys have never had them (no 2 haircuts!) but if nits are in the area! I use an Avon tea tree shampoo and conditioner on them. I also wet comb with a nit comb just in case - normally once a month. The news letter from school about nits said the following: Hair should be brushed and combed each morning and night. Check the hair at least once a week by using the following method: Hair should be WET and CONDITIONED, comb with an ordinary comb. Using a detection comb start at the top of the scalp and draw the comb down towards the edge of the hair over a white sheet of paper so that you will be able to see the lice if they drop out. Inspect the comb for lice as well. Repeat the procedure working around the head for about 10-15 minutes It does recommend using an insecticide treatment should you find headlice - but personally I would go for the tea tree shampoo and conditioner and I would also make sure pillowcases and hats were washed - whether that is important or not I don't know but it would make me feel better! Best of luck. Trisha itching for England at the thought! SAHM to 3 boys Jack 8, 6 and Isaac 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2001 Report Share Posted November 12, 2001 Well, DD1 has had an itchy neck for *weeks* (probably since the beginning of term now I think about it) and I have today found at least 4 headlice on DS ( I know the commercial shampoos for nits are frowned on - since I think we will all 5 need treating does anyone have any bulletproof de-lousing tips?? TIA Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2001 Report Share Posted November 12, 2001 1. Get a good video. 2. Light the fire. (but not if using commercial nit killers, they're flammable!) 3. Get hair conditioner - wash their hair (in the bathroom), towel dry and put conditioner in. 4. With them seated in front of video on toddler chair (yes even DD1) and you behind on sofa or whatever, comb minutely through hair and put combings and slobs of conditioner on towel on floor. You could see the lice in which case DH gets to squash them between his thumbnails. Go through hair very thoroughly, combing from the skin end slowly down to the ends. Nits tend to be within 2 " of hair roots; hotspots are behind ears, on crown and at nape of neck. If they are watching video your fiddling through their hair should be pleasurable rather than a pain. 5. Rinse hair. Then with our thin hair I go through again removing the nit eggs (they slide off the individual hairs) but I know people with a lot of hair don't do this and if your individual hairs are quite thick the nitcomb can catch them. 6. Pack 'em off to bed. 7. Open bottle of wine. 8. Repeat exercise with DH and then he can nit you. Enjoy! Let me know when you're doing it and we can mirror you here, since we've had contact since the beginning of term!!! PS - Also, can make a lotion with tea trea oil drops and I'm sure someone else will have posted the recipe by the time this gets to the list. We ought to put it up on files on a permanent basis. love Caro PS, tell the nursery school teachers ;-) > Well, DD1 has had an itchy neck for *weeks* (probably since the beginning > of term now I think about it) and I have today found at least 4 headlice on > DS ( > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2001 Report Share Posted November 12, 2001 Never used either of these, but here's some alternatives to insecticide: http://www.nittygritty.co.uk/homepage.asp http://www.bibiheadlice.com/whatisfollicel.htm Joanne King SAHM to Ethan - HB 29.06.00 Minute Secretary Colchester & District Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2001 Report Share Posted November 12, 2001 After 10 years of head lice we have thankfully come out of the other end as secondary school kids don't seem to get it. It was so prevalent I could spot them at 10 yards! Anyway, we did the whole tea tree thing and I have to tell you it doesn't work! My kids used tea tree shampoo and conditioner with added tea tree oil for 10 years and they still got nits. Wet combing is all very well if you have the time but when your kids have nits you are supposed to wet comb every night, at least that's what we were told by our school. The heartbreaking thing was that you would treat them over the weekend, send them back to school and the following week they were re- infected. So I'm afraid we always used Lyclear or Derbac, sometimes every 2 or 3 weeks. However, one alternative I did find was a little battery operated nit comb that you use on DRY hair (don't use on wet hair or you'll electrocute your child!!). Basically, it buzzes and then when it finds a nit it stops buzzing, so you take the nit out and carry on. It doesn't actually kill the nits and off course doesn't kill or remove eggs but if you are dead set against chemicals it is easier than wet combing. Some aromatherapy shops also sell a herbal and essential oils-based anti-lice scalp oil so it might be worth looking for that. My sympathies to anyone starting out on the nit trail - good luck!! Akiko (itching in sympathy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2001 Report Share Posted November 12, 2001 The bad news, Akiko, is that DD1 was the one who started us on the trail - and she's in year 8... I'd always heard that secondary school children don't get them, too I've done the littles a comb-through with t tree and baby oil - loads and loads out of DS so will get the no. 2 out this evening and shear his beautiful curls off. It'll make me weep, but I think it's the simplest way. Fewer out of DD2, but she has reasonably short and very fine hair, so I think they wouldn't stick on her?? Will do DD1 this evening. Have got her to agree to a haircut, too, so hopefully collar-length hair will make the problem easier to solve. Seems like a strong reaction, but I got over 20 lice out of Josh, and DD1 has mid-back length hair *shiver* Thanks, all, for suggestions - I'm off to look at Jo's websites. Miserably, Vicki At 17:07 12/11/01, you wrote: >After 10 years of head lice we have thankfully come out of the other >end as secondary school kids don't seem to get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2001 Report Share Posted November 12, 2001 > The bad news, Akiko, is that DD1 was the one who started us on the trail - > and she's in year 8... > > I'd always heard that secondary school children don't get them, too I know, both mine have had one episode each since starting secondary; my older is in year 10 and the younger is in year 8. Both long thick hair so I used to send them to school in plaits. I promise you, it is better in secondary!! Good luck! Akiko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2001 Report Share Posted November 12, 2001 I have to do DD2`s hair in the bath. I get in too - she loves a really deep bath and we stay in for about half an hour. I use a couple of pots to rinse out the combs with each stroke plus assorted rags or old flannels to clean the combs. I use a bit of conditioner on the hair & brush in the mornings - so the remaining nits eggs will slide off. Best place to buy combs is at school - the infants' school sells for 20p! Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2001 Report Share Posted November 12, 2001 We've had it twice (or rather DS has). Both times cured it fairly quickly as part of bath routine every 2-3 nights. Washed hair as normal then while still in bath put loads of conditioner on and rubbed in a couple of drops of tea tree oil (makes your hands stink). Combed with a plastic nit comb from roots to tips (he is fair, so it's fairly easy to see what's there), rinsed it in the bath in between sections. In between baths, when sitting near and still (eg story at bedtime) picked out any I saw as and when. Our worst offending areas were the crown of his head and at the roots of his fringe/hairline. Went within 10 days both times. There's also an article in one of the shared files (may be main list) that Sue Bluck from East Cheshire put together (I know cos i forwarded it to our newsletter editor). Has some useful tips/website ideas Good luck. Todman Treasurer, Stansted Branch (R5) Mum to , 3¾ > Well, DD1 has had an itchy neck for *weeks* (probably since the beginning > of term now I think about it) and I have today found at least 4 headlice on > DS ( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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