nits

[cbeebies]

Help we seem to have nits in our house, just one week after my son starting preschool. Any advice about how best to get rid of them. Have the nit comb and tea tree conditioner but not convinced plus the bottle of derbac M from the chemist. Any tips please?

[trinity]

Forget the tea tree conditioner.

We have used Full Marks solution - its not an insecticide. It kills the lice by dehydrating them instead. Easy to use - apply it once for a short time and then comb to remove lice and eggs. The combing is easy on short hair but time consuming on long hair. Treat everyone in the family.

Repeat a week later to ensure they are all gone. (I have never had to use it a second time.)

Inform the school so that they can get other parents to check and clear their childrens hair.

Don't stress as it will happen regularly throughout your childs school career.

[The Nappy Lady]

I just use Tea Tree oil - 5 or 6 drops added to the shampoo in your hand, wash their hair and leave it on whilst they are in the bath for 10 minutes or so, then wash out. Seems to zap them every time!

Molly

[trinity]

Maybe the pure oil does the trick but I didn't find the shampoo/conditioner effective at all!

[jollyrogers]

You can also try lots of any conditioner and use the comb with the conditioner in the hair. The eggs and the lice just slide off the hair into the comb. Wipe the comb on a piece of kitchen paper. I did my children's hair regularly like this and it kept us all nit free during their school years.

[Mamma Mia]

Conditioner combing works really well but you do need to repeat after 3/4 days (3 combing sessions in all) to be completely rid of them. This ensures you catch any little ones that may have slipped through. I believe the lice lay eggs when they are 12 days old so you need to catch them before then. After that (as jollyrogers said) it is wise to check hair regularly from thereon to prevent re-infestation. I have also used tea-tree oil in the past but it is very strong and do worry about the affect it has on the little ones. The smell is quite overpowering too.

[Fuschia]

The electric not comb you canb get from argos is very good

[The Nappy Lady]

Yes, Tea Tee is a strong oil - I wouldn't use on a child under 3, and I wouldn't use more than 5 or 6 drops max, but it does seem to work really well (as long as you use the pure oil).

With girls, if you can keep their hair plaited (if long) rather than loose I think this helps to prevent them catching the nits to a certain extent.

Also, leaving conditioner in the hair can help as it makes it hard for the nits to get a grip in the first place!

Some people do seem much more prone to it than others, and I don't think there is any logic to it - my daughter has only had them once in 5 years, yet others I know seem to get them all the time. I think it is very much down to good luck (I've probably jinxed us now you watch!).

Nits are nothing, wait until you get the thread worms, now that really does make your skin crawl...eughh....and having to go in and check their bottoms with a torch in the night is pretty grim too. Ah the joy of parenthood. I remember being really freaked the first time I heard about them, but sadly, rather like nits it is very common in children in their first years at school.

Molly.

[FatherJack]

Nitty gritty comb with conditioner. This comb is priced at about ?10 but is available on prescription for children. If you have more than one child they recommend one comb per child.

There are treatments available without insecticide but still contain chemicals. Sadly it's a case of conditioning and combing on a regular basis

I have tried lots of different treatments apart from the chemical based variety neem oil,combinations of tea tree rosemary etc I've even tried the thing you attach to a hoover. It works for some but not for my family.

Good luck

[espelli]

Lice Attack is very good. It is basically a coconut shampoo which you leave on and then wash out. You have to do it 3 times, each time 7 days apart. It is not a pesticide and basically works by suffocating the lice. You can get it in Boots but it is quite pricey. It is the only thing I have found to work reliably after trying all sorts. (I am a primary school teacher!)