Hi

A friend of mine has been sruggling with headlice for over a year now, her youngest daughters head is very sore and restricting treatment, her doctor won't help, now her eldest and my middle child are in the same class I shampoo and condition my girls and son's hair with tea tree and mint shampoo and conditioner and have found this to work only had them a couple of times (so far!) apparantly my friend says that this is not good for childrens hair??? Isn't it? My children have been ok so far.  A mum at the school mentioned she used cocunut oil shampoo and conditioner and her children haven't had them once! so I told my friend and she went to but some in Boots but asked the phamacist who said that this can irritate asthma? I've never heard this before, is this true?  

Sorry it's all muddley.

If anyone has any good suggestions that would be great.

Thanks

Kath x

Hi there
As a mum also struggling with thsi problem I really understand this one. As far as I can tell it is RIFE in my child's class. Some parents there are clearly not checking their children. I think some of it is down to irritating school ground myths about head lice. I have heard some parents talking a load of rubbish about how to get them. And people who find them in their child's hair but decide they will wait till the weekend to treat their kids.

As far as I can tell you can't stop your child getting them because they are all over primary schools, but there are safe and gentle ways of stopping the spread. I have tried over the counter medications and they do work but none of us wants to repeatedly but what is effectively a pesticide on our child's head. I have read up on this on some really good websites that bust all the myths that so many parents at school have.

Loads of people think that head lice can jump but they actually have to crawl from one childs head to another. They can't jump or leap. But they could travel from clothing or bedding to their head - but actually they actually don't survive very long without their host to drink and feed from. YYUUKKK!

My little boy brought them home three times before Christmas last year. First time I tried chemicals, then the second time and after that I have gone for the non medical solution which has worked and he has remained clear till now.

What I've found the most effective and gentle of all is to get into a twice weekly or at least Friday night routine of using their normal shampoo, followed by any conditioner of your choice, and comb it through using a knit comb. There is a brilliant one in sainsburys with really long teeth that gets the live bugs and the eggs (it's really good). You will know the bugs if you see them they are fairly noticeable if you keep wiping the comb and conditioner on a piece of kitchen towel. apart from a nit comb you don't need any special potions at all.

If there are no bugs there then fine, you can leave it till your next weekly check. If you do find a bug or (yikes) several though, and this is the really important bit, you need to repeat this whole process every other night for two weeks and the cycle will be broken and the child will be clear.

You also need to check all your other kids the same night and any adults in the household.

This method is recommended as long as it is done diligently, and far from giving your child bad hair, it will result in amazingly conditioned shiney healthy hair. There are lots of 'natural' products out there but none are scientifically proven. As ever lavendar and tea tree seem to be the oils that everyone recommends so you could add a drop to the conditioner you are using.


This website gives some facts you may or not be aware of...
http://www.nittygritty.co.uk/ng/index.jsp?page=/displayArticle.jsp&sectionCode=factsoflice

hope this helps.
Bead

Yes, obviously tying hair back is going to help - I have boys and my eldest who seems to have an invested group of classmates - I keep his hair short and tidy. And have actually told him not to play heads touching because that is how they are spread.

I've got a feeling girls play more closely and are more prone. Have you tried the original source tea tree shampoo and conditioner. That's quite good value and it's got lots of tea tree in it. Although it may be too strong for children - it makes my eyes water!