This is our team's experience below - but check out:
No more chemical combat
How do you know your child has nits'
What do lice and nits look like
How do you get nits'
How do you treat nits'
My theory real life nit zapping
Nice 'n Clear have launched a brand new kit for parents with everything you need to combat lice - including a CD rom to explain everything.
Most of us want to avoid chemicals, and the lice themselves are becoming immune, so Nice 'n Clear's product may be the one for you. It's a natural remedy containing neem oil, tea tree oil, lavendar oil and other plant extracts - all in a unique formula. As part of the kit, you will have all you need to send nits packing. In the kit you will find:
You can find it in Boots and Holland & Barrett - or just click the Boots button on this page and order now online.
The most soul-destroying thing when collecting your child from school is to see a notice on the school door saying, ?We have had a report of nits in this class, please check your child's hair?.
Not only does the panic set in, how do I get rid of them' What do they look like' and also my child can't possibly have them - I wash her hair all the time.
The issue of head lice makes you question your worth as a parent, because you feel that if your child has them, then obviously you're not doing your job properly and you dread your child telling their friends in the playground that they have nits.
I have to say that the first time is the worst - after the initial realisation and panic you go into sensible mode and become obsessed with getting rid of the little beasts.
Although the officials say that nits cannot last on clothing, pillows and car seats, I do doubt this. My daughter has had nits so many times during her first year at school that I have lost count and my theory is that her coat hangs next to another child's who has also had many cases of the itchy things! I do believe that they can pass that way too. I also think that it is advisable to brush down the car seat headrests when you carry various children and to change the pillowcases after you have treated the child's hair (I may be neurotic - but I really can't bear the little things!!)
My child is now terrified of the bath because I checked her hair too much during the time that she had nits, I almost be came obsessed and monkey-like, sifting through her hair (I do have this under control now) but I was determined that my child would not have the dreaded nits!
You will learn to know the signs! The scratching is never ending and they sometimes get small spots behind their ears and at the nape of the neck.
See a picture.
Head Lice are small and brown they have a small red dot in the middle, which my five-year-old thinks looks like a heart! They are about 3-4 mm long and light brown in colour.
Nits are the eggs that the head lice lay; they take about 7 days to hatch and are normally found on the hair behind the ears and at the nape of the neck (the warmest places). They are stuck like glue and it takes a lot of time patience and tears to remove them. After 7 days you will get a release of head lice and the empty eggs look remotely like sesame seeds. These empty eggs will stay for around a long time if not attacked with a comb.
You have to remember that these little beasts can't fly or jump - they move by walking. They transfer from close head to head contact. They do seem to be more inclined to live in girls' hair and I think this is because girls tend to put their heads together more, whereas the boys are playing ball and running around to a greater extent. The lice are supposed to like clean hair, but they seem to survive in any conditions once they have established their host.
There are many products available at the chemist. Normally you can get advice from the pharmacist. They are expensive and the quickest one that I have found is a mousse, which you leave on the hair for 20 minutes and then comb. I do have to say that they nearly all smell foul and if you plan to leave the product on overnight spare a thought for your child (they can clear a cold at one sniff.)
you try Nice 'n Clear's natural remedy - available in a complete kit:
Nice 'n Clear
A natural remedy containing neem seed oil.
Other products available are:
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Derbac-M
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Prioderm
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Lyclear
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Full Marks
Most of these I believe will come with a plastic close-toothed nit comb, which is useful.
Boots sell a variety of chemical treatments for between '7 and '10, as well as detector combs (?2.99) and nit combs (?3.25) you can buy them online too at Boots - click the button on this page.
I feel like an expert now, as I have gathered information and advice from family and friends. I have to admit that I started by using chemicals but didn't get on brilliantly. I found them very smelly and not superbly successful.
I then began using Tea Tree conditioner and combing through my child's hair. This gets rid of the Head Lice but is not brilliant at moving the eggs and hatched eggs. I also used a plastic comb at this point, which tended to drag through the hair and can make the child's scalp quite sore. You may need to invest in sweet treats and a good video to get this sorted.
I have now invested in an electronic nit comb. Although they cost in the region of ?25 (about 4 chemical treatments) they are much more fun and electrocute the nits which is great for children and adults. They also remove eggs and empty eggs. You simply comb the hair and the comb lets of a high frequency noise, when it hits a nit this noise stops and you simply clean the device and carry on.
Off the back of this treatment I would also suggest that you use the conditioner method and comb through the wet hair at least once a week. Make sure you have a white towel around the child's shoulders in case any drop out, a bowl of water to wash the comb and white tissue or paper to hand in case of blockages in the comb!
In conclusion, nits are a nightmare and everyone has their own methods my mother washed my hair in vinegar once a week and that has now given me a complete hate of the taste and smell of all vinegar. But apparently it worked!
Early Learning Sheets
