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Pre-School and Daycare
Aimathy
member
Question about Lice. Help!!
Aimathy
member
My sister in law called me this morning and told me that she found out last night that all three of her sons have lice. We were there all day yesterday. Sigh. All morning, I was hoping for the best, checking DD's hair and didn't see anything. I just check her for the third time today and found one. 
So....I have no idea where to start. This is our first encounter with them. I'm guessing since there was at least one that has been on her since yesterday, it's long enough for it/them to have laid eggs. Can anyone please point me in the right direction? There are five of us, my husband, DD (15), DS (11), DD (3) and myself. Ick. Ick! ICK!!!!!!
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Re: Question about Lice. Help!!
To start, grab all the towels and bedding and wash it on sanitary or hot, ASAP. Same with pillows.
Around here, there are 'salons' that will do the whole lice treatment for you, so you don't have to fight with your kids. Expensive, but perhaps worth it.
Hot, hot, hot sanitary wash *everything* they've come in contact with. When we were younger, we were exposed to lice and my mom put mayonnaise in our hair, shower cap over that, sit for an hour. It smothers the lice and is chemical free. Also, it makes your hair gloriously soft.
You should bag up any stuffed animals that can't be washed and leave them in the bag for about a week. Any eggs that were laid on the stuffed animals may take a day or 2 to hatch. They can't live if they don't have human blood.
Also check with your children's school to see what their lice policy is on coming back to school.
We've been through this a few times, I'm a teacher and I've brought it home to DD. When we got it I hired a service, $300 later we were lice free. If you don't have that in your area and if you don't want to spend the money, call your pediatrician. There are now prescriptions that are non-toxic. Don't use that over the counter Rid, it's really toxic (pesticides.)
I agree with PP, wash anything that came in contact with your heads in hot water. Bag up anything for 24-48 hours that can't be washed. They can't live off the scalp longer then that. Vacuum your couch and her car seat.
The only other thing I wanted to add was that mayo will smother the bugs but will not get rid of the nits. The nits (eggs) need to be removed by hand or with a lice comb. The nits look like little speed bumps on the hair shaft. If you run your finger over it, they don't come off. Good luck, I know it's a pain!
For your DD (15) DS (11) and yourself, the best treatment that I know for sure works, would be just to color your hair. I know for your DD she would probably be okay with it, DS I'm not sure, but for your 3 year old I would say try the at home treatment.
Unfortunately when I was in 7th grade I got lice and ended up giving it to my mom, and I think my sister, however my case was very bad. Mayo, at home treatments, NOTHING worked, my dad just simply suggested shaving my head (traumatizing to a 13 year old). I'm not sure how we got rid of it, but I would say consult your PCP. Later once I got in highschool someone suggested coloring your hair since her younger sibling had just gotten it.
As with all your stuff HOT WASH SANITIZE!