ok, so about a month ago, I asked for everyone's advice on how to treat lice. Thanks to all the Mamas that responded, and all the great advice I received.
but now I have a new dilemma regarding lice and the policy at school.
Sylvia has been sent home 3 times now because she keeps getting re-infested. I've tried explaining to the nurse and secretary that Sylvia does NOT get lice from home, and suggesting that they check the other kids in her class, but I really don't think they care too much. I understand that there are 30 kids in the class, but I also understand its not only my child that is catching this. I explained to them both that I am not trying to pass off the blame for this, but she is only around her brother & sister at home, and her brother & sister are not around any other kids period. they don't go to daycare, baby-sitter, etc. they are pretty much home all the time unless we go to the doctor's office or shopping. Point being, she has to be catching lice at school.
yes, we have washed, bagged & sprayed everything each time, but all this washing & drying is making the electric & water bills outrageously high, and lice-killing shampoo & spray is not cheap to have to keep buying it.
Sylvia will only be at that school for about another month, as we are moving out of state soon, but until then, what do I do??? I have stopped washing her hair everyday, we are down to about twice a week, and that doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
Also, I'm pretty sure I've narrowed down who she's catching lice from. I've explained to Sylvia as best as I can about sharing personal belongings, SEVERAL TIMES. She had brought home this one girl's hair scrunchy shortly before the first time we found out she had lice, and again the second time after being told not to share any hair ANYTHING with ANYONE. So now I don't know to speak with the little girl's parents about this matter or not. I certainly don't want to step on anyone's toes, but I am at my wits end (and tired of having an itchy head)
Any advice would be great.
Thanks
C.
OMG i so understand we are going threw the same thing but the horrible thing is i have and so does my son (my son and i are clean right now) it is just my daughter now and lord is that stuff expensive. Maybe you should talk to the principle that is what i did. I am hopeing to have it all gone before she goes back after the holiday.
Hi Cinthia,
I would take your daughter into the school, have the nurse check your daughter right in front of you, and then when you are alone with the nurse, explain it to her in person that you've treated your daughter many times and need to have the other kids checked over thoroughly as well. Tell her you appreciate her checking your daughter also and she is doing a great job, etc., but Sylvia seems to keep getting reinfested and you need it to stop. Be kind but firm, and do it in person after she personally has checked your daughter.
One thing that helped us was to put my daughter's hair up in a really tight ponytail with some gel in the hair also whenever she's at school. Another mom told me that helped and thank goodness, it did.
I feel for you - lice are the worst! Good luck.
K.
It wouldn't hurt to talk directly to the teacher and let her know about your sharing policy. And you could always let her know the name of the little girl that is sharing her things. That way the teacher can watch the other little girl closely and send her immediately to the office if/when she sees something.
And the Fairy Tales Shampoo that someone mentioned that you can get online...I have seen it at Kiddie Kuts by the Dayton Mall. You could always go there and buy it too.
makse sure you are washing your carseats that the kids ride in and the seats of your car they can live up to 14 days with out any personal contact!
and make sure you send her to school with moose or hairspaired hair or both the dirtier the better then place her hair up in a bun if long enough or cut it short till you move!
dont seek out the parents you could up set them if they are going through the same thing you are.
good luck
About 10 yrs ago we had the same problem with my wo step daughters and it was AWFUL. If you are sure it is coming from school and they won't check or recheck anyone, my advice would be to call your local health dept. If there is an outbreak they are obligated to check all the kids in that class. It is quite costly and a pain in the butt to keep dealing with this. It is so hard to get kids to understand the not sharing hair stuff or hugging eachother, etc...
I certainly would not hesitate calling the Health Dept and getting them involved.
I would certainly talk to the childrens parents. Maybe just ask them if they have had any issues with lice (I don't know if you know them well or not), either way, I think in this situation it is okay to "step on some toes."
GOOD LUCK
Jenn.......
we just went through the head lice thing... not fun. but as a child i remember in school they did routine head lice checks.... its been a while since i was in school but i would ask the school if they could do that.... we just had the school nurse with rubber gloves comb the hair and check... but if you arnt getting through to the principal i would go higher up the chain of command...
I have been told by several friends who are moms of kids older than mine and in school now that plain-old everyday V05 shampoo works wonders at keeping the lice away - one friend had it recommended to her by her pediatrician's office, after the second time in just a few months that her sons came home from school with lice. She's used it for about a year now on both her boys and has not had a problem with them being infested even when other kids in their class have been.
Ok I am speaking from experence here my kids kept getting it and the school did nothing. I combed their hair before school and if it was clean I would comb their hair before they came in the house I was noticing they had them after school but not before so I called the principal and told her if she did not check the other kids in the class I would bring my combs to school every day and stand in front of the school and brush my kids hair and when people ask why I'd tell them the school won't do anything and I'm tired of it in my house. With that the principal was embarrased and did not want me to do that she checked the whole school. I know this is a derastic measure but like you I was at wits end and I also had a new born and was concerned about using the pesticide around her not to mention keep putting the chemicals on my childrens head all the time. I also talked to my sytlest and she told me to wash their hair with shampoo with tea tree oil it is a natural oil and bugs dislike it I also put mousse and hairspray in their hair and even though they were around the child who kept getting it they did not I figured that one out on my own I thought why are they getting it but not me I put product in my hair. So Ever since we have had clean heads. Good luck to you I know how frusterating it is.
Hi Cinthia,
I know that this might sound crazy but my mother was a mother of three girls and we caught the lice thing a little when we were young and it seemed like we could never really get rid of it until my mother heard of using mayonaisse in our hair and wrapping our heads with saran wrap, then keeping it in overnight while you sleep. Then in the morning you wash it out. I know that it sounds crazy and all but it really does work. Somehow the mayonaisse and the saran wrap suffocate the bugs and the eggs and they just end up falling out when you wash your hair. We never had lice again and it was a lot cheaper way to take care of it. Good luck.
Hi, Cinthia --
I think it would be a good idea for you to speak to the parents of any of the children you think might have lice. You could definitely do it innocently -- such as "my daughter's gotten lice several times this year from contact at school. Since she and your child are friends, I wanted you to know so that you could check your children, in case they'd been exposed. We've been using product X, Y, and Z and they've been helpful..." etc.
I guess another alternative could be to tell the teacher -- or principal -- that you are not going to bring your daughter back to school until the problem has been addressed there. It's a public health issue, and there is no reason your child should have to be subject to repeated infestations without the administrators addressing the situation with the parents of the entire class. Since you have such a short time before you're moving, the point may be moot. But, at her age, I think I'd keep my daughter out rather than have her keep contracting lice.
Best luck!!
H.
this may not be the advice your looking for but it is what I would do...just take her out of the school, your leaving in a month and she isn't old enough or in a high enough grade that it would effect her studies and you can continue teaching her at home, with all the stress of moving, you and the other kids at home, there is just no reason to push this any further even though you could. I would simply remove her from the school and keep her home. Otherwise you can call the board of health, and child and family services to come to the school, because the school should be checking all the students for lice in the entire building and addressing it with all the parents and children.
My daughter came home from school and said the girl who stands next to her in choir has lice...she could see the bugs in her hair! Still I did not call the parents. Maybe I should have...
I use the Rosemary Repel Shampoo for my daughter. They also have a leave in conditioner and a hair spray that is supposed to be repellant. It's the best money I ever spent.We have had no re-infestation since using it.
The stuff that is supposed to poison the bugs seems to let them come back. They say they are pesticide resistant lice.
its FairyTales Hair Care and I found it online.
PS. don't pay extra for overnight shipping, it comes within two days anyway.
Talk to the health department. They have to check. Lice is more common than you think in school. Unlike you most parents don;t do enough. Take charge and talk to the health department.
I have heard that spraying the child's hair with hairspray is an effective way to keep the lice and nits from attaching to the hair follicle. Also you might want to call a beautician and see if they have any ideas.
I have never heard of any school that does not check each and every child when their is a lice outbreak. You might check with the local health department and see what their policy is when these types of infestations continue to happen. Obviously parents of other children are not checking their kids.
Good luck
