My irrational fear

[JennifersLost]

The two public schools that three of my kids attend are sending home notices about lice every other day right now. We're on break right now - thank goodness - but I feel like I've been on pins and needles for months just dreading the day it's "our turn". I can't stand it. I can't stand the idea of lice. I can't stand the idea of dealing with them and trying to clean everything.

The kids are all itchy because people in school have been talking about it so much. I'm itchy, too. I keep checking their heads obsessively.

Somebody talk me down! It's probably inevitable that if the kids keep going to school they will bring it home eventually. I know plenty of other "good" families that have had to deal with it. This, too, shall pass as the kids get older.

If it happens I will deal with it, right? And until then I should just forget about it. Right? Right????

[Whisperlily]

Yes, *sigh* "good families" get it too. But it doesn't mean yours WILL.

My DD brought it home from T-ball at age 6. They had to share batting helmets, and I never thought there was a need to provide my own. After the hassle with her ultra thick hair, and the embarrassment of having to notify others we'd been around I wished I had thought ahead.

Nobody else in my family got it, thankfully, but I had my DH check my hair obsessively for weeks after she was "in the clear."

*shudder* I've heard that adding a drop or two of tea tree oil to your shampoo can make your hair undesirable to lice... thus acts as a sort of preventative. You might try that. It can't hurt.

[Whisperlily]

Oh, and THANKS Jennifer. :glare: Ever since I read your thread my head has been suspiciously and suddenly itchy. :lol:

[awanama]

My dd used to get it all of the time as a little girl. I swear if someone was across the room from her with lice, she'd get it. Anyway, we started washing her hair with Head and Shoulders and from then on, she never got lice. The reason we did this was because we noticed that when we came down with it in the house, dad was the only one who didn't get it. We figured it was because he used Head and Shoulders. Anyway, we didn't wash her hair with it every time, usually 2 or 3 times a week.

[Tracey in TX]

Deep breath: bad air out; good air in!

Head lice knows no socio-economic boundaries. We learned this the hard way. Got called into the nurse's office because all THREE of my girls had it. UGH. As did several of their BFFs, and mutual babysitter. It was a real blast to the ego b/c we thought it was "those" people who didn't take hygiene seriously who were affected. Ironic, but it's the CLEAN people those little critters prefer.

We begrudgingly dealt with it and hope to never contend with head lice again. It's a pain in the pa-tootie.

Keep hair in ponytail or braids; use hairspray daily (doesn't allow lice to adhere as well). Don't share brushes, hats, etc. And stay calm...you will probably not have to worry. A week away is typically enough to get rid of the problem.

Good luck!!

[Deece in MN]

Yes, a couple drops of Tea Tree oil added to your shampoo is supposed to help prevent getting lice. Also, coconut shampoo and conditioner is said to help prevent lice and there are some links that I have read that if you get lice the coconut shampoo can help get rid of them.
Not everyone likes the smell of Tea Tree oil, so the coconut shampoo might be a good alternative.