Alert!!!

Shaving heads allegedly is NOT a good idea but...it does make nitpicking easier.

Mayo and plastic wrap and combing and more combing is really the most effective thing in my experience. That...or doing their heads at a hotel and staying at a hotel for 3 or 4 days.

Cleaning on the other hand has never been effective, so save yourself sheet washing unless you really just need a good excuse.

Just check for nits (I'm sure you can google what they look like as I have no clue!) and until you see any, do nothing. I don't think you can prevent them.

The OTC lice stuff is really harsh I hear, so I'd try natural methods (again, google!) before using them as a last resort.

YUCK. I'd google natural methods first before trying anything OTC. And get one of those little tiny fine-toothed combs. Good luck...

From my years of working in an after school program I came to swear by tea tree oil. I put a few drops in with my shampoo each eash as a preventative measure and when lice was in the program I would buy tea tree oil shampoo and add the actual oil drops to it then leave it on my head for a minute or two before rinsing. I never got lice, so it must have worked!

Good luck!

Jennifer

I have heard that the tea tree oil just as Jennifer mentioned can work well.

I understand that lice don't like "dirty" hair, only squeaky clean hair, so for years I have used a styling cream in my daughter's hair after her hair is washed. Apparantly mousse, gel, styling cream, all make the hair "dirty" and the lice don't like that.

Yah, picking is the best method. My daughter got it from a friend last summer. She has killer long hair. We picked twice a day, morning and night. By day 4, I was ready to cut off my arms, but we found no more nits.

We did use the nasty medicated stuff. Twice as directed! I shaved my sons head just for good measure.

That totally sucks! I really feel for ya.

Hopefully your kids don't have any. I swear by the tea tree oil in the shampoo. Just add a few drops. My kids think it stinks, but it's been effective so far.

Again, I feel for ya if they do have any.

I've been there last month so I know but before everything else, do your kids HAVE lice?

now, if they do, check this post:

http://www.bloggingbaby.com/2006/01/20/blogging-baby-size-six-essentials-for-surviving-head-lice/

if they don't, anti-lice spray is what I use.

A whole schwack of conditioner in their hair will paralize the bugs so you can comb them out with one of those super fine-toothed nit combs. Do that for each child at least once a day for about a week after the school alert. The eggs are really tiny and light brown so they're hard to see on medium brown or reddish hair unless you use the white conditioner.

Also, wash all your bedding in hot water and freeze your brushes and combs. That'll kill anything creeping around there. My girl had the eggs last year but we prevented a hatching and spredding nightmare this way.

Good luck! I feel your creepy-crawly pain - I really do.

I can relate. The town we live is full of lice...Ahhhh. Last year, my children got it a record three times. This year, I think we were up to two before this new person I knew brought over her lice killer. It was so amazing. She has had the cure for both preventing and removing lice in her cupboard for six years.

She sells it now. It is called Kim's Lice Preventative and it doesn't cost much but saves a lot of money in the long run. She doesn't have a website yet but she sells it through Parents Action Committee's in Ontario. Her number is 705-730-6269. She can give you references.

From now on, our lives are so great. I'm so glad I met this woman!