Need ASAP Advice - HEAD LICE!

[2cuteboys]

Still there after 3 hours? Oh dear. I'd call mom and tell her that someone needs to be there within 20 mins or you're calling emergency contacts.

That's unacceptable. She's probably thinking it doesn't matter since its her last day. I would make a fuss.

[Sandbox Sally]

momofnerds, yeah, they DO live off humans, for up to 48 hours from what I am reading.

[Sandbox Sally]

She's gone. I honestly feel the biggest relief. So many issues. This was a sign, I think! lol

[playfelt]

There really is no reason to freak out that much and especially if you saw it earlier. Think about where child was and what she was doing today and start there. There will be enough bodily fluids and skin cells around the house to keep them happy from travelling too far - gross to think I know but true. It requires contact for them to move so a good thorough vacuum and you should be fine.

Also it isn't the worst thing if your child does get it. Treatment is generally effective. It will come home from school a couple times in your child's career most likely.

Agree on the bagging of the head and that will also make the treatment more effective because it will suffocate some of them and they will start to loosen their grip.

Also if it is nits you see rather than lice itself that is even better as the nits are firmly attached to the hair and hard to loose around the house - it is the live lice that start the issue.

[Fun&care]

Before you go crazy and clean and disinfect EVERYTHING, keep in mind you only need to wash whatever has been in contact with the child's head in the last 48 hours. Lice and nits don't survive very long when away from your scalp. I have personal experience with lice, my son got it from school, and although a little gross at first, you get used to it. Make sure you notify all parents that their child has been in contact with lice and have all parents check their kids. If a lice or nits are found on a child, then they need to be treated ( with lice shampoo) and may return to daycare immediately after the shampoo (at least that's how the schools do it). They need to be retreated in 7-10 days. HOWEVER lice shampoos are only somewhat effective and shouldn't be relied upon 100%...I found the best way to get rid of them for good was to get a lice comb and remove the nits manually before they hatched.

On a side note though, I would not be impressed at having to wait three hours for someone to pick up. I have it in my handbook that parents need to pick up within the hour otherwise I call emergency contacts. Last day though so whatever I guess. Good luck

[Sandbox Sally]

There really is no reason to freak out that much and especially if you saw it earlier. Think about where child was and what she was doing today and start there. There will be enough bodily fluids and skin cells around the house to keep them happy from travelling too far - gross to think I know but true. It requires contact for them to move so a good thorough vacuum and you should be fine.

Also it isn't the worst thing if your child does get it. Treatment is generally effective. It will come home from school a couple times in your child's career most likely.

Agree on the bagging of the head and that will also make the treatment more effective because it will suffocate some of them and they will start to loosen their grip.

Also if it is nits you see rather than lice itself that is even better as the nits are firmly attached to the hair and hard to loose around the house - it is the live lice that start the issue.

It's a pretty big deal, actually, if my kids get them. When my daughter had it, it took me over six hours to pick the nits from her long, very thick hair. I consider that a big deal, and worth freaking out over. My kids are 13, 11 and 9. We've had lice before. And it is for that reason that I find it to be a really big deal.

What do you mean by "that much"? What was over the top about me wanting her parents to come and get their child who is infested with lice? What did I do wrong? Should I have just kept her here? Would you? I had her in the toy room, and the other little ones in my living room. It was difficult to keep them separated. So again, kind of a big deal.

Nits mean lice. I'm not sure what you mean that it's favourable to see nits. She wouldn't have nits unless she has live lice in her hair. She was FULL of nits. I'd venture a guess that she's full of lice too.

[Crayola kiddies]

Yup your right Sally ..... If there's nits there's lice.... And if she's got a lot of nits then she probably had lice for several days. Hopefully you checked the other children in your care !!!! I think I would be furious if it took the parents 3 hours to pick up. I would have called back up as soon as I couldn't get ahold of the parents. It's even more maddening since they were leaving ... It's almost as if they really weren't concerned for you or your business since they were leaving anyway. I'm sure they cleared their desk before heading out. It would kind of rub me the wrong way!

[mamaof4]

Realistically Lice are just a nuisance. They don't carry disease. That said.... EWWWW! I would put her hair up and in a shower cap. Then take the day tomorrow to clean. Also change your sheets!!!

[2cuteboys]

One of my dcks had pinworms a few weeks ago and I also clean and sanitized EVERYTHING. Even though everything I read talked about how lots of kids get it and it doesn't cause harm. Just yuck.

I feel your pain Sally, hopefully the rest of the week goes smoothly so you can get everything cleaned how you want it. Good luck!

[playfelt]

I meant no need to disinfect everything. Just do a thorough vacuum and put anything stuffed she might have hugged closely in a plastic bag for a couple weeks or in your freezer. Any hard surface is fine. It is only the soft things like stuffies, carpets, bedding, that needs attention.