LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

well i feel like I deserve the worst mommy of the year award. We just figured out that my DD (5.5 yrs) must have had lice for a while because i am guessing there had to be 100 bugs we pulled from her hair and about 10 of them were the size of ANTS!! ALl my years of teaching, I have never seen lice this big!

We did the 3 step "RID" treatment and it wasnt until we were using the metal comb it comes with - did we see these bugs. I cannot believe we were even questioning if she had them earlier tonight bec there was sooooo many!

The fact that there were at least 10 adults (which my many hrs of googling while I have been waiting for the MANY loads of laundry to finish) makes me think that she had this for a while...BUT the bizarre thing is that she had the flu the week before Christmas and now has been off for Christmas vacation - so she has not only NOT been in school for 2 weeks but we havent gone anywhere where I think she could have gotten them...we have been home for pretty much 2 full weeks!

Sorry just had to vent, cry, get out all my disgust and guilt I have as a mommy and my poor daughter who patiently dealt with 3 hrs of washing her hair and brushing each section to get the tons of bugs out of her hair!

thanks if you've read this far!
and please tell me that We are not the onyl ones to see ant-size bugs in their DCs hair!!!


****************************UPDATE***************************

So MY DH, DD and I all have lice

The RID treatment didnt work...we find eggs (and a couple time - more bugs...ugh) in all our hair every day even after extensive (3hrs) of "nit-picking" each day!!

We are following this:
Five-Step Battle LICE Removal plan 21 days of treatment!
that was suggested to us...We did day 1 and day 2 of the olive oil over night in my hair and My DD's hair. WE cut off 9 in off her hair and 6 in off my hair to make this process easier. I felt awful my poor baby girl was so upset I cut her rapunzel hair! It is very crooked bec I cut it while in a ponytail - soI will be going to a salon this week to fix both of our hair!

My DH buzzed cut his hair which was down below his chin - so we pray he is safe now...

*********MY QUESTION************
What should I do about school tomorrow?!?! She is in Kindergarten. I know a lot of school have a "no nit policy"...which I don't blame them..

We are going to check her hair tomorrow morning...and if she is good we are going to bring her in but meet with the nurse and/or teacher first to see what they say...

She was out a full week before break with a bad flu...so she hasn't been in school since DEC 14!!!!!

UGH! January is going to be a long month!

Message edited 1/1/2013 11:15:47 PM.

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

Don't beat yourself up. It's quite possible that she did get them at school...yes 2+ weeks ago, especially if they're as big as you say. Glad you've gotten it under control, and DD will be all better now!

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

lad you've gotten it under control

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

Make sure you check yourself and the rest of the family. Kids in my class have had it bad and their whole families got it too. It's definitely possible she got it at school and just had eggs and they hatched

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

thanks everyone

yeah we did a whole family check...and I did a treatment...and I think we found 4 eggs in my hair...gross ..but nothing compared to my DD

but nothing in DH, DS and DD2's hair..thank GOD!!!!

So this morning..I did another check and probably found another 40ish eggs/nits!! that were too small for the comb..so I was pulling them out with my fingernails. I had her hair (it is long down to her pant's line...) in 20 sectioned buns..bec everytime I did bigger I was missing a couple...

so three hrs yesterday...and another 2-3 hrs thins morning..I am very lucky she is an unbelievable patient and sat there that long...I am hoping that was the last of it!

We are washing everything today and We are all going for haircuts this week!

I am so upset, disgusted, and frustrated at all of this!

thanks for reading this far!!

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

I think I had read it takes 10 days or so for them to lay eggs and hatch, so your DC could have easily gotten one lice 2 weeks or so ago and the eggs just hatched.

Just do what you have to do and don't beat yourself up.

And just going forward, start putting your DCs hair back at school and using some spray too.

Message edited 12/29/2012 12:28:27 PM.

LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

I only had the nits in Kindergarten, but I remember so clearly the smell of the shampoo and having to sleep on a plastic sheet on my bed. If she has stuffed animals or dolls, make sure you tie them up in plastic bags (I heard it suffocates the lice if they are on the stuffed animals) or wash them. Also, I remember my mom saying that one thing that helped was blow-drying my hair, that the heat prevented the eggs from hatching. So this may help control the spread.

Sorry you're dealing with this!

Message edited 12/29/2012 1:39:34 PM.

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

Lice was going around our school, and a few people in my DD's class had it. Fortunately she never got it. There are companies that will de-lice your child with all natural products (that RID stuff is toxic). They will pick the nits out and have a guarantee. I know one of the school mother's used a company and had great success. If you miss even one nit, you are back at square one!

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

If your still finding the nits, I'd go to the pediatrician and get a RX for Ovide or something that will kill the nits too! Over the counter shampoos and such just kill the lice and don't suffocate the nits, hence, you miss once, they hatch and you start all over again.

Last year, my kids school had it and it seemed like every week a letter went home about more cases. I spoke with my pediatrician about because I was freaked my kids would get it while I was 30 weeks pregnant (and now I have a 10 month old). A Rx ovicide is the way to go unfortunately.

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

You may have to cut her hair... Lice love long hair and it is harder to control them when it is long like that. She may keep getting it. It happened to a childhood friend of mine. She had thick, curly, long hair... Her mom is a hair stylist and after her third time of getting lice in 2 months, she cut it.. Took care of the problem... Everything need to be washed in HOT water. Pillowcases, blankets, hats, hoodies, stuffed animals, bed sheets... Everything!! Good luck

Message edited 12/30/2012 2:16:15 AM.

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =((

oh definitely...we are all in very tight buns today - even my DH

and we are definitely getting rid of her "rapuzel hair" as she calls it ASAP!

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED with Question!!??!!??

UPDATE IN ORIGINAL POST

question about school tomorrow!!

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

I personally don't think your DD should be going to school at this point.

It will only set you back if she spreads it and others in class get it and when you finally get rid of it, she gets it again, kwiM?

Ugh. I feel bad for you, sounds awful and now I don't think I am so nuts to be paranoid about it.

LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

I do not think she should be in school.

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

Did you tell your daughter's school she has lice? If not, you need to call the nurse, so they can send a note home to the other children's parents, and the nurse will check all of their heads. I would absolutely NOT send her in until she is nit/lice free.

Also, I would try the Fairytales mousse stuff. I read that it's supposed to make the nits less sticky so they are easier to get out? No idea if it works, but worth a try. If you keep missing them, I would go to a de-licing company!

Message edited 1/2/2013 12:51:47 PM.

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

Obviously now you have to wash the hair to get it out but once it's gone I heard dirty hair is the best remedy for kids. Gross but true. Not dirty like smelly but hairspray, don't wash hair every day. I put DDs hair back in a pony, braids or bun and add a little hairspray to the top to control the frizz and prevent lice. So sorry you guys have to deal with this

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

Sorry you are going through this. I would alert the school nurse and I really wouldn't send her unless you know she is nit free.

I know I mentioned it before, but a coworker of mine went through it with her 9 year old DD for months. They couldn't get rid of it. She finally stopped all home treatments, and got a RX for Ovide from her pediatrician and it was gone in one night's application. She said it was smelly, like rubbing alcohol, but her DD slept with it over night and it killed the lice, eggs, nits, etc.

Cutting hair isn't always a solution. They nest in the hair closest to the scalp, so hair can be 1/4" and they latch on!

Good Luck!

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

Posted by jacquig

Obviously now you have to wash the hair to get it out but once it's gone I heard dirty hair is the best remedy for kids. Gross but true. Not dirty like smelly but hairspray, don't wash hair every day. I put DDs hair back in a pony, braids or bun and add a little hairspray to the top to control the frizz and prevent lice. So sorry you guys have to deal with this

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

Posted by BargainMama

Posted by jacquig

Obviously now you have to wash the hair to get it out but once it's gone I heard dirty hair is the best remedy for kids. Gross but true. Not dirty like smelly but hairspray, don't wash hair every day. I put DDs hair back in a pony, braids or bun and add a little hairspray to the top to control the frizz and prevent lice. So sorry you guys have to deal with this

I use the Suave Rosemary Shampoo and conditioner (getting harder to find since the lice epidemic around here lol), and the Fairytales Lice Repellent Spray. I put the hair in buns or braids, and spray the shoulders with the lice repellent, coat and backpack. I also put hairspray over the lice repellent. A little neurotic, but I have zero patience for getting lice lol

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

Posted by jlk51496

Posted by BargainMama

Posted by jacquig

Obviously now you have to wash the hair to get it out but once it's gone I heard dirty hair is the best remedy for kids. Gross but true. Not dirty like smelly but hairspray, don't wash hair every day. I put DDs hair back in a pony, braids or bun and add a little hairspray to the top to control the frizz and prevent lice. So sorry you guys have to deal with this

I use the Suave Rosemary Shampoo and conditioner (getting harder to find since the lice epidemic around here lol), and the Fairytales Lice Repellent Spray. I put the hair in buns or braids, and spray the shoulders with the lice repellent, coat and backpack. I also put hairspray over the lice repellent. A little neurotic, but I have zero patience for getting lice lol

my pediatrician also suggested fairytales stuff...and a few of you ladies on here

where do you get it?!?!

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

Posted by BargainMama

Posted by jlk51496

Posted by BargainMama

Posted by jacquig

Obviously now you have to wash the hair to get it out but once it's gone I heard dirty hair is the best remedy for kids. Gross but true. Not dirty like smelly but hairspray, don't wash hair every day. I put DDs hair back in a pony, braids or bun and add a little hairspray to the top to control the frizz and prevent lice. So sorry you guys have to deal with this

I use the Suave Rosemary Shampoo and conditioner (getting harder to find since the lice epidemic around here lol), and the Fairytales Lice Repellent Spray. I put the hair in buns or braids, and spray the shoulders with the lice repellent, coat and backpack. I also put hairspray over the lice repellent. A little neurotic, but I have zero patience for getting lice lol

my pediatrician also suggested fairytales stuff...and a few of you ladies on here

where do you get it?!?!

I bought it at Harmon (beauty/drug type store). It was $9.99 and you can use the BBB coupons. Or you can order it online at the Fairytales site

LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

Kiddie haircut places carry Fairy Tales too.

Re: LICE - the size of ANTS!! =(( UPDATED in OP with Question!!??!!??

In the future, you should call one of those companies like Lice Busters. It's expensive, but from what I hear, worth every, single cent. And I think they have a guarantee for a certain amount of time. My dd's school had an outbreak a few years ago and they came to the school and treated the kids on the spot and checked everyone else.