I am scared to death that my two year old will get head lice from daycare...has anyone else had this?

Question

It might sound stupid, but last night I had a dream that my daughter got headlice from daycare. She is two and has very fine but full-bodied curly hair.

A lady at work had to shave her three girls' head bald to get rid of the problem...and they had the same textured hair and got lice from daycare.

How often do people actually get it and is it really that hard to get rid of it?

What can I do to prevent her from ever getting it all together?

Answer 1

It's possible your daughter will eventually get lice, but I would speak to her pediatrician about success stories other parents have had that did not involve cutting the hair. I know that sometimes, the comb that comes with the treatment shampoo doesn't work because their hair is so fine, and there are time sthe lice become immune to the treatment. But I would try and exhaust all options before cutting her hair....that is unless you get frustrated and choose to go that route. Until then, just pray she never gets it!

Answer 2

Lice is very common, especially around that age.
You can't prevent her from getting it unless you keep her locked in the house 24/7 and don't let her around other kids EVER.

Lice aren't that hard to get rid of (special shampoo). The daycare should have a policy that they won't allow the kids back until the nits (eggs) are gone. As long as the day care does their part, it shouldn't be a huge issue.

I have never had to shave my head or my kid's head. I did have to cut my daughter's hair once because it was too long to comb the nits out. Fine hair is actually easier to deal with than thick hair.

Answer 3

When my sisters and I were young, my sister got headlice at school. She had hair very much like what you are describing, incredibly thick, curly, textured hair. Headlice is going to be a threat at somepoint, because it is spread through close contact and like sharing hats, brushing. Teach your daughter not to share hats, scares, brushes, etc and it can help her avoid it, but thats about all.

I don't think there is anything you can do to prevent it, but you don't necessarily have to resort to shaving her head. They have shampoos and combs and all that. It is NOT THE END OF THE WORLD! My mom did cut my sisters hair a little bit shorter (neck length because it was so long), just so that is was not so tedious to treat, but didn't have to.

I remember seeing this thing on the news, I think it was like a giant hair dryer type thing that removed all the lice and eggs. Maybe your daughters doctor knows something about that, or maybe you can look it up.


EDIT: I was curious about the dryer thing after this and found this article

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/08/healthscience/snvital.php

Answer 4

I would check with your Pharmacist and or Pediatrician some Treatments are not good for young children and may cause reactions.Some Shampoos also come with an (AGE) warning....
What I can offer is all children will get it sometime or another but there are a few things you may want to try!!
First no sharing hats or brushes,combs things like that... Also I know ppl that would put styling gel in there children's hair it will smother the Nits that are there and prevent them from hatching or any new but to cling onto the Shaft of the hair... But do Check with you Pharmacistand or Pediatrician they can steer you in the right Direction. Good Luck... :o)

Answer 5

Lice has been on man so long that it mutated and evolved into body lice when man invented clothing. Don't freak, your child benefits from being exposed to most ills found at a daycare, especially germs and bacterias. The lice gives you the opportunity to teach your child about the world we live in.

Answer 6

You can't prevent it but you certainly don't need to shave her head. What an extreme and lazy way to deal with it! It's very common and easily dealt with if you patiently deal with it. Check her head regularly, look for nits down by the roots of her hair (will look like silver tiny rice) andd either pull them off or comb them out. (they have special combs for that) They make shampoo to kill lice but check to see if it can be used on a child that young. Head lice are a nuisance but they're not life threatening so don't freak out.

Answer 7

I got head lice when I was in school and I had very long hair. My mom was afraid that she'd have to cut my hair, but we used Nix and caught it right away. As long as you catch it soon enough and wash her bedding and clothes after treatment you shouldn't have to cut her hair. Maybe if you check her regularly you'd feel better about it. My mom says to look around the hairline on the nape of her neck. That's where they start nesting first I guess. Your daughter will definately tell you because it's uncomfortably itchy.

Answer 8

My daughter has had lice go through her classroom 3 times. She never got it. But my girlfriends kids got it 2'ce! She didn't make them bald, but had to cut their hair short. She had to bleach the house, all toys, teddy bears through the wash... man it is a job. I don't think you can prevent it, they jump from head to head, body to body. Just make sure she knows NEVER to share hats, hoods, brushes or any hair elastics with other people. There is not much else you can do.

Answer 9

I am dealing with this problem right now...for the second time. My step-daughter has gotten it from her YMCA-summer camp program twice now. And it is the most difficult tedious thing. I'm scared to death of catching it myself..and it makes me a nervous wreck. I have heard that spraying lysol on your furniture will 'help' ...and that using suave apple scented shampoo on your hair keeps them away...so you could always try that. Good luck, I know your fear and I am becoming more and more miserable as we speak from my current situation. :-( Feel free to email me if you have any other questions!

Answer 10

As for prevention you can make sure your daughter does NOT- where someone's hat, or headbands, or even use their hairbrush. Also, make sure the nurse checks for lice, so that she can catch them before it gets to bad. If its too late and she already has lice, there are shampoos you can use to get them out and doctors can help. hope that helps!