Lice - HELP!!!

[welly01]

DS's blanket and pillow got sent home yesterday because someone in his class/the school has lice.  Yuck!!!  I have no idea what I should do to prevent him from getting lice, how to tell if he gets it or how to treat it.

A friend recommended adding a few drops of tea tree oil to our shampoo.  She also said to add mousse or hairspray to his hair because the lice like clean hair or the scent/texture repels them?

What do I do with his blanket and pillow?  Are they safe from lice?  I can wash the blanket in hot water, but I really don't want to put the pillow through the washer.  Do I need to start washing all our clothes with hot water?

Help!  What is the WM protocol for preventing/dealing with lice?

[litzo27]

I believe you can put them in a garbage bag and tie them up for a week. Meanwhile use another one. Essentially that kills both the lice and the eggs because they need a host. I would google to double check that though. We haven't had to deal with this (yet) but my sister has been struggling. Her DD2 has been getting lice on and off for a year. They think it's going around in class in turns. Every time she treats it and to brush them out and it goes away. For weeks sometimes and then they come back. Interestingly of her other 3 kids only 2 got them once and the other one hasn't gotten them a single time in a year (despite living in the same house, etc.) So seems like some people are more at risk. But yes, any hair product is good.

[tas1883]

My mom used to put pillows and stuffed animals into the dryer for 30 minutes. I would wash his sheet, blanket, jacket, coat, and anything else he takes to school and run his pillow through the dryer if you don't want to wash it. I like being proactive when we get notified from daycare than have to deal with a whole house outbreak.

[queenbabee]

Feb 5, 2015 14:03:48 GMT -5 tas1883 said:

My mom used to put pillows and stuffed animals into the dryer for 30 minutes. I would wash his sheet, blanket, jacket, coat, and anything else he takes to school and run his pillow through the dryer if you don't want to wash it. I like being proactive when we get notified from daycare than have to deal with a whole house outbreak.

This. Hot water wash & hot dryer. Proactive just to be safe for sure.

and you can see the eggs or lice if you look. Check right where the hair growth starts at scalp. The eggs look kinda like dandruff would and the lice, well....they move ::gagging::
good luck!

[CoverGirl82]

Ditto on the washing in hot water and also putting them in a garbage bag for a week.

For hair, my friend who is a hairstylist said that most of the lice around now are getting resistent to the medications and chemicals, so she recommends olive oil. I would think tea tree oil would also work.

I hope your LO stays lice-free!