A couple of weeks ago at this time, we were knee-deep in The Great Lice Infestation of 2011.
Yes, my kids had LICE. It’s worse than any other four-letter in a parent’s vocabulary. As one of my friends said, it’s like an STD for kids.
We’re guessing that my eldest daughter picked up the affliction — or dare I say, PLAGUE — from a good friend. Her mom didn’t know how she got itt. Even though we treated our little one prophylactically, she too eventually succombed, albeit very briefly.
If your kid hasn’t had it, odds are they will, especially if they are between the ages of 3-12. What I’ve learned through this process is that there is A TON of misinformation about lice. For one thing, a July 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics report says there is no reason for children to miss school if they have lice or evidence of “nits”. (However if children share sleeping quarters, such as in a childcare or sleepover camp setting, more caution should be taken, the AAP says.)
Head lice are most readily transmitted by direct head-to-head contact, and contrary to popular belief, they don’t JUMP. Lice are a nuisance. They pose no health threat — physical, that is. But if you let them, they will drive you INSANE.
Here’s another thing I learned: getting rid of lice can be pricey. Don’t do what I did and freak out and run to the nearest drug store without doing a little research. There are a lot of remedies at the drug store that just don’t work, and the shampoos used in our generation are not considered safe anymore. (We also tried the mayonnaise method, but that didn’t work. However, it was a lot of fun!)
We tried several remedies but the one that worked the best, and was recommended by a local pediatrician, is what is known as the “Nuvo method.” This remedy involves pouring a lot of Cetaphil gentle skin cleansing lotion on the kids’ hair, drying it, and leaving it on there for awhile (follow the directions, please, for best results).
The Great Lice Infestation of 2011 cost us about $60 between buying the over-the-counter treatment that didn’t work, the mayonnaise, the Cetaphil, and many other accessories (new brushes and combs, some shower caps, etc.) It also was intensely time-consuming. And I can’t stop itching, even though I never acquired the little buggers.
I guess I can’t complain too much. I’ve heard of families in the Chicago area paying companies $500 and up to “de-louse” their house.
But in the long run, what I learned is that the HYSTERIA lice generate is completely unwarranted. In fact, by the end, we relaxed and even had a little fun with it — and it was actually a family bonding opportunity.
The lice were an inconvenience to be sure. And while I wouldn’t wish lice on my worst enemies, there are a lot worse childhood ailments. In the scheme of things, I’ll take it.
Laura Weisskopf Bleill is the co-founder and editor of chambanamoms.com. You can reach her at laura@chambanamoms(dot)com.