As we wind down another exciting, fun-filled (and hopefully for you, lice-free) camp season, everyone is racing around and gearing up for back-to-school. What does that mean to you?
Probably spending a zillion dollars at Target or Staples, hunting for the latest "in" clothing and shoes, or tracking down the ultimate dorm and locker accessories - am I right?
Well, to our least favorite parasite, not that we really have a favorite one, it means a change of scenery . . . they'll be headed (no pun intended) from the land of baseball helmets, cabin bunk pillows and sleeping bags to the locks of kids in shiny yellow buses, colorful classrooms and locker rooms. Unfortunately lice infestations peak during summer camp and back-to-school seasons, times when children are often in situations with close/head-to-head contact or sharing hats, cute hair bands, brushes and anything else those sneaky lice use to travel from one child to another.
What's a parent to do? How do you combat the critters and keep your kids free and clear of their treachery?
- Educate yourself and educate your kids. Warn against sharing a friend’s hairbrush between classes or after changing from gym clothes. Tell them that not everyone who has lice will know it. (Some "lucky" kids won’t even itch if they have lice.)
- Be proactive. Even if your kids aren’t itching, regularly check their heads for lice or nits (lice eggs). This is super easy to do if you usually brush your child’s hair yourself. Lice are generally found along the hairline, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck, but they can be found anywhere on the head. They are tiny, but they can be seen by the unaided human eye. And remember to keep a good, metal fine-toothed comb on hand, for any suspects that don't seem usual.
If that doesn’t seem like enough, or if you are like me and don't want to leave anything to chance, try using lice prevention products. It just so happens that LTC's co-founder and Medical Director, Dr. Elin Cohen developed Jolis Cheveux™ lice prevention products. I don't want to sound too "sales-y", but I have used the Leave-In Tonic (a fresh smelling spray) daily on all three of my kids ever since my daughter came home from school with "the letter". (Read more about that fateful day here).
Lice Treatment Center also has a whole arsenal of all-natural, non-toxic products for treating your children (or yourself!) should you find that somehow, some way, those blood-sucking hitchhikers infiltrated your home. Or, if you are too busy, squeamish, overwhelmed, tired, grossed out, impatient, or too [insert appropriate adjective here] to deal with the delousing and nit removal process, we are more than happy to help! Our friendly and understanding, pediatrician-trained technicians can come to your home and discreetly take care of everything for you.
So as you are readying your children for their first day and anticipating all the wonderful things in store for them (and you) in the coming year, don’t forget to remind them about the precautions that should be taken to avoid lice. And, since sometimes our kids don't always listen as carefully as we might like, you just might want to pick up some Jolis Cheveux™ at your local retailer while you are stocking up on school supplies (or order some online).
Now that you have all that tended to, what do YOU have planned for the kids' first day back?
Your go-to mom,
