3 things

[emma_in_dream]

1, Ruby has chubby legs for the first time since she was an entirely breastfed baby. She can even kick herself along in the water (while supported by floaties).

2, Pearl has started school and seems very happy. I am pleased she is in a Grade One/Preprimary class as this is the first time she won’t be the youngest kid in the class.

3, Pearl impressed me by pointing to a Van Gogh illustration and saying she had seen another picture by him of ‘swirly stars’.

On the down side, the hair dresser says that despite months of combing and multiple chemical treatments she *still* has nits.

Comments

[fred_mouse]

Lots of good things!

As to the nits, we went to using cheap conditioner, rather than chemical treatments. Initially we did it twice a week, and then went to weekly when we didn't find anything for two treatments, and then dropped it after a few weeks. Basically - comb hair as best possible, then comb a generous handful of the conditioner thought until all the hair is coated. Leave for twenty minutes, then run the nit comb through (usually, I start running the nit comb through sooner, but the instructions were to leave it for that long and then comb quickly before rinsing. I've never managed to do comb quickly). I wipe the nit comb on to a pale coloured towel to see what is coming out - kids are always interested. Then rinse hair out. I find that the hair is much better condition after this than the other treatments.

[emma_in_dream]

I've been doing just that (except not waiting 20 minutes) 5 times a week for about 8 weeks now.

Luckily her hair cut has made her hair shorter and possibly it will be easier to comb. It is the curliness which makes it so hard.

Will now wait 20 minutes and see if that helps.

Thank you for the advice.

[lauredhel]

Does she have old nits, or active lice? You probably know about the 1 cm rule, but just a reminder anyhow.

Another treatment method that has shown good results is overnight Cetaphil. You saturate hair with Cetaphil cleanser in the evening (you can use a squeezy tomato sauce type bottle to make it easy), comb out excess, blow it dry (no need for shower caps), and wash off in the morning.

Here's detail on the method:

http://www.andoverpedi.com/patient-education/pdfs/Nuvo-lice-treatment.pdf

[emma_in_dream]

There were lice, now just nits. I will try again and if there is no cure shortly we will move onto the Cetaphil you mention. Thanks for the advice.

PS: I think the problem is partly that curly hair is very hard to comb thoroughly.