Hi everyone,

I've just discovered that Ruby has head lice. The past few days I have seen a little bug on her hair that I though was just a normal bug from the garden or something but there was another one today, which I thought was really weird. When I parted her hair I saw loads of what must be eggs.

She's only 8 weeks old and i'm so worried. I don't know what to do. I know its not dangerous in big kids but worried that it is in tiny babies.

I never knew what a nit looked like but I googled it and it was defo a nit.

I've tried phoning my HV but just goes straight through to answer phone. And phoned docs surgery and they have no appointments.

Do I need to worry?

I'm going to the clinic tomorrow morning for another reason, so will ask then anyway.

I feel so awful. Like i'm not very good at this Mum thing.

I just don't understand how she would have got them. We went to a friends house the other day who have a 2 year old and a 3 year old???

Hi honey

Don't worry too much, speak to them tomorrow and see what they say, I don't know if you can use the stuff from the chemists on a baby so young, but their must be something. You could always pop to chemist and ask for nit comb and give Ruby's head a good comb and knock the eggs onto a bit of paper and put in bin

Headlice don't jump they only walk from head to head so I dare say it was the little ones you were with, all it will take is for them to touch heads with her head and you can pretty much guarantee she'll pick them up.

I got them off a niece while I was pregnant, and I was mortified!!! Now I tell my sisters kids not to get too close!! Cruel auntie I know but they've alsways got them, trouble is now a days that schools and nurseries are not allowed to single a child out so all they can do is send generic letters to parents but if one parent doesn't "do" their kids head then the whole class will get them.

Hope this helps somehow - just remember headlice only go on clean heads!!

i don't know about this proper creams as they may be too medicated and strong for such a little baby. conditioner however works a treat if you have a nits comb, just squirt a load on her hair so its all conditionered up and comb then all out. it may take a few goes though. xx

also (might be stating the obvious here) mention it to your friend so she can check her little kids hair also xx

my daughter caught them when she was 18 months i used baby conditoner and a nit comb for a few days it soon cleared them all up i would check your hair for a few days too x

The poor wee thing she cant even scatch them. Try not to worry, its not your fault. Most kids pick them up at sometime. Speak to someone tomorrow or even ask in the chemist & hopefully they'll be able to help you.

Sorry I cant be of more help xx

im a hairdresser babe you dont need any chemicals just use conditioner and a nit comb. Babys hair is really soft so they will slide of easily, you can even use your nail to slide them off.

Thank you everyone!
I'll do that then westbrom1! Thank you. Can it just be normal conditioner or does it have to be a special one for babies?
Bless her it must be driving her mad! xx

The wee soul. My 2 girls had them when Lara was 5 and Kayla was 1 - I got them too!!!! We all have really thick hair and it was a nightmare getting rid of them. I found that the medicated shampoos were too strong even for Lara and they were burning their scalp so be careful if you use one of them. My GP said that using oil (baby/olive) or mild conditioner and comb is best. The only trouble I had was getting Kayla to sit still as she was only one. I done loads of research on the internet at the time (4 years ago) and I found a product called nitty gritty - it was expensive - I think about ??27 for a comb, spray repellent and non medicated lotion to help comb through. It was well worth it and I use it regularly to check the girls heads. It is a metal comb so might not be suitable for your wee one but I did here that some places in England offer it on prescription - not sure if thats true but you dont get it on script up here. Hope your visitors leave soon!