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Home › Expert Q&A › Health Concerns › How can I prevent my newborn from being infected with lice?

Expert Q&A

 

By Deborah Z. Altschuler
Lice Expert

My oldest child was sent home from school with head lice. We have a newborn with a lot of hair. How can I prevent my newborn from being infected?

The first order of business is to verify that the older sibling does indeed have head lice, and if so, be sure that all of the lice and eggs (nits) are manually removed. There are no chemicals for treating head lice that are 100-percent effective. This includes those described as non-toxic or natural. This is why manual removal is so important. Moreover, if Mom is nursing, she wouldn't want to apply or be exposed to treatments for head lice because they are pesticides and can be absorbed into breast milk.

The answer to the prevention question is the same for everyone. Find out what to look for, screen regularly and remove the lice and nits manually at the earliest possible juncture. Regardless of what you may hear, there are no products to loosen the nits. This is why a quality combing tool is required as well as an advance understanding of what to look for. The National Pediculosis Association offers a free Critter Card available at www.headlice.org to help parents accurately identify head lice and nits and distinguish them from dandruff and other hair debris.

Remember to never spray for head lice. Use your vacuum like your best friend – on bed pillows and the most recently-worn winter coats. Checking the children and combing herself is where Mom needs to put her energies. There is no need to wash tons of laundry or bag stuffed animals.

Having a new baby is too special a time in a family to let head lice get in the way. The key is knowing the facts, avoiding the risky pesticides and plain and simple: getting them out of your hair! And if the sibling has head lice and if too much hair makes it difficult to check the baby, then that very special "baby's first haircut" may have to happen earlier than expected."

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