I don't know how to tell you to handle this but just wanted to share that I recently went through the exact same situation. At least in this case your BM was vigilant enough to notice her daughter had lice. I didn't want SD to come back until it was treated since not only do I have long hair, the other SD's do as well and it didn't make any sense to contaminate two households. Needless to say BM still sent her back to us. Luckily she had her mother treat the poor kid since BM can't be bothered to do anything for her own children, but she still had eggs so I still ended up having to disinfect our whole house.

Follow the course of treatment and don't let SD and DD sit with their heads together.

Why would you try to switch weekends over this?? Isn't part of parenting taking care of the kid when they're sick?
SMH I just love how dads want to be "parents" of their kids only when it suits them.

I think it is irresponsible of any parent to let their kid leave their house if they are sick. It is also irresponsible of a parent to send their kid somewhere else with the possibility that OTHERS could get sick or their home also become infected, etc. Just as it's funny how dads want to be parents ONLY when it suits them, it's also funny how BMs have no problem sending their kids elsewhere even when they are sick...yet, funny, most want custody because "kids are better off with mommy, that maternal care bs", yet in reality, it's the money, it's the control, it's the I will make the decisions...

I can ASSURE YOU that if this SMOMs kid had lice, BM would be SCREAMING that she wanted to keep her kid at home to prevent HER kid from getting infected...yet, it's ok to infect someone else's kid.

As long as BM is treating SD and sending the medicated shampoo along so that treatment can be continued at your house it should be a non issue. Your DH can assist her with her hair just as well as BM could.

Mayonnaise!

The chemical treatments only kill the bugs not the eggs. If you use a chemical treatment you have to go thru the hair & pick all the eggs out. Mayo or Olive oil will kill & suffocate both the eggs & bugs. When my BD12 was about 2 the neighbor girl gave us lice. I spent a fortune -- still had lice for a while. I researched and used mayo -- no more lice. 2 yrs ago the SD12 brought it home from her neighbor girl -- BM used chemical (skids still came over of course) so we had it in our household, BM's household and her BF had 3 girls so it went to their BM's household. No one listened to me until it was hanging around for a good month.

Buy a squeeze jar of mayo (even at the dollar tree) - cover entire head and all hair. Use a shower cap or light towel to cover. Leave on for at least 3 hrs and then wash hair. Wash bedding, coats & soak hair brushes (or just buy new one) -- that's it! And putting stuffed animals in bags are a good idea depending on the extent of the infestation What is funny is you will be amazed how shiny your hair will be after a mayo treatment.

Good luck!

I also drowned my skids hair in olive oil inbetween treatments because you can only use the chemical once every so many days so I would put olive oil in their hair and put a shower cap on them and let that "marinate" for about an hour and then rinse it water as hot as was still comfortable and then shampooed it. Make sure you vacuum the house more frequently and empty the vacuum bag after you sweep. And bleach the lice combs/ regular combs inbetween usage. And like others have said, bag up any non-essential bed toys etc and put in a sealed bag for a few days and launder bedsheets, covers, and pillows frequently. Best of luck in getting rid of those nasty pests.

I agree, when DD has something contagious she stays home. No reason to expose two households.

As far as the headlice, it should be treated twice (10 days between permethrin treatments). If you are worried, it won't hurt her to treat the following day again. When you use the comb that comes with the kit either spray her hair with vinegar or dip the comb and comb it through. The acetic acid breaks down the glue that holds the nit to the shaft of the hair.

It stinks, but use this opportunity to be sure she actually gets rid of it... Good luck!!

Just went through all this, I understand your frustration. SO refused to take his daughter for well over a month because she was infested with lice. I have 4 children at home and we refuse to put them in a position where they can get infected as well. It's a problem I really haven't got time for, it's time consuming, expensive and a headache to treat, I don't have the time to sit at a table going through 4 heads for hours on end because of something that could have easily been prevented, not to mention all the school the kids would miss. Then again with my situation it was the BM that was just majorly lazy and thought throwing treatment on the child's head was enough and they would go away. This was what we were trying to get through to BM, that we were not risking infecting two house holds (not that his daughter comes here anyways but I am sure at some point during the weekend the other kids would have seen her). Her response? Basically I want my break and if the others get infected so be it, deal with it. Not freaking likely lady, get off yer butt and actually make a good attempt at getting rid of these bugs then SO would happily take her for visits. I know darn well if it was one of my kids that had lice she would not allow her kiddos to come over, she'd fear them getting it too.

Elizabethlauren, PLEASE do not let this kid in your house! DD#2 had head lice 2 years ago, she has long thick wavy hair it was a NIGHTMARE to get rid of. The problem with her was there were so many places for them to hide in her hair, if you miss just one or two they multiply like rabbits. And where did she get it? Playing OUTSIDE with the neighbor kids! Thats how contagous it is. And she went NOWHERE until she had the all clear for a week. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy- your BM is an idiot. Your kids WILL get this I garuntee you, she needs to stay away until she's completely clear. All it takes to infest the other kids is a pregnant bug or a male and female bug to jump onto thier heads and the swarm is on. It's gross. :sick: