Lice!

With the start of the school year we will see the start of the lice season! Here are some quick tips to prevent infestation.

·         Get different brushes and combs for each family member. Last year we purchased fun colors of brushes for each of our kids and asked them to use only their own brush.

·         Remind kids not to try on or share other’s hats, headbands, hair ties, etc. (and don’t do this at home either).

·         Check your kid’s head weekly, especially near the ears and nape of the neck. Lice eggs are brownish and the adults (rarely seen) are white. These are teeny creatures so go to HeadLice.Org (http://www.headlice.org/) for more specifics.

·         Use a personal baseball cap under the batting helmet your kids wear when playing softball, baseball or T-ball. Wear a personal skull cap under rented ski helmets.

·         Bring your own bike helmet to school during bike, scooter, or unicycle weeks.

·         Remind kids not to put on hats, wigs, etc. during dress-up play.

·         Lavender essential oil rubbed on the neck supposedly inhibits adult lice.

·         If your kids does get lice here are our tips:

o   Do not use chemicals!

o   Make sure you deal with this in a matter-of-fact manner so your child doesn’t feel embarrassed or stressed. The lice picking will be annoying enough for the kids so you need to ensure you are setting an “it’s no-big-deal” tone in the house.

o   Remember, lice are attracted to clean hair, not dirty hair that is too oily for the lice to adhere.

o   Wash hair with a tea tree oil soap to get it squeaky clean before lice picking.

o   Allow the kid to watch a movie or chew on gum ½ way through. Make sure they are sitting comfortably.

o   Be nice and encouraging during the lice pick and tell your kid you are 1/2 way through when you are really about 2/3 way through. It’s a long sit for a 1^st grader.

o   Do a lice pick two times per day on wet hair for no less than 30 minutes.

o   Section long hair and tie up with long, hinged barrettes.

o   Use a super bright light and look at each SMALL section of hair from two different angles.

o   When you try to pull out the lice egg, grasp between two finger nails and deposit the egg into a (preferably) white sink so you can see you got it. When you are done, you can rinse all the eggs down the sink.

o   You will be able to get rid of lice in about 3 days if you are very careful during the lice picks. However, keep checking for a full week as the eggs mature slowly and can be almost microscopic.

o   Resist cutting the kids hair, if you are careful and methodical in your lice picks, you can get rid of them in about 3 days even in long, blond hair (I’ve done it!)

o   Wash pillowcases and bedding the first day. Thereafter, wash pillowcases each day.

o   Check the whole family daily even if other members do not appear to have an infestation.

o   Remove stuffed animals and place in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes.

o   Keep checking and doing lice picks. The number one reason parents don’t get rid of lice is that they get lax after a few days.

Antibacterial Soap Awash?

Have you ever wondered if antibacterial soap is really necessary? Here are some things you should know before you refill your hand soap dispenser.

• Antibacterial soap is formulated to prevent spread of bacteria not viruses. The flu and other contagious illnesses are viral.
• Studies have shown that hand washing properly is what is important for clean hands, not the type of soap you use (http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/6432).

Clean Table To- Go

If you eat with a toddler, you know that they tend to eat food off the table or their tray, not a dish. Instead of wiping a restaurant table with a chemical laden wipe, we carry a small flexible placemat to cover the table or high chair tray. You can keep a couple in your car and wash them between outings. This is an easy solution that’s gentler on the environment and your kid. The placemat system also works well if you have a child with sensitive allergies, such as peanuts.

Keep the flu from visiting your home this winter – a series of tips

TIP #4: Sleep – your body’s best defense. Make sure kids are getting the recommended amount of sleep each night (http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-children) and that parents are too. That means 8 hours for men and 7 for women. Cut down on that extra coffee or switch to decaf to help your sleep schedule during flu season.

TIP #5: Use food to fight illness

• Load your diet with fruits and vegetables. Scientific studies proving immune system protection provided by diet are described by Dr. Fuhrman at the following link (http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/cold-flu-flu-and-nutrition-dr-fuhrman-responds-to-comments.html)
• Decrease sugar, sugar and sugar substitute foods in your diet. An article on the Dr. Sears website (http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t042500.asp) describes the effects of overdosing on sugar as follows “The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates, or starches, has no effect on the immune system.”  Also, watch for hidden sugars; they can be found on labels as the following ingredients: high fructose corn syrup, beet sugar, brown sugar, cane juice, cane sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, evaporated cane juice, fructose, honey, maltodextrin, maple syrup, molasasses, sucrose, turbinado sugar, and agave nectar. Generally, if an ingredient ends in “ose” or “ol” it is probably a sugar. Remember that juice, unless made fresh at home, is high in sugar and low in fiber. Juice should be considered a “treat” like soda.