Any parent that’s had the displeasure of delousing their little one will tell you that the process is an itchy inconvenience to be avoided at all costs. Treating head lice can be a tedious and time-consuming process. To add to the stress, lice and lice eggs (nits) are so imperceptibly tiny, they can seem impossible to avoid. 

Head Lice Prevention Tips

Fortunately, proactive prevention of head lice is possible. While there is no way to guarantee a lice-free environment for your child, there are many methods you and your child can use to help keep the bugs at bay. Below is a list of head lice prevention tips and tricks.

1.Avoid head-to-head contact

The most common way lice are spread is through head-to-head contact, so your best bet for lice prevention is to ensure that your child does not come into contact head-to-head contact with other kids. This means becoming extra conscious of your children’s social activities. Whether they are at school, camp, or the playground, it’s best for children to keep their distance as they play.

2. Do not share clothing, combs, or towels

Most of us know that refraining from sharing hats is an important part of preventing lice. But lice are able to crawl into any item of clothing. Make sure that your child knows not to share their clothes or hair care products. Additionally, you can remind your child to avoid shared spaces (such as hooks or lockers), where clothing from more than one child is kept.

3. Know the symptoms

Did you know that head lice does not typically cause itching until 4-6 weeks after an infestation? It’s important to note the other symptoms that may accompany a lice outbreak. In addition to itching, visible lice and nits and a sensation of movement on the head can all be signs of lice.

4. Use a lice prevention shampoo

Head lice prevention products, such as SoCozy Boo! Lice Scaring Shampoo, are designed to help incorporate lice prevention into kid’s everyday hair care. These products use natural lice repellents such as tea tree and peppermint oil to help ‘scare’ away lice. You can take an easy, daily step towards lice prevention when using lice prevention shampoos and sprays. 

If your child has already come into contact with somebody who has lice, there are a few additional steps you can take to help mitigate the spread. If there is an immediate threat of lice, wash your child’s clothes with hot water and dry them on high heat. You can also vacuum your carpeting and furniture, but it’s important to note that the risk of lice spreading on these surfaces is quite small.

Even the thought of lice can sometimes give us the ‘creepy crawlies,’ but it’s important not to shy away from the issue out of fear. The more we are proactively preventing head lice in our families and communities, the less likely the lice are to surface and spread. Through these preventative measures, you can keep your children’s head lice-free — and your head worry-free.