My children have brought a new health department leaflet home with advice on treatment for headlice. 1 Wet combing method Headlice may be cleared over a two week period by the following method: - wash the hair in the normal way using an ordinary shampoo - Using lots of conditioner and while the hair is very wet, comb through the hair from the roots with a fine tooth comb. Make sure the teeth of the comb slot into the hair at the roots with every stroke, and do this over a pale surface, such as a paper towel or the bath; - Clear the comb of lice between each stroke - Wet lice find it difficult to escape, and hair which is slippery from conditioner makes it hard for them to grip - so removal with the comb is easier; - If you find any lice, then repeat this routine every 3-4 days for 2 weeks, so that any lice emerging from the eggs are removed before they can spread. Headlice take 7-10 days to hatch and a further 7-14 days to become full grown and able to mate. Linda Cairns, Tilehurst, Reading UK NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor