Nanny venting on lice situation

[Anonymous]

Yes I have been doing treatments whenever they get lice and I’ll occasionally even do treatments on mb. I didn’t mind it the first 1-2 times because they’re kids- lice happens and of course I wanted to help. Now, several outbreaks later I’m getting to the point where I want to put my foot down and say no more. Delousing heads and the housework is hard work, especially when it falls on one person. & no I have not been paid extra for any of these outbreaks and treatments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an employer... I can totally understand that this wouldn't be fun, but assuming it's in your job description to take care of the kids, it seems like this would be included...

Also lice isn't transmitted typically except head-to-head contact, so unless you are rubbing your scalp against he children or their bedclothes you shold be okay

Absolutely not. Things like freaking LICE are your job, mom and dad.

(parent, not a nanny)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lice isn't an illness. It's not highly contagious. It's annoying and takes some work to eradicate. But let's stop with the hyperbole.

By the time your average kid is diagnosed, they have had the lice for two weeks. So the odds of your catching it in the period of time between being diagnosed and using the shampoo to kill live lice is pretty much zero. The AAP doesnt even recommend sending kids home from school.

I'm a pediatrician. I've diagnosed lice. My 15 year old had lice twice in elementary school. My husband and I never caught lice. We did the shampooing and combing, but our younger daughters nanny didn't get lice either.

/if/ the parents knew the night before, they should have at least done the initial shampoo. (The OP still hasn't clarified the timeline) but, seriously, this is not bubonic plague or even strep throat. It's a minor annoyance.

Exactly!

Good. If it’s such a small deal, the child’s PARENTS can deal with it. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lice isn't an illness. It's not highly contagious. It's annoying and takes some work to eradicate. But let's stop with the hyperbole.

By the time your average kid is diagnosed, they have had the lice for two weeks. So the odds of your catching it in the period of time between being diagnosed and using the shampoo to kill live lice is pretty much zero. The AAP doesnt even recommend sending kids home from school.

I'm a pediatrician. I've diagnosed lice. My 15 year old had lice twice in elementary school. My husband and I never caught lice. We did the shampooing and combing, but our younger daughters nanny didn't get lice either.

/if/ the parents knew the night before, they should have at least done the initial shampoo. (The OP still hasn't clarified the timeline) but, seriously, this is not bubonic plague or even strep throat. It's a minor annoyance.

What OP's family did is disgraceful and I wouldn't blame her if she quit on the spot. I'm also having a hard time believing you are a pediatrician. So let me ask you this-if you stand by your original statement, am I correct in assuming you would have no problem with another parent showing up at your house for a playdate with their child's head full of lice without telling you first. Can I also assume that you would have no problem with another parent sending their child to school with your child with full knowledge that they have lice? Please answer with explanation.

Im not sure why you doubt I'm a pediatrician, since my views are pretty much exactly those of the most recent AAP policy statement, found here:
(except for the fact that this paper estimates the average child has had lice for a full month before diagnosis)

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/126/2/392.full?sid=e0db2bd1-55fd-4e64-af14-61cb3ba42684

I said in my first post, I'd expect the parents to do a shampoo treatment the first afternoon after diagnosis. I'd have no problem having a child over for a playdate or back to school after a shampoo treatment. I'd have no problem with a child remaining at school. I might cut a playdate short if I dissevered live lice on either child, but only because girls playing one on one are more likely to touch their heads together. I'd have zero concern about the child transmitting lice to me, however, or infecting my house.

When we discovered lice, we only did the two shampoos, nit combing, and washing the sheets and pillowcases. Bagging and vacuuming all the stuffed animals and furniture is usually overkill, but I could see doing in for a recurrent case.

So, yes, I stand by what I said. If the parents were just informed that afternoon about the lice, it seems entirely appropriate to ask the nanny to wash the sheets and do a shampoo after school. If the parents knew the night before, it wasn't reasonable to wait a whole day for the initial treatment. And considering staying out of work because of a case of lice is over the top, as is doing any sort of treatment or cleaning in your house if you yourself don't have any signs of lice.

So yes to the playdate for your kid in your house with another child with active live nits then? Are you going to lie, or just continue to avoid the question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an employer... I can totally understand that this wouldn't be fun, but assuming it's in your job description to take care of the kids, it seems like this would be included...

Also lice isn't transmitted typically except head-to-head contact, so unless you are rubbing your scalp against he children or their bedclothes you shold be okay

I’ve never seen a job description which includes delousing children. Taking care of them, sure. But shampooing their hair and picking out lice? No way.

Bathing kids has always been expected, at least for me. And if I don’t want a child to scratch, complain and spread the lice? Then, I need to help get rid of them!

No, their PARENTS “need to get rid of them.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going through something similar. The children have been consistently getting lice for about 7 months now. Initially they paid a service for treatment while I helped bag and wash sheets/pillow/teddies etc. After the third contamination, all the heavy duty and delousing has been left for me to do. I’m quite exhausted and at my wits end. Im trying to figure out the best way to handle this but it’s hard when I feel alone in this. The kids lash out during treatments because they too are tired of the situation. It’s overall very draining and frustrating.

I would quit so fast if I were you. Experienced Nannie’s are still in demand. Seven MONTHS? No way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going through something similar. The children have been consistently getting lice for about 7 months now. Initially they paid a service for treatment while I helped bag and wash sheets/pillow/teddies etc. After the third contamination, all the heavy duty and delousing has been left for me to do. I’m quite exhausted and at my wits end. Im trying to figure out the best way to handle this but it’s hard when I feel alone in this. The kids lash out during treatments because they too are tired of the situation. It’s overall very draining and frustrating.

I would quit so fast if I were you. Experienced Nannie’s are still in demand. Seven MONTHS? No way.

Ugh, I have no idea why my iPad’s autocorrect insists on changing “nannies” to “Nannie’s.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an employer... I can totally understand that this wouldn't be fun, but assuming it's in your job description to take care of the kids, it seems like this would be included...

Also lice isn't transmitted typically except head-to-head contact, so unless you are rubbing your scalp against he children or their bedclothes you shold be okay

Lice extermination is NOT what a nanny does
This is a parent's and if your kids have me live. I would be looking for a new job. I am not a nanny but this is ridiculous for you to drop this job on your nanny!

[Anonymous]

Me like old threads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going through something similar. The children have been consistently getting lice for about 7 months now. Initially they paid a service for treatment while I helped bag and wash sheets/pillow/teddies etc. After the third contamination, all the heavy duty and delousing has been left for me to do. I’m quite exhausted and at my wits end. Im trying to figure out the best way to handle this but it’s hard when I feel alone in this. The kids lash out during treatments because they too are tired of the situation. It’s overall very draining and frustrating.

They’re being re-exposed. The service didn’t do a full job, they still had nits, the parents or friends have them and continue to expose the children, or the school is overrun. Get out.

[Anonymous]

I have worked for families who haven’t even told me that their kid had lice or told me at the end of the day.
People can be unbelievably selfish at times.