Tots to Teens: What to do if your child gets head lice

Letter prints from nettleandivy.ie are the perfect way to add a personalised touch to a child’s bedroom.

They are created by sisters Jyll and Kate Power, who are passionate about nature — illustrations of animals and plants feature on all their prints.

The prints come in Irish and English versions as well as a variety of colours.

They can be customised with a child’s name and date of birth.

Each one costs €25, which includes shipping and gift wrapping on all orders.

A wild bus tour

Patricia Forde is Laureate na nÓg, aka Ireland’s Children’s Laureate.

As a children’s writer, she has written more than 20 books in Irish and English as well as various plays, TV series and a film.

As a Laureate, she hopes to bring children, writers and illustrators together to inspire one another and
encourage creativity.

Her latest project involves inviting children’s authors and illustrators to join her on a bus tour.

The Whole Wild World Tour will travel from Donegal to Cork, visiting schools, libraries, cultural venues, and bookshops.

“During the pandemic, the big wide world that is usually open to young people became smaller and much less colourful,” says Forde.

“I want to get young people daydreaming again about amazing new places, characters and adventures. I’m a big believer in making things up as we go along and that’s what this tour will be all about.

“I can’t think of anywhere better on earth than the west coast of Ireland to get us dreaming about the world, the one that’s around us and the many worlds that exist in our heads.”

She wants your help in deciding where she should visit on her tour.

If you would like the Whole Wide World Tour to make a pitstop in your local village or town, apply online at childrenslaureate.ie/opencall

The closing date is Friday, September 29.

Lice alert

Schools across Ireland are warning parents that headlice have been spotted in children’s hair.

According to Tomás Conefrey of Conefrey’s CarePlus Pharmacy in Dublin, parents should be ready to tackle the problem immediately.

This means combing through your child’s hair to spot and remove any lice you find. Start by washing your child’s hair as normal. Then divide it into sections and comb through each section from root to tip, removing lice and nits as you go.

“Lice are tiny insects that grow up to 3mm long,” says Conefrey. “They make your scalp itchy, and you can often feel them moving in your hair. The nits are what’s left behind when the lice hatch. Your local pharmacy can provide you with the fine-tooth comb you will need for this process.”

Everyone in the family should undergo combing at least twice to ensure the infestation has been dealt with. If there are still lice in your child’s hair on the second comb-through, it may be worth asking your pharmacist about the available medicated options.

When the infestation has finally cleared, wash all bed linen, hair accessories, brushes and combs at a high temperature to kill off any remaining lice.

Essential cover

Breast Vest is the latest product in the range offered by Mama’s Boobie Box, a County Clare business providing practical essentials for breastfeeding mums.

This top sits directly underneath a nursing bra, covering a mum’s tummy. This means she can breastfeed without worrying about revealing more of her body than she would like when she lifts her top to feed her baby. It can even be worn in the latter stages of pregnancy to bridge the gap between tops and bottoms.

Made from a mix of viscose and elastane, the Breast Vest is soft, stretchy and holds its shape. It comes in black, white, or pink. It costs €17.50 and is available from mamasboobiebox.com