When school starts back up in the fall, so do the birthday invitations! And once your child is around third grade, some of these invitations might be for sleepovers! While there are many concerns you may have about sending your child to a sleepover, head lice shouldn't be one of them. Fortunately, by following a few simple steps, you can significantly decrease your child’s risk for head lice. 

Is it Common for Lice to Spread at Sleepovers? 

Unfortunately, sleepovers are a hotspot for head lice. Imagine the typical preteen sleepover where girls are taking selfies, braiding each other’s hair, and having pillow fights. These seemingly harmless activities spread lice, especially during periods when there are active infestations in the classrooms. 

Keep in mind that most head lice cases are spread through head-to-head contact, so sleepovers provide the perfect opportunity for this. It doesn’t matter how clean the host’s home is, head lice spread when kids are close. With that being said, head lice cannot survive for long off a human host, so your child is not likely to get them from a blanket or pillow. 

How to Prevent Head Lice at Sleepovers 

Discourage sharing personal items 

Send your child with their own blanket and pillow 

Take a peek each week 

Educate your child on head lice 

If your child does bring home head lice after a sleepover, My Hair Helpers has you covered. We have a variety of head lice products to address all lice concerns. All products are safe, effective and made from natural ingredients, so you can feel good about them, too!