Back to School is creeping around the corner. Unfortunately, so is head lice. According, to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "an estimated 6 million to 12 million infestations occur each year among children 3 to 11 years of age. " Doesn't that make you itch? With all that Back to School, the last thing you want to think about is buying toxic shampoo to have on hand just in case. Instead of worrying over finding the right pesticide-free shampoo to help treat head lice, consider getting a Robi Comb from LiceGuard.

The increase in head lice reports has prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics to amend their “No Nits” policy regarding withholding children from public schools who might still have nits, otherwise known as head lice eggs, present on their scalp. The amended policy states that children with nits do not really pose a risk to the rest of the school.

This amended policy has many parents nationwide scratching their head, as they do not want to put their children in any “unnecessary” risk by sending them to schools recently affected by an infestation. As evident by this policy’s amendment, head lice is not so much of a health or hygiene issue; however the way these pests are commonly treated is of greater concern. In the past, the only way to effectively treat head lice was with dangerous toxic shampoos, chemicals, gels or oils; many of which use Pyrethrum or Permethrin, the same pesticides found in household bug killers. Today more than ever, there is a growing concern of the health effects of putting toxins and chemicals such as these on a developing child’s head and the negative long term effects these poisons may have. Aside from being toxic, many of these “traditional” treatments have also been widely reported to not even work, as the lice, in most cases, have built up a resistance to the pesticides used rendering them essentially useless.

The Robi Comb from LiceGuard is a non-toxic lice treatment and an alternative to shampoos. It is a non-invasive electronic lice comb that detects and destroys lice on contact simply by combing it through dry hair. When the Robi Comb's metal teeth touch lice, the lice get zapped, die and then get combed away. You may have heard about the Robi Comb since it was recently recommended as a “must-have natural product for children” on NBC’s Today Show by Melissa Foss, editor of the Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health publications.

I do not have a Robi Comb nor have I ever tried it. But from what I can tell, it sounds like an effective  tool that is safe, easy to use and economical at a web price of $24.95. That's why I agreed to host a giveaway right here on Toronto Teacher Mom.

One reader will win their own Robi Comb just in time for the new school year. You must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada and will need to fill in the Rafflecopter form below for your entries to count.

Disclosure: I was offered a chance to host this giveaway for my readers. I did not receive any product or compensation. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.