7.13.2013

drying it up


The time has come, my dear Max. He's gonna be 1 (one!) next month, and the month after that my parents are coming for a visit. They asked if we'd want to go on vacation while they're here. You know, by ourselves. Without kids. ALONE.

YES!

So this kid's gotta wean. It's a new thing for me... Lizzy nursed for 6 weeks and Maren nursed for 10 months, and both were happy to stop without any fanfare whatsoever. This guy, though? It's gonna be rough.


In addition to cutting out some feedings, I've started drinking a hot cup of sage-parsley-yarrow tea three times daily. Those are the herbs that (are supposed to) dry up milk supply. To make it, I pick a fat bouquet of sage, parsley, and yarrow from the garden. The yarrow is optional; it would be perfectly fine with sage and parsley from the grocery store. I like to stick everything in my dehydrator for an hour or so just to wilt the herbs a bit, but it's not necessary. Alternatively, just leave the herbs on the counter for a few hours. (The reason for this step is that wilted or dried herbs make a more potent brew than just-picked herbs.)

After everything's nicely wilted, I chop it all up and put it in a saucepan with 6 cups of cold water. Cover, then bring it slowly to a boil over medium heat. Once it's boiling, turn off the stove and let it sit for a few hours. Strain and refrigerate. Three times a day, heat up a cup and sip away. I'm not gonna lie, it isn't tasty, but a little honey works wonders.

Anybody have any other awesome tips for weaning a baby?

2 comments:

April said...

I have no tips because mine all weaned themselves at 10 months, 13 months and 12 months. Two were cold turkey. My 13-monther was slow over a couple of months.

Good luck and have a great trip!

April said...

I just thought of something else, over a week later!

With our oldest two they weaned to bottles, and that was a big mistake, in my opinion, because later we had to wean them to sippy cups.

With our third when she weaned herself we didn't even bother with bottles and went right to the sippy cup. She had just turned 1 a week before and she did fine.

Just a thought, but I hated weaning them twice! The older they are the harder it is.