For the record, Dominic weaned at about 32 months, or slightly over 2.5 years.

  Definition of 'Weaning'

"Textbook" definition of weaning is the gradual introduction of another source of nutrients in place of the existing source.  In the case of baby care, this means 'weaning' starts when you start to introduce solids to your baby.  This usually happens at around 4-6 months.

But this is not what I mean by 'weaning' here.  'Weaning' in this article refers to the termination of breastfeeding.  This can happen anytime from the 1st month to the 7th year of your baby's life or even beyond.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that no child be fully weaned before the age of two.  The AAP recommends a minimal breastfeeding time frame of 6 months to a year.  The anthropologist, Katherine Dettwyler has shown that, around the world, anywhere between 2.5 and 7 years is considered normal, with 5-6 years (when other primates are weaned) perhaps being the optimum age (although I do not appreciate being compared to a primate, thank you!).

Culture plays a very important part in determining the age of weaning.  In most modern, industrialised societies, babies are either not breastfed at all or weaned at a very early age. Traditionally, Jewish babies are weaned at around the age of 2.  Similarly for Muslim babies.

Circumstances leading to Weaning

Weaning can happen for various reasons :

1. Involuntary - sickness, tragedy, generally circumstances that force weaning to happen despite willingness on both mother and child part to continue breastfeeding.

2. Voluntary - It can either be mother's choice, for a variety of reasons (e.g. going back to work, or simply 'I have had enough!').  It can also be the child's choice, in which case, it is referred to as 'self-weaning' or 'child-led weaning'.

I will only touch on voluntary weaning.