Child-led weaning is just what it sounds like it is, letting your child lead the weaning process.  Instead of weaning them on your terms and schedule you allow the child to dictate when they are done with breastfeeding.

Child-led weaning is not the norm here in the United States (or much of the western world for that matter), however, it is very common in strong breastfeeding cultures.  Child-led weaning is often practiced by extended breastfeeding mothers, those mothers breastfeeding beyond the first year.  On average, a child who is allowed to self wean will do so sometime around 2-4 years of age.

Many mothers who practice this form of weaning say it is a very natural, comfortable, easy approach to weaning.  However, you have to be willing to breastfeed your child until they are ready to call it quits.  Most experts say the breastfeeding relationship is best when both mother and child are willingly involved.  So if you are ready to call it quits then child-led weaning is probably not for you.

A lot of breastfeeding mothers who breastfeed beyond the first year, including myself, practice a combination form of weaning that is somewhat child-led, somewhat parent-led.  My daughter self-weaned from a few of her nursing sessions while I led the rest of the weaning.  She is 18 months and still currently nurses before bed.  I will likely led her in weaning from this session in the next couple of months if she doesn’t do it herself before then.

For information and for personal stories on child-led weaning visit the following websites:

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