Psychoanalysis of the Ego
... at what average age of the infant does breastfeeding cease
The average age at which breastfeeding ceases varies significantly depending on cultural, societal, and individual factors. Globally, the average age to stop breastfeeding is between two and four years old, with some countries like Guinea-Bissau reporting an average of 22.6 months and India commonly seeing breastfeeding continue until 2 to 3 years of age. In contrast, in many Western countries, extended breastfeeding beyond 12 months is not the cultural norm, and the average age tends to be lower.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, breastfeeding should continue for at least two years and beyond as mutually desired by the mother and child. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) also recommend continuing breastfeeding for at least two years and beyond, with the decision to wean based on the mutual desire of the parent and child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 36% of babies are still nursing at 12 months, and about 15% are still breastfeeding at 18 months, with most toddlers naturally weaning between the ages of 2 and 4.
While some infants may show decreased interest in breastfeeding around nine months due to developmental distractions, many continue into toddlerhood and beyond. The decision to stop breastfeeding is often influenced by the child’s cues, the parent’s comfort, and the desire to maintain the nutritional and emotional benefits of breastfeeding. There is no universally defined "average" age, as weaning is a highly individualized process, and even when children wean themselves, it typically occurs between the second and fourth years of life.
... at what average age does spoon feeding commence
Spoon feeding typically commences around 6 months of age, when infants begin eating solid foods. At this stage, caregivers usually introduce pureed or mashed foods using a spoon, as babies learn to swallow solids.
Babies may start showing interest in holding and playing with a spoon between 6 to 9 months, and some may begin self-feeding with a spoon around 9 to 12 months, though it is often messy. Most toddlers develop better spoon control by 12 to 18 months and can feed themselves more independently by 18 to 24 months.
... fact check a lactating woman does not menstruate
The claim that a lactating woman does not menstruate is not universally true and requires context.
While breastfeeding often delays the return of menstruation due to elevated levels of prolactin, a hormone that suppresses ovulation, this effect varies significantly among individuals. This temporary infertility is known as lactational amenorrhea.
- Women who exclusively and frequently breastfeed, especially on demand and through the night, are more likely to remain amenorrheic (without periods) for several months.
- On average, menstruation returns between 9 and 18 months postpartum, though some women may get their period as early as 6–8 weeks after childbirth, even while breastfeeding.
- Others may not menstruate until after weaning, which can be years later.
Importantly, ovulation can occur before the first postpartum period, meaning a woman can become pregnant while still lactating and before menstruation resumes.
Therefore, while lactation can suppress menstruation, it does not guarantee its absence.
... inference check if sibling A was born April 27, 1956 and sibling B was born May 17, 1958, the mother of both siblings resumed fertility no more than estimated ~17 months after birth of sibling A
Sibling A was born on April 27, 1956, and Sibling B on May 17, 1958, a span of approximately 24 months and 20 days.
Pregnancy lasts about 9 months, so conception of Sibling B would have occurred around August 1957.
This means the mother resumed fertility (ovulation) by approximately August 1957, which is about 15.5 months after the birth of Sibling A.
Therefore, the statement that the mother resumed fertility no more than ~17 months after the birth of Sibling A is correct — she resumed fertility at approximately 15.5 months postpartum.
... check assumption breastfeeding of sibling A likely ended at birth of sibling B, unless the burdens of third trimester pregnancy shortened duration of sibling A breastfeeding to leas that 24 months
The assumption that breastfeeding of Sibling A likely ended at the birth of Sibling B is plausible but not certain.
It is common for breastfeeding to continue into pregnancy and even after the birth of a second child, a practice known as tandem nursing. However, hormonal changes during pregnancy—particularly around 4–5 months gestation—often reduce milk supply and alter its taste, which may lead to natural weaning of the older child before birth.
Given that Sibling B was born on May 17, 1958, the mother probably would have been pregnant by September 1957. By that time, changes in breast milk (reduced volume, shift to colostrum, altered taste) could have prompted Sibling A to self-wean, especially if nursing became less satisfying.
Therefore, it is likely that breastfeeding of Sibling A ended before or around the time of Sibling B’s birth, possibly due to the physiological effects of the third trimester, even if the intention was to continue longer.
... related question of child development at what age do children learn to stand and walk
Children typically begin standing with support around 8–9 months and may stand unassisted by 10–12 months.
The first independent steps usually occur between 9 and 12 months, with most children walking well by 14–15 months. Some may not walk until 16–17 months, which is still within the normal range.
Skills progress from pulling up and cruising (walking while holding furniture) to standing alone, then taking solo steps.
... sibling A has a distinct memory of an incident in bathroom involving watching his mother attend to her menstrual hygiene at which time A remembers standing, does not recall presence of sibling B, which leads to conviction of A that memories of witnessing are possible as young as 12-15 months of age
Children can form basic memories as early as 12–15 months, including recognition of people, routines, and simple events. At this age, they may remember familiar faces, follow simple instructions, and recall recent actions or experiences for short periods.
However, episodic memories—detailed recollections of specific personal events—are typically not retained into later childhood or adulthood from this age due to childhood amnesia. Most adults cannot reliably recall events before age 3–4, and memories claimed from earlier are often reconstructed or influenced by later narratives.
While Sibling A’s memory of observing a menstrual hygiene event at 12–15 months aligns with the theoretical possibility of memory formation at that age, the clarity and accuracy of such a detailed memory are questionable. Research shows infants can encode sensory and emotional experiences, but long-term retention of these memories is rare.
Thus, while the experience may have occurred, the memory as recalled in later life may not be a true episodic recollection from that age.