weaning

The practice of training a child to eat food other than his or her mother’s milk. In biblical times it was an occasion to celebrate when a child was weaned (Gen 21:8). It marked Samuel’s departure for special training (1Sam 1:21-28). A weaned child symbolized the peaceable kingdom of the Messiah (Isa 11:8) or the helpless result of a delinquent leadership (Isa 28:9).