Objective:

Identify, in scientific literature, the main factors associated with early weaning.

Method:

This study is a systematic review of the Lilacs and Medline databases. The focus is on complete articles in English, Spanish and Portuguese published between 2004 and 2013. The guiding question is: "What factors influence early weaning?"

Results:

In all, 1,481 articles were identified and 39 met the inclusion criteria. The main factors that influence early weaning included, among others, maternal labor (33.3%), use of pacifiers (30.8%), weak milk (17.9%), trauma and nipple pain (17.9%), Introduction of other types of milk (15.4%), and the mother's/father's education (15.4%).

Conclusion:

Several factors are related to early weaning, which exhibits a strong sociocultural and historical determination that can be evidenced by a comparison of breastfeeding patterns among different populations and in the course of time.

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