Awwww hun FWIW, I don't think he doesn't try to suckle/nuzzle you like he used to, not because he has forgotten, but because he is happy and well adjusted enough now to to just not need to do it now kwim? I can imagine how hard it is for you, because you've tried so damn hard to make sure you are doing what's best for him, often at a cost to yourself, and when he's older that's what he's going to love you so much for. And even if you tell him at any stage that you had to wean him early, not because you wanted to, but because you had to, he's not going to begrudge you that because in you doing so, you've given him a Mummy that is able to fully look after his needs because hers are back on track. I really don't think that having to wean him earlier is going to affect his intelligence because In my personal opinion only, the method of infant feeding plays such a small part to overall intelligence kwim?