I just wanted to comment a little about this little boy.  Many of the
comments have been very appropriate. I also think that this child is
having retention behavior probably not related to weaning but to having
passed hard stools and associating the urge to go with pain.
would definitely take away bottles.  Would not wean. Why would one want to
wean at such a delightful age.
About the comments about mineral oil causing malabsorption this is not
true.  The topic has been studies and even in long term use there is no
evidence of any problems with nutrient deficiency.
Also when a child this age retains, it often takes a lot more than a
couple tablespoon of stool softner to get them to go if they dont want to.
I frequently use 5-10 oz of milk of magnenia initially to get the children
to go, then decrease to whaterver it takes to get them to go daily and
soft for 3 months.  It is true that the retention behavior will go away in
about 1 month, but frequently the children do not feel when they have to
go to the rr and will wait until the stools are too big to pass
comfortably.
Maryelle Vonlanthen