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Hi Mama J. How old is your son? If he's still real young, it may be hard to keep him awake after feedings, but really try to. Him using nursing as a sleep prop isn't good for you or him. If he's still new 45 minutes may be all he can stay awake for and if he's nursing for an hour...wow! That's got to be hard for you. Try to keep him awake throughout his feedings and awake for a few minutes afterwards, followed by a nap. Eat, playtime, nap is always the order you want to try to establish. When my ds was born he always wanted to sleep right after eating and not knowing any better I let him. He took like 30 minute naps and woke up grumpy and I just didn't know what to do until my friend suggested that cycle and right away things improved! Not sure if this will help you, but that's what worked for me and maybe you can try it. Good luck! :)

Also, once I started letting him go to bed with a pacifier, he slept better. I think he just had a really strong need to suck and wanted to suck (be it me or the paci) all the time. He'd suck it until he fell asleep and then would spit it out, so I'd just take it out of the crib once he was sleeping. Maybe try that?

I agree with Kiersten. Some babies just have a strong need to suck. Let him have a paci to fall asleep and then take it from him so he doesn't get used to having it the entire time he is asleep.

My son is 8 weeks old and it has only been the last week or so that he has been like this. He used to like his pacifier but couldn't hold it in by himself so I helped him and that worked but now he forcefully spits it out and doesn't want it very much especially when he's close to falling asleep. I didn't realize that he should be kept awake after feedings. That is when he is most sleepy so I figured that was the best time to put him down, the problem is that he is staying awake after feedings already but he is so cranky and gets into a crying jag and then I can't get him to sleep at all!! He is awake almost all day long in this cranky state and the only thing that seems to calm him down is the breast. I know I am over feeding him and I hate it but I'm at the end of my rope trying to find some other way of soothing him. The only time he sleeps really well is at night. THANK GOD!! But that doesn't help me through the day. I will try this new cycle and see what happens, any suggestions on how to get him to sleep on this new cycle would be greatly apprieciated, thanks for all your help!!

You really should worry if he is gaining more weight than usual I am sure it will all even out in the end - my daughter cluster feeds like crazy and doesn't gain as much I would think she would. If he wants to eat to settle down feed him. If he will take a pacifier give it to him I give my dd a pacifier and she does great with it and I haven't suffered as far as my breasts go.....Don't worry about his weight - he's so small I know weight gain is good it;'s ok...like your son y daughter sleeps so good at night but cluster feeds all day long so I can understand your frustration.....at least we are getting our rest at night even if dinner isn't hitting the table until almost 730pm...hang in there it may just be a phase he outgrows they can be pretty difficult during growth spurts!