Constant Nurser= Human Pacifier!

He's still young, so try not to worry. My daughter is very high-needs and was like this for a long time. It does pay off, but it is not the "easy road."

It won't last forever. All a part of raising children. Spend that time as it is fleeting before they are up and gone.

At 5 weeks old I wouldn't be concerned about being a human pacifier. That is coming on the typical age of a growth spurt. It is also commons for babies that young to cluster feed in the evenings. My youngest did until he was nearly 2 months old.

Been there with 3 kids! However, my two boys were worse than my daughter. How do you break the latch when you are done nursing? Have you tried gently inserting your finger? I would wait a little longer too, until you can tell he's deeply asleep, and then break the latch and slowly sneek out of bed.

FYI I tried the pacifier that's like a boob and it didn't work for my kids. Nothing did. And believe me, I tried everything!

My little girl did the same thing. A lactation expert described her as a grazer... eat a little, sleep a little... Recommendations.... tickle the palm of his hand..... his feet.... ... gently blow on his cheek to try to keep him awake for up to 15 minutes... at least til you can finish nursing on one side.... eventually he may stay awake to switch to the second. I eventually got my daughter to go 1 to 1/2 and finally 2 hours between nursing.... and eventually it got longer.

He may just be going through a phase. Do you think you have heavy flow? If so, it can be tiring to keep up with so he sucks for the first 5 minutes, then passes out but he really isn't finished yet.

Do you find he nurses longer nursing next to you? Sometimes heavy flow can be countered by side-lying nursing because the extra milk can run out the side of his mouth.

Some babies are very in tune with mom and just need the contact. Have you tried wearing him in a MOBY wrap? You can have your arms free and nurse in it easily.

At 5 weeks, he is very young to deny him the boobie. He is setting your supply as I am sure you well know. I would worry that introducing a binky could effect your supply and his weight gain.

I have nursed my daughter till she was 3.5 years and am now nursing my son who is 21 months. I suggest just going with it for now. I think it will stop and space out. I do suggest wearing him as a way for him to have close contact with you, but not always on the boob (though it is there if needed for a quick snack) :)

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wow, you never had this problem with 4 other breastfed children, that is good! I had this problem with my one and only breastfed child and yes it is so exhausting she is actually 15 mo. and still nurses wayyy more than I thought she would. honestly I think it is just their personality as you know w/ 4 children each one is different. I am a SAHM w/ one child so i never really sought out help to 'fix' the problem as she was my one and only thing to really worry about. I can see how w/ 4 children you honestly dont have time for this and would like to have some breaks to care for the other children. I did like the no cry sleep solution chapter that talks about nursing. my best sugesstion would be to call your local LLL as they will be able to help you best. good luck and sorry I cant help, but I just wanted to let you know that he is not the only baby out there like this. xo

I was advised to bother my daughter while she was nursing, so she wouldn't fall asleep on the breast. gently pinching the toes and legs, talking to her that sort of thing. Not enough to hurt her, but enough so that she didn't fall asleep nursing. When she was done nursing, we would give her a pacifier and rock and let her fall asleep that way.
Good luck!
R.

My guy was the same way. I learned to keep an actual pacifier nearby. I nurse him for 30-40 minutes and keep him awake the entire time so I can assure he is getting a full meal. Then when the time is up, and I see he has slowed down and is just pacifying himself, I'll pull out and put the pacifier in.

My son was like this too! 5 weeks is too early to limit breastfeeding EVEN if he is only using you for comfort! Babies use sucking to comfort themselves. My son never took a nuk. We tried multiple kinds. He would throw up if you tried to force it to stay in his mouth! I suggest that you just try wearing him in a carrier for now and see if that will comfort him when you're done feeding. Perhaps he just needs your closeness!

He is only 5 weeks old, maybe he just needs more closeness than your other kids. I would let him suck. My pediatrician told me not to even start sleep training until the baby is 6 months old. I guess if he is not gaining weight and length there may be a problem but for now I think he just needs YOU.

Sucking in soothing. Colicky babies fuss but don't necessarily cry. In another couple of weeks, the hardest time will be over. I would keep trying to give him an alternative something to suck on, such as a pacifier or a finger etc. It took me a week of repeatedly giving my son a pacifier before he actually started taking it, but it saved my nipples. The evening hours are the most difficult for a baby's digestive system because the amount of Seratonin in his system rises. In a few weeks more Melatonin will start being produced and you'll notice a dramatic improvement in his evening attitude. (Seratonin can cause painful cramping in the intestinal tracks, whereas Melatonin relaxes the muscles.... thus once a balance is established, life gets easier). Good luck!

Have you ever tried a pacifier that is in the shape of the Human Breast. Your son may take to this. I believe the name is a Nuk Pacifier.
Good luck and hopefully this will solve your problem for being a constant nurser. It must be very hard on you.

I had the same with my son around that age- and when I was sure he wasn't hungry and just wanted to go to sleep, I started to use a pacifier. Hey- you gotta find a way to survive when sleep deprived and busy with other kids! (try different kinds- mine only likes the MAM and you may have to hold it for him or keep putting it back until he learns how to keep it in). I got mine to take it by holding him the same as we nurse but swapping in the pacifier as soon as he was sleeping and using my breast to help hold the paci in his mouth- this way he got the comfort and feeling of nursing and my boobs got a break (this may take a few tries, but so worth it)! Now he is 6 months and knows the difference- he wants his binky more than me when he's ready to sleep but cries if I try to give it to him when he's hungry. He also stays awake better for meal time so I know he's finishing eating instead of wondering if he's hungry cause he's always falling asleep during meals. I never used a pacifier with my first (didn't want to), but I did with the second out of necessity- she wanted to suck constantly- and it made it so much easier that I decided to with the third also. I think you have to do what works for you (especially when you have others to take care of and can't just nurse all day long). Good luck- as with all difficulties this will pass, so hang in there!

Ouch! My son did this for awhile too, but unfortunately for me, it was only during the night, so I got no sleep. I tried a paci, but he wouldn't take it, so I would use my finger. When it was obvious that he wasn't eating more, I would pull him off gently and put my pinky in his mouth for him to suck on. He would wake up, but if I rocked him with my finger in his mouth, he would usually go back to sleep. It still meant little sleep for me until he grew out of that stage, but at least I wasn't as sore! Good luck!

As Michelle says, 5wks is a bit early to think you're a human pacifier. Try being one with a 13mo old. I am trying to break mine away, so if you find a way later on, let me know. I had no problem with my first child, he weaned with a teddy bear or a bottle, my other son gets tantrums if I don't nurse him just like yours. Thankfully it's for him to fall asleep at nights. I am trying to find his "alternative"...but in your situation, 5 weeks is early to say that.