When do I let my infant son self sooth himself to sleep?

Hi-

My son is 8 weeks old this upcoming Friday 2/4/11 and I read part of the book "Babywise" and have mixed thoughts on when I should let him put himself to sleep.  I have been giving him a bath every night around 830/9pm to create routine that he can associate sleep with.  He is typically tired and gets fussy around 10pm, but he doesn't fall deep into sleep around 1130pm/12am. From here he wakes anywhere from 2-4 hours to feed again.  I am breast feeding so I realize this goes through him quicker then formula. Can anyone give me advice, because I will be going back to work on 3/1 and will soon require at least 5-6 hours of un-broken sleep!  I love snuggling with him and enjoy rocking him to sleep, but know that when I do go back to work that I will be SO exhausted if we both don't get some good sleep at night.  Oh and he lives his pacifier, this is what he needs to go to sleep during naps/night time sleep.  If it falls out, do I go in and give it to him when he cries?

Thanks in advance!
:)

[vibrio81]

I never let my daughter cry for more than 15 minutes. But besides that i started a routine of co-sleeping to get her in a rhythm then moved to a cradle in my room then to her crib. it worked like a charm. We fed after the late show around 11-12 then slept on the couch til 6. then i fed got her to sleep and put her in the cradle where she could see me and we slept til 6. By 3 months she was in her crib all night. She was a very easy baby. the pacifier i would totally give back. My daughter would conk out as soon as that thing hit her lips and when they get older just toss it. we stopped at 1 yr no prob. just be firm

[chinesebones]

I would recommend two books: Good Night Sleep Tight and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.  You can get them from the library because hopefully you won't need them for long!  I think the Babywise concept is a little too strict and the Dr Sears asks too much of the mother, but these two books are great for catching the perfect moment for putting your baby to bed when they're sleepy, before they get overtired and wired.  
I have a 10-week old and still have a problem with getting her to sleep at bedtime, but I find the better she naps during the day the easier it is, and if I don't get her in bed by 8:00-8:15 (if not earlier) we're in for a long evening.  
Also, I cluster feed her in the evenings- every 2 hours rather than every 3.  She now can go 6-7 hours between night feedings.  I also do a "dream feed" when I go to bed so she gives me some extra time of uninterrupted sleep.
Best wishes!