Handling after 'bed' time

[Stelladoratonks]

Hello all! First time posting on the sight and first time dragon owner, love all the helpful information to properly care for our beloved new member of the household. However, I was unable to find anyone with the same question. I'm just wondering if it's okay to handle my baby beardie after we have shut her lights off and she's sleeping. I'm unsure of how that will affect Stella's routine or cycle. It's just so hard to see her while I stay up late and not wanna hold her and play with her! Hoping someone with lots of bearded dragon knowledge could help a couple newbies out.
Thanks, Sam and Justin.

 

[CooperDragon]

I encourage it. It will help her be relaxed around you and see you as safe. I held my little guy for several hours tonight after lights out.

 

[Sauzo]

Harley actually wont sleep unless I wrap her up like a burrito in her blanket and put her on my chest. Last night she was stretched out on the top of the couch back as usual while I sat on the couch next to her and she must have gotten tired because she crawled over to me and plopped down on me and wanted to sleep so wrapped her up and she was out. I always handle Harley when she's sleeping since I have to move her from me to her cage while shes asleep. As a baby she used to wake up sometimes but would pass out fairly quick again. Now that she is 1.3 years old and used to this arrangement, she doesn't even wake up anymore when I move her. Sometimes she will do the body wiggle though when I pick her up kind of like "this isn't all soft anymore, I need to wiggle to get the softness back" Like Cooper said, I would do it. It does build trust. Just be sure to not let your beardie pork out like the worlds gonna end as a baby or you will have a brick sleeping on you. Harley is 17 inches and 610g and now she needs a diet......bad.

 

[Pushkin]

Just wanted to add that I agree with the others - I wrap Pushkin up and let him sit on my chest or in my lap for hours after lights out. He snuggles right up and falls asleep!

The only thing I would suggest is having a lightweight blanket or clothe or something that you can cover him with - not so that he suffocates, of course! Just something that will help block out the light, since light CAN prevent them from getting a good nights' rest.

 

[Stelladoratonks]

Wow that's awesome that they like being wrapped up and put to sleep! Thanks for the advice I look forward to getting Stella used to falling asleep with us. I love the bearded dragon's personality and behaviors more and more every day, they are such interesting creatures!

 

[Pushkin]

I totally know what you mean! I adopted mine as a baby from a friend, and before that, I knew nothing about dragons. I barely knew what they looked like! Now, I'm obsessed. They are such intelligent and sweet animals! And yeah, one of my favorite times of the day is wrapping him up like a burrito and watching him fall asleep on my chest.

 

[pcarle]

I agree, it will be totally fine and she would love to cuddle. Another alternative is the route I go, I changed their light cycle to match the time I go to bed. This ensures that they are not awake without food while I am still sleeping and that I get plenty of time with them when I come home from work.

 

[Clancy49]

Hello!
I've had my dragons for 5 yrs now. I put them in my bed at their bed time. They sleep with me until I put them in their own bed. They love to cuddle and snuggle. Rosco sleeps on my chest and Wiley likes to scratch around the bed until she finds the warmth of me and lays beside me. I love the lil bubble noses they make when happy. This is not to be mistaken for a respiratory problem. I didn't put them both to be till 1:00 this morning. They are use to be moved around if I fall asleep with them. I hope this helps. I see I'm not the only one that likes to sleep with their beardies. Awesome! Have a great day!

 

[Sauzo]

So yours making a little bubble popping like noise when sleeping and happy? Harley does that and I was worried to no end it was an RI. I kept looking for any signs of bubbles or mucous or anything. She only made the noise sometimes when she was sleeping.

 

[Clancy49]

All of my dragons have done it. One of my males will do it as soon as I pick him up. He's happy that he's with mom, outta the tank and going to bed with me. So, not all popping sounds are bad. lol! Now if you have some reason to think your beardie has a RI, than by all means get him to the vet. But all of mine do it and I love listening to them being "happy"!

 

[Sauzo]

Lol good to know. Well that's what had me so confused. Harley is always happy, alert, loves to eat( she is 610g and 17 inches long)...so yeah she loves to eat and overall just a little sweetie. So she had no symptoms of RI except that little bubble popping noise sometimes when she slept so was confused haha. Now I feel much better.

 

[Clancy49]

Your "Harley" sounds like my Sunshine. She eats everything. I'm not sure of her weight right now. She's grown quite a bit since her last vet visit. She's a lil longer than your Harley and I bet she's could be possibly pushing 600 grams. She's a big girl. Enjoy the popping and know she's happy being with you.

 

[rogerioyamamoto]

Hello everyone, I am so glad to find this post, I have been looking for all over the internet, I am sorry if I just starting out of the blue. Ha. I just got a bearded dragon 5 days ago and I know I am supposed to leave him alone until he settles in, but I could not resist, last night, the lights went off and he seemed so relaxed so I decide to pick him up very gently, and he just laid on the palm of my hand, and every time I stroke/pet his back and head he would close his eyes (super cute), so I guess that is the perfect time to bond with a new beardie. So my question is, Is it not bad to interrupt a beardie sleep time? If it is ok, would be the best to handle when he starts to fall asleep, so that way he is still in the “phase 1 “ of sleep?

 

[CooperDragon]

Usually if you hold them around lights out they'll just fall asleep on your chest. You can leave them there as long as you'd like and just put them to bed when you go to bed. That's usually what I do.

 

[rogerioyamamoto]

Usually if you hold them around lights out they'll just fall asleep on your chest. You can leave them there as long as you'd like and just put them to bed when you go to bed. That's usually what I do.

Thanks for the reply, that is good idea. I am gonna start to do that too!!!