3 year-old gets absurdly distressed when removed from the buggy when asleep. Can someone help I'm at my wits' end with this?

[newnamesamegame]

I know this sounds silly but this is causing major problems and I don't know what to do.
My 3.6 year old daughter hates being carried from the buggy to bed having gone to sleep in the buggy. She will scream and scream at the top of her lungs, lash out with arms and legs, generally make complete mayhem for up to 45 minutes and will, if possible, try to return to the buggy.
It has got to the point where I dread taking her out anywhere if I think there is a small chance she will drop off as I fear the fallout too much.
Obviously if this is a small nap its not the end of the world for her to sleep in the buggy, but I can't allow her to sleep in in all night long so I physically have to get her into bed at some point. It also means I have not been able to allow nursery to drop the lunchtime nap (which most children of her age have long since dropped) because if she doesn't nap she will fall asleep in the buggy on the way home, leading to a ruined evening as removal from the buggy once home prompts a massive screaming fit.

Has anyone else gone through this at all? Is it something I should worry about?

Could she walk home?

Instead of lifting her out, which sounds like its giving her a fright, what about waking her up in the pushchair and letting her get out herself and immediately fold the chair down then have a break before putting her to bed?

Good idea, becool.

Mine was at school at that age in Belgium. No way would she have wanted to be pushed home in a buggy. Though to be fair, I still used it if we went into the city for a day out in case she got tired.

I use ours rarely now. Dd2 is 3.3. We've come on holiday for 2 weeks without it. I do pace her though and having big sis to follow helps. We drive to the beach here but if she was 6 we'd be walking iykwim.

Could you get her out to walk if she starts to drop off?
Could you drop the nap altogether?
Could you drop the buggy?

How long is your walk home, that she sleeps enough to hamper her night time sleep? I would just do my best to keep her up tbh.

How long is the walk home. If not too far could she not walk?

becool I have tried allowing her to get home without the buggy on a few occasions but its risky because the journey home involves a bus and a train journey and if she is tired and has a tantrum on the train I'd rather have the buggy than have to restrain her without it.

To be honest the buggy is only really there as insurance for that reason -- she doesn't use to get about locally but she is very tantrum prone at the moment and I have to have it as some sort of sanction (i.e. if you don't stop doing this/that, you'll have to go into the buggy).

Vitalstatistix I think you are right about it giving her a fright, I don't understand why but she seems to find it horribly traumatic. The trouble is once she's asleep in it its almost impossible to wake her up.

I think the solution may be to finally kiss goodbye to the buggy.....

Yes I would try harder to wake her up in the buggy, give her a drink and a snack or something and let her come to in her own time. My ds has similar sometimes when he's woken too early from his car. I usually let him sleep until I notice a sign of stirring then wake him up, start unstrapping him and offering water rather than let him drift back off.

However, he does walk everywhere now, so that might be the best solution for your dd. Could you incorporate a rest/snack stop into your journey home so before tackling the train so she doesn't get overwrought?

If it's a nap after nursery can you leave her in the buggy in the hallway?

My 3.6yo hasn't been in a buggy for a year now since the new baby needed it. Could you carry her on your shoulders if she is tired? Gives her a rest from walking but she'd be hard pushed to fall asleep!

For very long trips my DS goes in the buggy here and there, as I cannot always trust him at train/tube stations not to leg it and it can be very busy. And it is useful to have the back up of the buggy as a portable restraint! Plus his legs get tired as we walk about 6 miles every day.

But I think, yeah, its probably the end of the road for the buggy if its causing you a lot of hassle.

My DS used to do this (though I think it was when he was about 2). It was just a phase and it will stop.

People will judge but an iPad will keep her conscious in the buggy

Personally I'd ditch the buggy and think of entertaining games for the walk home. Wellies, a raincoat and a see through brolly for the worst days

Food on the way home in the buggy to keep her occupied (I'm thinking banana / pot of cheerios / cereal biscuits ... something for energy) or used as a bribe for walking without the buggy.....?

I would get rid of the buggy

We sent DD's beloved buggy to the fairies! They left her a lovely present and posted a card through the door

They came for her bottles and dummies too!

Have you tried leaving her there for a bit and see if she'll wake naturally after a little while? Then you can transfer her to bed but she might not tantrum if she has woken up naturally in the buggy.

Does she have a snack when you pick her up? My 3yo needs a snack mid afternoon or descends into foulness . Peaches currently working well.