To blame Mumsnet (lighthearted)

[SomeSunnySunday]

Yes, I know it's been done to death.

I dashed into the supermarket on the way to school this morning. Small (could easily pass for 2 and 5) 3 and 6 year olds in tow, and I am (very obviously) 38 weeks pregnant. I parked in a parent & child space.

When I came out, I was accosted by a lady with an 18 month-ish old in a buggy, telling me that I shouldn't have parked there, they were only for parents of young children in pushchairs, and mine were too old. There were several other p&c spaces free at the time (and I assume she had also parked in one). But I had nabbed the one closest to the door .

I gave her my very best withering look.

[Purplecircle]

Actually unless your DC can get themselves in and out of the car including seat belts and car seats, I think it's perfectly acceptable for you to park there, especially when heavily pregnant

[OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat]

Unless you meant to say 13 and 16 YO, she is bonkers. Ignore.

[NewToAllThis11]

I would say it's definitely fine to park there, even if you weren't pg. Your children are still little, after all.

[BeyondTheTreelights]

Fruit loop. Even if your kids were 13 and 16, at full term pregnancy you need the space. So

[NoSundayWorkingPlease]

Mine are 6 and 4 and I still use them. Ds2 sometimes still needs a bit of help with the seatbelt if it's locked (doesn't register 'pull it gently'!) and it's just easier.

[SomeSunnySunday]

I just couldn't believe that someone could be bothered to name an issue of this. At 8.15am. When there were plenty of other p&c spaces free. There are some crazy people out there!

[cococandyfloss]

P&C parking spaces are for Pregnant woman too -how the else are you supposed to squeeze out the car door!

I still use the spaces I have 3 children and youngest is 3 -whilst she is still in a large booster seat I need the space to get her in and out of the car -very tricky to do in a normal space if someone is parked right next to you.

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

Y AND I

Our Sainsburys has signs up that says they are for parents with children under 12. So any child in a car seat presumably.

[AnnoyedByAlfieBear]

Y AND I should be YANBU.

[AdamLambsbreath]

I can barely get out of the car door in normal spaces now. They really cram those bays in. God knows what it'll be like in a few months, when I'm massive.

[LemonDrizzleTwunt]

Not a parent myself, but surely they are for use by 'parents and children', being parent and child parking spaces? You're a parent, you have children with you, you get to use the space. End of!

[SomeSunnySunday]

Adam I now carry a sign (and blu tack) in my car which reads "Heavily pregnant driver. Please leave sufficient space.", which I stick on my window when there aren't any p&c spaces (like in the local shopping centre's multi storey car park). So far it's working and people have been quite considerate.

[AdamLambsbreath]

Oh, good idea some. I might take that up.

[SaucyJack]

Not accusing you of lying as such but....... I simply don't believe anyone would harangue someone over using a P&C space when you have a three year old with you.

[YesIDidMeanToBeSoRudeActually]

"Adam I now carry a sign (and blu tack) in my car which reads "Heavily pregnant driver. Please leave sufficient space.", which I stick on my window when there aren't any p&c spaces (like in the local shopping centre's multi storey car park). So far it's working and people have been quite considerate"

Really?!

I've seen it all now.

[Khbutterfly11]

this is ridiculous! you have small children, of course you can use the space!! i witnessed a heavily pg lady at asda the other week not be able to get in her car in a normal space. 2 lovely lads came and one managed to get the handbrake off from the passenger side and then the pushed it out of the space so she could get in. (so basically they couldn't get in the drivers side either even without the bump!!) This is exactly what P&C spaces are for?!!?!

[SomeSunnySunday]

Well, no, saucy, I struggled to believe it too. Which I suppose is why I bothered to out about something so trivial.

YesIdid - I think the post below yours sums up why I made my sign - I've only used it a few times, I don't go shopping every day . But after experiencing having to clamber through from the passenger side, complete with bump and SPD, because someone had parked ridiculously close to me, it seemed like a sensible option, and nobody else is complaining!

[Fallingovercliffs]

To be honest, if car spaces were just properly resized to take into account the fact that cars tend to be bigger nowadays and that a lot of people drive bulky vehicles really intended for off road use, there would be no need for P&T spaces and all the aggro they cause.

[AdamLambsbreath]

What on earth's wrong with the sign?

It's polite, innocuous, it might save you a few climbs over the passenger seat and those who don't ask don't get.

Nothing to be flabbergasted about.

[Bulbasaur]

Pregnant women here are allowed to use the handicap spaces without a blue badge if they need to.

Also... You don't bring a buggy into a supermarket. That's what the little car extension on the kids carts or even the front seat near the handles are for.

Honestly I don't see the point of parent and child parking. But we don't have that here. We just carry our kids in and stick them on a cart like everyone else.

[ShadowKat]

I think it's fine to use P&C spaces until your children are capable of getting into the car and belting themselves in securely.

I would expect a typical 3 yr old to still need help getting in and out of a car seat, especially with the seat belt bit.

[ShadowKat]

And yes.

Resizing car parking spaces so that they were all bigger would be so much better.

[Eminybob]

I wish someone had told me I could use p&c spaces while pregnant!
I was huge and suffering with horrendous spd towards the end and still struggled with normal spaces. I often thought about using a p&c space but thought I'd get in to trouble

[YesIDidMeanToBeSoRudeActually]

Add message | Report | Message poster Bulbasaur Mon 01-Dec-14 17:45:21
Pregnant women here are allowed to use the handicap spaces without a blue badge if they need to.

Where are you exactly Bulbasaur? I can only think it's the 1950s judging by your use of "handicap spaces".

Back to thread....I see no issue with people using the P and C child spaces for as long as their DC s are in car seats myself. Agree spaces should be bigger these days, or all cars should have sliding doors - second option lessens the chances of door dent incidents too!