Parent and child parking

[Bellissima7]

Hi, I'm a new mum, currently my baby is 2 months old. Over the past few weeks I've been getting increasingly frustrated with the parent and child parking situation out and about and am wondering if anyone has links to any campaigning that has been done by mumsnet over the past few years to try and improve this situation because it's high time we tried to change the law on it for a better deal for parents and also heavily pregnant women come to think of it, we need better access to parking...

[TheFairyCaravan]

Oh give over! We don’t need any law so that people with kids get a special parking spot.

[GreenMeerkat]

What is it you find frustrating?

[reeldoop]

There is no law to change.

[TroysMammy]

Did you care about the supposed problems with parent and child parking spaces before you were a parent?

[sourpatchkid]

It's really really hard when they're so little, I remember getting stressed but it gets easier in time. Unfortunately there are never enough parent spaces, you get used to it.

[FlibbertyGiblets]

No laws need changing.

Did any problems with P and C parking occur to you before you were pg? Thought not.

[FlibbertyGiblets]

Things that can help you:
Internet grocery shopping.
Out and about - park further away from store entrance; likely to be fewer cars for door swinging scratch incidents.
Go early or late.

Congratulations btw, new babies are lovely wee things.

[SisterMoonshine]

Bellissima7, don't let the way this thread is going to go for you put you off mumsnet. it can be great for new mums.

[DannyDogg]

Why does it need campaigning or improvement spaces are there as a courtesy, if they’re full, Park further away with room around you - problem solved. Not sure what law you’d want to introduce, Having children doesn’t guarantee you a space infront of a shop

[Bellissima7]

In most car parks there are many disabled spaces unused as there are more spaces than disabled people parking there, and less parent and child spaces than people wanting to use them. The reason for the wider spaces is to give room for parents or carers to get a car seat out safely from the side of the car and this can be tricky in the regular spaces. There is a law for disabled spaces but currently it appears anyone can park in the parent and child spaces, and this has been my experience of the past few weeks, which is frustrating when I am still recovering from c section and have reduced mobility plus needing space to get the car seat out. Frustrating when parents with older children who can clearly walk further are taking up the spaces and frustration too when little old ladies who obviously don't have small children are also parked there.
I'm interested to see if anyone knows of previous campaigning activity from here, as it was referred to in an article I read online about it. In parliamentary circles mumsnet has more influence than maybe it realises, that's what I've discovered in conversations with politicians.

[malfoyy]

Seriously? Don't you have anything important to worry about?

I'd certainly sign up for a campaign against more P&C parking! I think I got a P&C space once when DS was a baby and guess what, we survived. Park further away on an end and get over yourself.

[JaniceBattersby]

Right, so it’s not actually parents you want to campaign for? It’s only people with very small babies?

And yes, fuck those little old ladies. How dare they want to park close to the store and have more room to get out.

[ChanklyBore]

I’d sign up to a campaign to ban parent and child parking.

Or to make car seats a built in feature of a car that do not leave the car.

Or both.

Congratulations on your baby, OP.

[TheFairyCaravan]

There is a law for disabled spaces but currently it appears anyone can park in the parent and child spaces

There’s a law for disabled spaces to be provided because businesses and councils etc have to make reasonable adjustments to their facilities so that disabled people can access them in the same way as non disabled people. If I go out I can’t leave my disability at home. I didn’t choose to be disabled. If I can’t park in a BB space I can’t get out of my carl, parlking at the back of the car park isn’t practical because by the time I’ve hobbled over then 8 wouldn’t be able to do what I need to do.

There aren’t enough disabled bays. More often than not they are full of people just nipping to the cash point, or those who will only be 5 mins or over entitled parents who see them as overflow spaces for the P&C spaces.

P&C spaces are a perk. Disabled spaces are a necessity. They are not the fecking same and can’t be compared to each other.

[Bellissima7]

Wow, I was under the impression this was a site for parents who might be positive and support each other, not a load of trolls with nothing better to do than spam up a newbies feed... Thanks for your comments, people, it reveals a lot about what your values and characters are...

[Bellissima7]

@sistermoonshine Thank you for your kind words.

[Sugarhunnyicedtea]

Just because people don't agree with you doesn't make them trolls 😂
The 'little old ladies' could be disabled and, therefore, entitled to park in a p&c space.
The parents of older children are entitled to use a p&c space.
There is no law regulating these spaces, they are a courtesy and more hassle than they're worth

[TheFairyCaravan]

Thanks for your comments, people, it reveals a lot about what your values and characters are...

Hang on! You’re the one whinging about old ladies parking in a space which makes their lives a tiny bit easier. I’m not sure you’re in any position to judge anybody’s character tbh.

[Deadheadstickeronacadillac]

Stop putting down disabled people and thinking your temporary baby situation trumps ours, then you might get some 'better' (I.e more in line with what you want) replies.
Or, bore off and go and read the million and one other threads that deal with exactly the same issue.
You had a baby, this does not make you special. I had a baby and manage to go out and about with her and I'm in a wheelchair...I am bloody special and leave my parking space alone.

[LivLemler]

I don't think you understand what trolls or spam are...

This topic has been done to death on MN. You weren't to know if you're new. The threads can get pretty heated, and generally end up with some nasty disablist comments.

Your baby will only be this small for a very short time. Before you know it, you won't need to get the car seat out. Plan as best you can without P&C spaces and consider it a bonus when you do get one.

Don't let this thread put you off MN, it can be hugely helpful, as well as amusing!

[Smellbellina]

Did any problems with P and C parking occur to you before you were pg? Thought not.
What is your point??

[cantthinkstraighta]

I'm with you OP. I don't feel the need to park in front of a shop as suggested by some posters but getting a baby in and out of a car in a normal size parking spot is near on impossible. Especially now that she is throwing tantrums when being put in and it's like fighting a jellyfish to get her buckled in. I get so frustrated when I see people with no children or disabilities using the available spots, I find it very inconsiderate. A lot of people where I love use them so they don't get their car doors hit by other cars.
I often park far away but then I'm left with leaving child in car screaming (from anger at being put in car seat and hates to be left alone - so I never opt for this) while I put trolley back some distance away or carrying an arching toddler who does not like to get out of a trolley (weird obsession with trolleys) while pregnant which is not easy either.
I would vote for more p&c spaces, with trolley returns nearby. I don't care where they are positioned in relation to the shop doors.

[cheesefield]

.

[MrMeSeeks]

Yes how dare they have loads of disabled spaces and oaps park closer to the store
Has it not dawned on you that those parents with the ‘older children who can clearly walk further’ may have special needs?
Has it dawned on you that people may park in the spaces as they may also be disabled but not eligible for a blue badge?

No not trolls, just people who have actually thought about things.