Parent & child parking spaces

[sepa]

Would you use them heavily pregnant and no other children? There doesn't seem to be an answer.
I'm 36+ weeks and very large so I do stubble to get out of the car in places.
Just wondered what the general rule is? Would you be annoyed if you couldn't get a space when you had a child with you and saw a pregnant person (with no outside womb children with her) using a space?

I see parents all the time use the space but leave kids in the car with other parents which annoys me as they don't need the extra space as they are not getting the children out the car...

[LillyBugg]

It wouldn't annoy me. I'd say do it OP.

Threads about parent and child spaces do get massively heated though in my experience on here so good luck!

[SoupDragon]

Technically speaking, you do actually have a child with you. :)

I think you would have to be a total arse to object to a heavily pregnant woman using P&C space.

[sepa]

I don't use them as I didn't think you could. My friend just told me that I was allowed to use them at this stage!
I know in America they have parent, child & pregnancy ones but they don't here so the lines are less straight cut!

[twilightcafe]

I used them while heavily pregnant with my first child. If I parked in a normal space, some idiot would always park so close to my car that I struggled to get back in.

[Fluffy24]

I used them if necessary but only after a passenger one day couldn't believe the contortions I was going through to try to get out of the car at 37 weeks and that it hadn't dawned on me.

Seems perfectly reasonable to me!

[Twitterqueen]

Love the autocorrect from struggle to stubble

Of course you should feel free to use them. It would be a very harsh person who would think you shouldn't. And if any idiot comments you should simply say "I'm practising..."

[sepa]

Haha. I didn't even notice that

[katienana]

I think it's fine to do this, I'm only 29 weeks and already had to ask my mum to reverse my car as I couldn't get in as someone parked too close. I have SPD as well so can do without parking miles away before anyone suggests that! I usually have ds with me anyway.

[Frazzled2207]

I did this definitely, as long as there was no doubt I was a "parent with child"!

[CarcerDun]

I have a toddler and I reckon you probably need the space more than me.

[sepa]

I had to climb over to passenger side the other day to get out my car for a midwife appointment (but there wasn't parent & child spaces anyway)

On the other hand I'm so tired all the time that I would rather stay at home and sleep than go out shopping

[Wardrobespierre]

Oh do it. Seriously, whatever makes life easier.

[alliemarg]

Judging by the use of the spaces by fit young men, certainly not accompanied by children, you are well within your rights. Get there before they do, it makes me so mad seeing the abuse of the spaces, especially when I am struggling to get my toddler out with my massive bump.

[ispymincepie]

Although I mostly have my toddler with me I wouldn't hesitate to use one as at 30 weeks I struggle to get in/out of the car without the extra room. I have been forced to climb over from the passenger side and that is mightily painful with spd.

[AJ279]

Only time it would bug me is there were really limited spaces, I have a 5 m/o still in her carry car seat and it's hard parking elsewhere as if someone parks either side of me I'd have to leave her outside on her own while I move the car. If I'm with my OH I don't use them as he can move car while I'm with DD. You're technically with child so no one can really say anything!

[Junosmum]

I did it in places where the ordinary spaces were narrow, couldn't get in and out of my own car otherwise!

[tellmemore1982]

Ok here goes.

Firstly I share your frustration at misuse of spaces in the example you gave.

However, I think it's a massive misconception that P&C spaces exist for the simple purpose of providing more space.

It's also a misconception that they are close to the shop because people potentially have mobility issues when travelling with small children.

We know most parents (but of course not all) don't have mobility issues that require them to be close to the front door. That's what blue badge spaces are for.

The common conclusion many people therefore come to is that wide P&C spaces should be at the back of the car park and not taking up useful space near the door that anyone with other needs could use. If this were the most IMPORTANT reason for P&C spaces I would agree.

In my mind, the most important reason for having P&C spaces at the shop door is that young children should be kept safe because cannot be seen in car parks. They cannot be seen when you are reversing, they cannot be seen between cars, they could run out at anytime. Anyone pushing a heavy trolley at 5pm in the dark with two small children could tell you how dangerous it can be.

Any death or accident in a car park that could have been avoided by keeping children close to the shop and away from cars is one too many.

The extra space is a convenience since most parents do need to open doors wider, but it's not the primary reason for P&C design in my mind. I use plenty of P&C spaces which are normal sized.

Therefore if it's just extra space you need (and since you haven't mentioned any mobility issues), I don't think you should be using a P&C space which could be used by a parent with toddlers who we would all want to be kept out of the way of cars.

I would suggest you park further back in the car park and away from other vehicles to give yourself the space you need.

I haven't intended to offend anyone on here but I'm sure I probably have! Good luck with your pregnancy.

[ispymincepie]

Tellme, your post makes perfect sense. I have parked further away and returned to be blocked in but this is much less of a problem than having children run over.

[Reiltin]

I did. Once I hit about 38 weeks. I reckoned no one would have the audacity to stop me and they didn't! I decided the baby could be born any day and feck it!

[Wolfiefan]

Park at the end of a row if possible. Then you can get back in.
If there isn't such a space then yes use parent and child spaces. I did.

[SmallBee]

I'd say if there are plenty of free spaces then go for it. I think most people know better than to risk the wrath of a heavily pregnant woman!

[tellmemore1982]

Reiltin, it's hardly audacious to put the safety of young children ahead of your convenience.

[SoupDragon]

One might argue that children are safer in the quieter, less used further reaches of the carpark.

[KP86]

SoupDragon, that works in theory, but then the children have to walk through the dangerous car park to get to the shops and back to the car.