Snapped in the parent and child parking

Yeah but some of us use them as an adjustment for disabilities.

At least they had a child in the car. I’ve taken to loudly exclaiming “cute kid” at the lone drivers pulling into those spaces with no kid in sight.

I think you're wrong on this point op, though I am supportive of your general position. If someone has a disability, even a temporary one, that "trumps" the convenience of p&c. I can imagine someone on crutches for instance, needing more space. They wouldn't have a blue badge but need the features of a p&c. This isn't so much about who uses them as how..if the woman in your scenario had just waited as minute there'd have been no issue. It's about manners and tolerance rather than priority.

Do you not understand the word wait? Ffs

They’re nothing like today’s car seat. My husband has photos of him in an infant carrier from that era and it looks like a glorified laundry basket.

Car seats like crumple zones are far bigger, and children are expected to stay in them for longer.

In our local Tesco parent and child spaces are a free for all..

Oh give over. You know exactly what she meant.

You’re right - those spaces are for people with pushchairs and car seats. Once all kids can get in/out on their own you can use the main car park

I think this is a very good point. Parking spaces are too small for modern cars which makes going anywhere stressful. Which then increases demand for the spaces.

I have 3 kids youngest is 5 with ASD, I use the parent spaces still and will do until I feel youngest is more danger aware (yesterday child ran in to the road). I still feel my need is higher than people with no kids, but acknowledge someone with a baby would be annoyed if I took the last space.

Noticed recently that the Amazon food delivery cars use the parent and child places. Supermarkets should ban them from doing so.

I get your frustration. Sometimes the spaces are used even by people with no kids…
I’ve been using it with my child until he turned around 4 (lots of tantrums and difficult to deal with). Now he’s 5 and we park at the regular spots.

but people choose to have kids it is a lifestyle choice no one chooses to be disabled surely a disabled person needs the space more then a parent

you park in a public car park and then complain about others parking in a public car park

How on earth do you know that the woman and child didn’t need that space??

Extremely presumptuous and entitled of you.

My nephew is 10-can jump out of the car but actually needs those spaces because he is dyspraxic and things can wrong very quickly.

'Of course' - when the sign literally says they are for parents and children up to the age of 12. Making up a rule and then saying 'of course' doesn't make it true. The rules are the rules whether you agree with them or not. I'm not in the least embarrassed about using something that was available to me within the rules of the scheme. Same as I'm not embarrassed about buying a discounted loaf of bread even if I have a decent salary, and don't feel the need to leave it for someone who might need it more just because someone else may think that should be the 'rules' for discounted food.

I just have a mental image of the OP literally "juggling" a baby, car seat and nappy bag.

I would be staring in awe at that spectacle

My 7 year old has a car seat still, and needs the door quite wide to get in and out. I think it’s fair as long as they’re in car seats, P and C is used.

But you don’t know that that parent and child don’t need the space any less than you do. Surely if you are using spaces not meant for you for a good reason you should be able to see that others are too and not just brush them off as rude or refer to a child as a ‘brat’ or are you the only disabled person without a badge in the entire universe?

Yup. That's me. Disabled but not able to have a disabled badge. So shoot me. Yes I will park on the far side of the parking lot if that's my only option even if it means hobbling a long way. Strange that people with unruly older children don't think of parking away from other cars when that's an option.

I think you were both rude so I think you got what you both deserved tbh. Try and let it go, carrying this amount of stress with you all this time isn't good for you.

They shouldn't have 'rushed' you, but really all this 'precious asset' and '3-month-old' makes you come across as a bit of a knob. Having a baby doesn't make you special.

These spaces are not just for young children, they are for all paresis with children up to around 12. It’s so they can get out more safely and stand next to the car, and be closer to the shop so they don’t have to walk across the car park. The supermarket (and then other drivers) also have less risk as there aren’t loads of primary aged children potentially running around the car park (especially a problem where lots of cars are reversing and may not see a smaller child). Maybe you’ll understand this more as your children get older.

The other parent should not have spoken to you like that though or expected you to get out of her way. I always wait if parents are getting kids in and out of car seats, as it’s polite and I’m not sure what else you expect them to do if their child is halfway strapped in! It’s very rude to expect someone to stop what they are doing and get out of your way.

Why couldn't the child get out the other side of the car or am I being thick?

I think the word you wanted in this instance was “no”. Or to be more polite, “I’ll just be a minute”.

You didn’t have to close your door just because she asked you to!

Perhaps she was within her rights to park there, I don’t know, but not to ask you to close you door so her child could get out quicker - the child could have climbed over to another seat if they were in such a rush.

If pps say they are for under 12s then I’m in no position to contradict them, but no way on earth would I park in one with my 11 yo - it’s a laughable idea that, barring disability, this would be needed for a child who is at other times independently getting to school on trams and buses!

I always thought they were for people with under 5s - I’d sooner they were extended to pregnant women and the elderly than older children but perhaps that’s just me!

Just read this and whilst I'm pleased Meadowhall are clamping down, this bit has thrown me a bit:

Q) Can a customer with a Blue Badge (Disability Badge) park in a Parent & Child Bay?
A) The terms and conditions of use are: The bays are only for use by people with children under the age of 5, arriving with the child on board and the authorised Parent & Child parking permit is on display.
The bays are not for use by Blue Badge holders, however, if a Blue Badge holder arrives with a child under 5 on board, they can apply for Parent & Child Permit, which must be displayed when parking in the Parent & Child Bay.
Q) If a customer is accompanied by a child over the age of 5 years, with a physical or neurodiverse condition/disability, can they apply for a permit to park in a Parent & Child Bay?
A) The terms and conditions of use are that the bays are only for people with children under the age of 5, and the child is on board at the time of parking.

Meadowhall disabled bays are like gold dust. We've never been able to get in a disabled bay when we need one.

I know Meadowhall car parks are private land and they can set whatever rules they like, but it seems baffling that a non-disabled 4 year old takes priority over a disabled 6 year old based on age and not need.

Oh right so the mother and child in this situation are just misusing the space (despite being within the probable age range for them) but you being neither parent or child are fine to use them? What double standards!