Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Parent/child spaces without the child

215 replies

Frogsalad · 12/09/2022 11:02

I'm curious how many people would admit to using a parent/child space when they don't actually have their child with them, or their child is remaining in the vehicle?

I feel like this might be like asking "admit you don't pick up your dog poo" but I see it so often loads of people must do it.

OP posts:
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 12/09/2022 14:07

I have.

Only a couple of times, but it was literally the last space available in the car park. I reasoned that the shop would rather have my money than wait just in case someone more deserving came along.

Prinnny · 12/09/2022 14:19

God I hate people who take the last parent and child space, have no child and just strut straight in! Death stares all round for them! I just wouldn’t bloody dare be so self obsessed to do, speaks volumes about those kinds of people though.

EndTheMonacyNow · 12/09/2022 14:20

If I was with my Dad who had a blue badge then I'd drop him by the door and then go and park in a normal space. He would use a disabled spot if he was on his own but if I was with him there was no need for him to use a disabled spot let alone a parent/ hold spot.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
WoodlandMummy · 12/09/2022 14:27

I used one the other day. No spaces at all in the car park but loads of M&C available. I’m 8 months pregnant so decided I qualify. Didn’t feel any compunction for doing so but wouldn’t use one if I wasn’t so heavily pregnant.

I strongly believe that those with mobility issues should use the spaces if available.

PartyHelp · 12/09/2022 14:29

I've done it once when there was about 10 free and I was running into Argos to collect something so knew I would only be 5 mins. No excuse I was just being lazy! Because my car is big and I am big I sometimes have to drive around for a bit to find a space where I know I can get in and out of the car.

Waitingforever123 · 12/09/2022 14:29

I have never done this however I am facing a situation where I will need to do this in the coming months and this thread is making me think I'll just not go out at all (usually only manage once a week anyway).
In my case I claim high rate mobility pip (and care rate to). Am entitled to a blue badge however my pip is due for renewal but due to the backlog will continue for a while before I get assessed. This means although I'm still receiving pip I won't be able to renew my BB. This is happening to many disabled people at the moment and nothing we can do. So please be mindful someone parking in the p+c may be in a similar situation and professionals (off the record) are telling us to use these spaces while we wait for our pip to be reassessed.

Twawmyarse · 12/09/2022 14:33

I regularly park in them on a Saturday evening at my local supermarket when it's very quiet and the car park has around 15 empty P&C spaces - also I'm lazy and the car park has a dip in it which sends your trolley careering to the other side - this doesn't happen to the spaces near the door.

I honestly don't care if anyone thinks badly of me and would tell them to get lost if they said anything. I seriously doubt the staff give a shit.

Pickle1512 · 12/09/2022 14:41

I wouldn’t normally. I did the other day when I popped into 24 hour Tescos at midnight and it was pouring with rain and there were approximately 50 free P&C spaces. Pretty sure I didn’t inconvenience anyone

gatehouseoffleet · 12/09/2022 14:43

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 12/09/2022 11:05

I don’t do it, because I come of a generation which was rather compliant - but I have bad mobility problems, just below the blue badge threshold. I do cast longing eyes at the empty rows of parent and child spaces so near the entrance.

I've said this before, but I think there should be spaces for anyone to use who doesn't qualify for a blue badge. It might be someone who doesn't meet the threshold for a blue badge or someone with a temporary need like a broken leg. They'd be a better use of space than P&C spaces which aren't a need, just a want.

sheepdogdelight · 12/09/2022 14:49

gatehouseoffleet · 12/09/2022 14:43

I've said this before, but I think there should be spaces for anyone to use who doesn't qualify for a blue badge. It might be someone who doesn't meet the threshold for a blue badge or someone with a temporary need like a broken leg. They'd be a better use of space than P&C spaces which aren't a need, just a want.

Show quote history

Totally agree (although how you would "prove" your need is, I guess, harder.

I don't think a lot of people realise that you can be "pretty disabled" and still not qualify for a blue badge.

SlagathaChristie · 12/09/2022 14:51

Alltheholidays · 12/09/2022 13:59

It’s all very precious 😃 I would pay no attention whatsoever if I was ‘challenged’ by one of these over zealous idiots. I’d simply ignore them and go about my business!

It's not precious, you self-absorbed eejit, it's about being able to get your baby/child in and out of the car seat/sling/pram safely and without smacking the car door into your neighbour.

BonesOfWhatYouBelieve · 12/09/2022 14:52

I've said this before, but I think there should be spaces for anyone to use who doesn't qualify for a blue badge. It might be someone who doesn't meet the threshold for a blue badge or someone with a temporary need like a broken leg. They'd be a better use of space than P&C spaces which aren't a need, just a want.

Great idea in theory, but in reality they'd get used by anyone who fancied it - even more so than the P&C spaces do, because there'd be absolutely no proof needed.
That wouldn't stop a supermarket introducing them with a "please be considerate and think about whether you really need to park here" message of course. I'm just not sure it would make any difference.

Teenprobs · 12/09/2022 14:56

I am pregnant, I have a baby but if he's at nursery and my SPD is playing up then I will. I have a blue badge I could use for my son if I wanted to but I wouldn't unless he was with me!

I did however get stuck in a car park the other day at a train station. I had to shimmy round the back of the car with my 6 month bump the space was tiny!

Parent/child spaces without the child
Smudges16 · 12/09/2022 15:04

When did P+C spaces become a thing?

I think the issue is that parking spaces are so tiny in the UK. New carparks should have much bigger ones so there's not a fight over p+c spaces and people with mobility issues can easily get in and out vehicles. That way there's no 'qualifying' for a bigger space. However, disabled spaces should be nearer the shop entrance of course.

Cait73 · 12/09/2022 15:06

I don't even use them with my 3 year old if I don't have to because I know what it's like actually needing a wider space closer to the shops

NippyWoowoo · 12/09/2022 15:07

🙋🏽‍♀️ I do, if I go to the supermarket from 8pm onwards. Sorry, but children small enough for parents to benefit from the space should be in bed 😇

I expect there are always a few exceptions to the rule, but not enough to fill up all of the P&C spaces.

Alltheholidays · 12/09/2022 15:11

@SlagathaChristie Funny that. I don’t think I ever managed to hit the car beside me when I was doing this 20 plus years ago, or any my fellow mum friends either!
Have babies , cars , and car spaces changed in the last couple of decades, or is it just parents today thinking that the world revolves around them? 🤔

HikingBoots · 12/09/2022 15:15

I feel like this might be like asking "admit you don't pick up your dog poo" but I see it so often loads of people must do it.

Haha, how is it even on the same planet as not picking up dog poo!!
Not picking up dog poo is vile, unhygienic and unsightly.
Parking in the 'wrong' space on the other hand? None of the above.

HikingBoots · 12/09/2022 15:17

Mum uses the parent and child spaces when she fancies. Her kids are 38 (me!) and 42.

SlagathaChristie · 12/09/2022 15:21

Alltheholidays · 12/09/2022 15:11

@SlagathaChristie Funny that. I don’t think I ever managed to hit the car beside me when I was doing this 20 plus years ago, or any my fellow mum friends either!
Have babies , cars , and car spaces changed in the last couple of decades, or is it just parents today thinking that the world revolves around them? 🤔

"I had it harder, so now I'm going to be as rude and inconsiderate as possible to mums" is a weird and bitter approach. Spaces do seem smaller, but maybe it's because do many cars are massive now (and no, mine is not).

You say we think the world revolves around us, but you're so selfish you can't even just park in a normal space.

KiraKiraHikaru · 12/09/2022 15:23

I used them when pregnant and do now with the kids and baby.

I did the other day by accident as I’m so used to having the baby with me that I just parked there automatically. Oops!

zaffa · 12/09/2022 15:26

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 12/09/2022 11:05

I don’t do it, because I come of a generation which was rather compliant - but I have bad mobility problems, just below the blue badge threshold. I do cast longing eyes at the empty rows of parent and child spaces so near the entrance.

As a parent / child bay user, I would have no issue with parking further away to allow you to use the space if it eased mobility issues.
Whilst the spaces are super useful for opening doors to get my toddler out of the car seat, I can also park further away where fewer people park to have the same effect and carry her, and if doing that helped someone who struggled to do that, I'd be happy to do so.

Willbe2under2 · 12/09/2022 15:41

Waitingforever123 · 12/09/2022 14:29

I have never done this however I am facing a situation where I will need to do this in the coming months and this thread is making me think I'll just not go out at all (usually only manage once a week anyway).
In my case I claim high rate mobility pip (and care rate to). Am entitled to a blue badge however my pip is due for renewal but due to the backlog will continue for a while before I get assessed. This means although I'm still receiving pip I won't be able to renew my BB. This is happening to many disabled people at the moment and nothing we can do. So please be mindful someone parking in the p+c may be in a similar situation and professionals (off the record) are telling us to use these spaces while we wait for our pip to be reassessed.

I don't think anyone with an ounce of decency would begrudge you using a P&C space in these circumstances. It's those who are perfectly capable of parking safely elsewhere but don't give a hoot about others that are the problem.

I hope you get it all sorted soon.

Alltheholidays · 12/09/2022 15:50

@SlagathaChristie I didn’t have it ‘harder’ You said that not me. It was exactly the same. That’s my whole point, but I see it’s completely passed you by!!
I parked in a
p@c space once when I was in a hurry, but I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again if I found myself in similar circumstances!
Never in a disabled spot though. That’s completely different.

LolaLoo2 · 12/09/2022 15:54

MiltonRoad · 12/09/2022 11:28

I do but I have a blue badge and the spaces are closer than the disabled.

And that's relevant why?
If I parked in a disabled space as there were no P&C spaces left would that be excusable? I highly doubt it.

This really grates on me, more than people randomly using them. At my local supermarket there are tons of disabled spaces, all close to the doors. However, I see numerous amounts of people getting out and putting their disabled badge in the windscreen when there are disabled spaces left. I think it's utterly disrespectful and selfish.

No way would anyone condone a mother & child using a disabled space if the tables were turned.