Parent and child parking spaces- are they for pregnant women?

[Ohhbaby]

I thought parent and child parking spaces where for people with smallish children.
They are specifically wider as to not struggle popping a child back in a car seat.
But I'm prepared to be told they're for pregnant people too!
I was parking at a big grocery chain - there were no parent and child ones open, but I manage to park in a spot 2 spaces away from the parent and child one.
As I was getting my baby, 2 and 4 year old out, I saw a lady getting out of her car in the parent and child parking space. .
She had no children with her.
I was slightly annoyed as I don't think she should have used it.
I know I'm not entitled to a parent and child space and I don't mind if they're full- but they do make my life easier.
Easier to get the kids in and out without scratching another car, easier to get the pushchair in beside the car etc.

We went into the shop and I happen to shop in the same aisle as this woman.
I plucked up the courage to politely say. "You really shouldn't park in the parent and child spot if you don't have children"
She said " oh no I promise I have children- I have a 9 year old and I'm pregnant".
I just said ' o okay sure, sorry!" And felt somewhat bad for calling someone out that was pregnant ( you couldn't see it yet) ( but I was floored by the comment that she has a 9 year old. So what, he's not with you. The parking space isn't for someone who has kids, it's for someone who has kids with them). But I was too chicken to point it out.
But as the uncomfortability of addressing a stranger wore off I thought to myself: wait a minute, what does the fact that she is pregnant has to do with it?
I thought the spaces were wider not necessarily closer as to make it more convenient for pregnant women??

Am I just wholly uninformed?

Yep. I did a few weeks ago. There’s people who actually NEED those spaces and they’re limited.

That's non comparable

This!

They are a courtesy. I have used them when doing a 1am shop (back when 24hr opening was a thing), as they are right next to the store. And I have used them when I broke my foot.

I used them from about 7mths pregnant - I wasn't enormous but I was walking with crutches because of sciatica. Stopped using them when DD was no longer in a car seat.

Its not illegal to park either in parent and toddler or disabled.. it wouldn't bother me if i saw a heavily pregnant woman using the parent and toddler or the disabled for that matter.

I drive an SUV, i need the doors completely open to be able to get in and out and I do have a blue badge, but the amount of looks i get, mainly from the elderly community for using 'their' parking spaces. They even make a point of walking round the car to pointedly look in the windscreen for the badge.. and when they see me get out of the drivers side... their shock is incrediable, its like a person with disabilities is not allowed to actually drive as well.

If there are no spaces, it won't ruin my day, i won't huff and puff and i would never approach someone in the store and ask them why they have parked like they have?

Well someone answered and showed they didn't understand that young seemingly healthy people can have a wide range of disabilities.

Anyway P&C parking spaces are not legally enforceable.

As a PP said some car parks do have parking companies who will fine you if you don't have a disability, aren't heavily pregnant or don't child under 12 with you but others do absolutely nothing.

You mean you thought you could challenge someone with a BB on why they have one?!? On the ground you’ve decided someone else needs or more.

Wow 😳😳

I park in them too with a blue badge, they're closer to the shop and the difference between me being able to shop or not. They're only a courtesy. When I did have small children I parked further away.

I would say if you are heavily pregnant and need a wider space yes because you have got a child with you and you do need the wider space because of that child. If you aren't big, then no you don't need them.

I don't believe they should be for the heavily pregnant just because they need more space.

Obese people need more space too, and are often much bigger than heavily pregnant women.

I think people should only use them if they have children that they need to get in and out of car seats/prams etc.

Maybe there could be a few 'Extra Room' spaces?

'These 'Extra Room' spaces are courtesy parking bays and operate on a first come, first served basis. They are for people who temporarily need a bit of extra room to get in and out of their car, e.g. they are heavily pregnant or in a plaster cast.

'Unfortunately, as male entitlement is classified as a permanent condition, as is the burning need of some people for ownership of an over-sized vehicle in crowded towns and cities, so these are not included in the scheme. Thank you for your co-operation.'

Wtf you talking about? I challenged someone who didn’t have a blue badge who parked in a disabled bay

@Patriarchyaliveandwell but they can park there. They shouldn't but they can. Those spaces are only advisory, they hadn't done anything wrong other than morally as those spaces are not enforceable.

I’m currently 8 months pregnant and really do need the room to get out. In my local Asda the sign specifies ‘expectant parents or those with children under 12’ so when I go there I do use them.

I don’t have the guts to do it where the sign doesn’t specify incase I get called out so instead just park further away (and end up exhausted when I get to the door of the supermarket🤣).

people using them when they don’t have any need to does wind me up. I feel like you can guess who’s selfishly parked there just by the type of car 😬

If you don’t have a blue badge you shouldn’t park in a disabled bay. If you don’t have children (or are heavily pregnant) you shouldn’t park in a parent and baby spot. It’s just respect and common sense. People need them for safety more than anything. People who don’t have a badge or kids’ laziness to walk a bit farther never overrides the needs of those who are disabled or have children. Anyone who things otherwise is moron and selfish

The difference between fat and pregnant however is that fatness will squidge in a bit and a baby bump most certainly will not. Not that there were any parent and child spaces at the shops when I was pregnant or had small children (many years ago). I do sometimes use them now when I have my DGC with me. I would agree that they don't necessarily need to be close to the shop, but if they are further away then there does need to be a designated path across the car park to access them safely. Even a child too big to sit in a trolley seat may still not have much traffic sense and trying to push a trolley, plus hold onto a child/children, plus look out for traffic can be challenging (or maybe I am just getting too old!)

I started using at around 37 weeks pregnant. My baby was 9lb 2oz when he arrived and I was fucking huge. I started using them after I couldn't get back in my car once because someone had parked alongside in normal bay. I needed the extra space more than someone with their average 8yo!

Oh sorry. I didn't get that's what you meant but now you've said it's pretty obvious. My apologies

thursdaymurderclub · Today 17:17

Its not illegal to park either in parent and toddler or disabled

It's not illegal to park in parent and toddler spots, but it's most definitely illegal to park in disabled spots without a blue badge.

StudioCreate · Today 17:22

I park in them too with a blue badge

What an awful attitude, I hope you get fined every time, you selfish sod.

We use them with dsd, she's an adult but has severe sn's and cannot get into the car without the door fully open and we need to do up her seat belt. Yes she should have a blue badge and is entitled but the council transport department is crap, the court of protection is rubbish and social services are completely overwhelmed. I had a lady with a approx 6 and 8 years olds complain at me, she wished she hadn't when I used it to detail how rubbish it is to be a carer!

I've used one without a child. I had recently graduated from a zimmer frame to two sticks. The only parking close enough to the entrance of the supermarket for me actually to make it into the pharmacy inside was the parent and child parking. Well, except for the blue badge parking, but you can't get a blue badge for temporary conditions. Pretty sure my need was greater than that of many parents.

Not according to the gov.

"The Blue Badge scheme only applies to on-street parking - private off-street car parks, such as those at supermarkets, are on private land and the charges and conditions of use are essentially a contractual matter between the owner and the motorist."

The supermarket can make it a condition that you have a blue badge. They have to provide the spaces, and show they are taking reasonable steps to make sure the spaces are available for those who need it. The supermarket could fine you like they could if you break any of their car park rules. But you're not breaking the law. I'm not defending it btw. Just saying.
They can also make it a condition of parking in a P&C space that you have a child with you, and could fine you if you break that rule.
Just like they can make it a condition that you don't stay overnight, or longer than a set time. And can fine you for breaching those rules as well.

Yes you can - if your condition lasts more than 12 months but less than 3 years

At that point it had been about 4 months. Which my local council definitely doesn't give blue badges for.