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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to park in a Parent and Toddler/child space.

85 replies

penzance70 · 05/09/2012 14:00

I am 39 weeks pregnant so today parked in a P and Toddler/child parking space.
I did get a few funny looks so wondered if IABU parking there. Normally wouldn't but car park quite full (so couldn't park away from other cars) and P and T spaces fairly empty.

OP posts:
rogersmellyonthetelly · 05/09/2012 14:54

Yanbu. I have in fact stood in asda car park in the rain crying because I was so hugely pregnant I couldn't get back in my car because some dickhead had parked so close. I even had a large sign I used to put in the window saying please don't park too close, I am pregnant and can't get in the car in a tight space. The bastard had dented my door too when getting out of their car.

anditwasallyellow · 05/09/2012 14:54

I think that even being close to the door has it's uses. I mean parents pushing prams acros a busy car park can be a bit more risky plus a pain in the arse. Toddlers are likely to make a run for it, you have to return your trolley to the door so may have to leave a baby unattended in the car. All reasons why the p&c spaces make sense to be by the door.

anditwasallyellow · 05/09/2012 14:56

And by the way I think that they would still be used even if they were further away. In Asda they are at the other side of the car park but with an inner path to walk to the store meaning you don't have to walk directly through the car park and they are still just as busy.

TheBigJessie · 05/09/2012 15:01

I totally agree with folkgirl. It has been bothering me for a few threads now, but I wasn't sure how to put it.

For example, the whole "well, park properly" thing that gets trotted out every time.

What if you have two car seats? Yanno, young twins. You need space on each side to get each baby out.

Ithinkitsjustme · 05/09/2012 15:01

Quite a few parent and baby spaces actually specify that they are for the use of mums to be as well. YANBU to use one. I do get irate when I see people using them who don't need to, and I rarely use one myself as my car has a sliding door so it doesn't need much space to open. I di dget challenged once by an elderly gentleman who tapped on my window and said that I was parked in a space for parents with children, my windows were tinted and when I opened the door I had 6 under 6's in the back, his face was a picture but we had a good laugh about it! Grin

TroublesomeEx · 05/09/2012 15:08

shucks Blush

The only thing I am a bit Hmm about is that our local sainsbury's has a sign saying that P&C spaces are for people with children from babies to 12.

I wouldn't dream of using one with a 12 year old. Or a child over about 4 tbh. I don't think there's any need by that age. I think a pregnant woman has far greater need than I do with a 6 year old.

6 under 6?! Are you a CM, justme or just a 'crazylady'?!

arthurfowlersallotment · 05/09/2012 16:11

You know the racist woman in Little Britian who projectile vomits when faced with an ethnic minority? I react similarly with MN parking threads.

Bellyjaby · 05/09/2012 16:15

I normally say that the only people, other than people with kids in car seats, who I don't mind using these spots are disabled people. You know, people who genuinely need the extra space. But as soon as I read op I realised I wouldn't begrudge a heavily pregnant person it either. I don't mind old people who don't have disabled badges but really struggle getting in and out of cars it.

I do get angry at people who are just so frigging lazy they want the spots near the front of the shop. I get more angry for the disabled people though.

"If the P&t spaces, were just spaces with extra room located further back in the car park would parents with babies still use them?" - We certainly would and do, our local Mothercare has no p&c parking, but towards the back are some larger spots. We use them for the ease where most people just try to get to the front of the shop.

RuleBritannia · 05/09/2012 16:29

rogersmellyonthetelly

Were you still there when the other driver returned? What happened? Anything?

slartybartfast · 05/09/2012 16:30

YABU

slartybartfast · 05/09/2012 16:31

but tbh i dont care either way and i wouldnt begrudge you but i might think you were a bit precious

slartybartfast · 05/09/2012 16:31

or i might think you were just fat

financialwizard · 05/09/2012 16:36

According to my local Tesco's you have to have a child under 5. I think you have a child under 5, so would happily park there.

FWIW I rarely bother parking in them these days (2 year old) mainly because my toddler likes the walk from one end of the car park to the other (past the various flowers that she spends three hours smelling

tryingtonotfeckup · 05/09/2012 16:38

Another one for team Folkgirl and I agree with Bellyjaby.

TirednessKills · 05/09/2012 16:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 05/09/2012 16:41

I think you took the piss using a baby inside you as a reason, but I genuinely don't give a shiney shite who parks in those spaces so YANBU Grin

LadyBeagleEyes · 05/09/2012 16:45

Really??
Another p & c parking thread?
I wonder if anybody on this one can say something that hasn't been said a hundred times before.

WorraLiberty · 05/09/2012 16:49

I wonder if anybody on this one can say something that hasn't been said a hundred times before

My Grandad was an Octopus who ate purple bananas while singing God save the Queen.

Grin
arthurfowlersallotment · 05/09/2012 16:53

Worra :o

LST · 05/09/2012 17:19

People saying 'anyone can park in them' are actually wrong. Not all of them you get fined at asda £150 if you get caught without a child.

Bellyjaby · 05/09/2012 17:22

LST - the only legally enforceable fines come from the council, transport for london and tfl. Otherwise they're just an invoice and are totally unenforceable, these are private companies and can only bill you for costs they've lost. By billing you something like £150 they give up that right. Even in a non council pay and display car park they can only bill you for what you haven't paid. Council parking fines tend to be far more reasonable than £150.

Smile29 · 05/09/2012 17:24

My local supermarket has a sign warning you of a fine for misusing the spaces, not sure if they can enforce it though.

god some people on here can be really horrible!! so what if there is another thread about P&C spaces, nobody forced you to open and read the thread did they!

If you cant get a child out of a normal space you cant park properly
I love this^ never mind that most of the other idiots in supermarkets cant park properly anyway so they always end up squint in the space or they park way too close to my side of the white line, but nah its my fault coz i have a kid!

OP YANBU!!! people who park there when they dont need it are!

TheGoldenKnid · 05/09/2012 17:24

My Grandad was an Octopus who ate purple bananas while singing God save the Queen.

Troll!

LadyBeagleEyes · 05/09/2012 17:26

Worra Fail Grin
'Tis not relevant to the thread.
Now if your Octopus grandad was sitting in a c&p space whilst eating purple bananas singing God Save the Queen, it would be a pass.
Was he?

Petsinmypudenda · 05/09/2012 17:28

Octopus granddad would need a big parking space to fling all his legs out