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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at people with no children taking up the mother and baby spaces

108 replies

AGivenNickname · 09/04/2013 12:12

I popped to the local supermarket this morning to do a small shop with my DS2 (19 months). I was just about to park in a mum and baby space when some arsehole in a fiesta came around the opposite way and took it.

The bastard was on his own with no children or any sign of car seats. It may sound petty but it really winds me up when people do it - including friends of mine.

One friend often goes off shopping with a 21-year-old daughter and parks in them. Her reasoning is that her 21-year-old is and always will be her 'baby' so she has every right to use it.

OP posts:
MrsMelons · 09/04/2013 14:32

some are accessible toilets (used for baby changing as well) so not just diabled toilets! We musn't digress to the toilets topic also - it won't end well!

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 09/04/2013 14:37

Why Fanjo? Disabled toilets are just designed with more space and equipment for ease of use. They're not solely for disabled people. Why do people not understand this. This is why they have dual purpose in many establishments, with changing space for babies and toddlers.

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 09/04/2013 14:40

Grin MrsMelons No, it might not end well but it's a welcome distraction from the MT threads. Can't beat a good parking thread!

WestieMamma · 09/04/2013 14:42

Putting P&C spaces at the other end of the carpark would make them redundant. At my local supermarket they are around the side of building, you drive past them on the way into the main carpark. The spaces in the main carpark are mostly closer to the entrance. I can't remember when I last saw a car in one of the P&C spaces.

mumofweeboys · 09/04/2013 14:43

My oh has been known to block people in when they have parked in mum amd baby spaces - not that Id have the nerve.

My only problem is that at the moment being 8 months pregnant I cant physically fit down the side of normal parking space to get my 18month old and 4 yr old out of the car. I cant get door open wide enough so end up bumping car next door.

fancybuttons · 09/04/2013 14:51

I have 4 young grandchildren and parking anywhere in car park is not a problem as long as there is space to open the doors and get them out safely.

gail734 · 09/04/2013 14:52

I'll admit that I used to park in P&C spaces sometimes when I was a happy-go-lucky childless spinster, off out to buy wine ... sigh. I stopped it when an old lady had a massive go at me, shouting at me all the way into Tescos! Now that I have a baby I do actually appreciate them, but I find it difficult to get worked up about it if I see someone parking in one who doesn't have a small child with them!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 09/04/2013 14:53

yes I am not getting into the toilets bunfight

FuckThisShit · 09/04/2013 15:00

Who cares.

HollyBerryBush · 09/04/2013 15:07

I had a thought today, a revelation! a genius of an idea!

Parking spaces are about distance to the door because people are intrinsically lazy. It is imperative to your shopping expedition to avoid extra walking at all costs.

P&C places aren't about distance to the shop door, they are about width to allow parents to stick their backsides out at 45 degree angles whilst fighting with seat strap Grin, much like a wheel chair user would need the extra space alongside a car to manoeuvre.

So! genius this is! If they put the P&C spaces at the back of the car park, no one in their right minds would want to park in them, because as we all know, having driven half way round the world to get to Sainsburys, it is very important to get as close to the door as possible!

Therefore by turning the car park round the other way, all the parents can have as much space as they want AND that extra walking will

(a) be a step to removing baby fat
(b) a second step to eradicating childhood obesity.

Grin

FWIW I always park at the back of the carpark
(a) because I am crap at parking and need several spaces to straighten up in
(b) no one parks there so I don't get random trolley scratches etc.
(c) the washy man can't be bothered to come and accost me

LayMizzRarb · 09/04/2013 15:08

Shitting hell! A thread that doesn't mention Margaret Thatcher......

maddening · 09/04/2013 15:11

Yanbu agree with cuddlydragon

LovePickles · 09/04/2013 15:16

Regarding my knitting vs crocheters comment. I used to hear a lot of knitters bashing crocheters because 1. It's easier 2. Takes less times 3. Inferior products.

I'm not good at either but I don't understand why others make out that their way is the right way because its an older practise or harder to do.

Calabria · 09/04/2013 15:18

There's a big supermarket fairly near here that has the P&C parking spaces all along one side of the car park and next to a covered walkway. As I wasn't bothered by the walk but appreciated the extra width (crap at parking) I always aimed for the far end and always found a space. And not having to wrangling a toddler across the car park was a treat.

crashdoll · 09/04/2013 15:20

My oh has been known to block people in when they have parked in mum amd baby spaces - not that Id have the nerve.

Your OH sounds like a twat. They are not a right.

infamouspoo · 09/04/2013 15:22

really crashdoll? That would be illegal and if he did it to my friends very large wheelchair van I suspect she'd roll right over him.

infamouspoo · 09/04/2013 15:23

sorry crashdoll. That wasnt your OH. Was someone else. Not enough coffee in my blood Blush

Donnadoon · 09/04/2013 15:26

mumweeboys you and oh sound disgraceful and should shop online instead.

thermalsinapril · 09/04/2013 15:28

YABU.

The other person may have some reason for using the space which you don't know about. So best to mind one's own business and leave it up to their own conscience.

Viviennemary · 09/04/2013 15:30

I can't see the point of parent and child parking spaces. They are nothing like disabled spaces. Why aren't parents and children capable of walking a few yards like everyone else.

infamouspoo · 09/04/2013 15:31

How do people manage in hospital car parks where there is no special parking then?

KirstyoffEastenders · 09/04/2013 15:32

I do it Blush

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 09/04/2013 15:33

They park in the Ambulance bays infamous Grin

Floggingmolly · 09/04/2013 15:38

Your friend is a mental case. I hope you realise this.

VisualiseAHorse · 09/04/2013 15:38

It's to do with the space in between the cars, rather than how close they are to the shop.

When I was 9 months pregnant, several times I had to either get OH to re-park the car, or clamber over to his side to get out, because I couldn't open the door wide enough.

We once had to lift the baby's car seat over the back seat into the boot to get it out of the car, because there were no P&C spaces. A couple of times we had to take him out of the car seat when we didn't want to because the only way to get his seat out was to turn it upside down because we couldn't open the door wide enough. Thankfully there was two of us (one to hold the baby, the other to fight with the car seat).