To get infuriated by people mis using parent and child spaces?

[nothingbyhalves]

It's all in the title really. A woman just told me she had parked in one because she had a dog in her car. Aibu to think she is inconsiderate?

Oh, good idea Mouth

"I am justifying my parking here because I am (a) disabled (b) the parent of a disabled child (c) too small (d) pathetic (e) entitled (f) lying (delete as appropriate)"

I park in P and C quite happily.
I am a P and I have DC.
Too bad if you have a problem with it.

Getting a blue badge is not necessarily easy you know

P&c parking is wholly discretionary it has no statutory basis,anyone can park p&pc space
Disabled space reserved for blue badge is wholly different retailer must provide
C&p parking is discretionary,no compulsion to provide them

I think some people are responding as though they've mis-read the op or the original complaint.
"aibu to get infuriated by people mis using parent and child parking spaces?" nothingbyhalves then suggested it was inconsiderate for someone to use such a space (designated by the car park owners to be for the benefit of people accompanied by young children) for the benefit of their dog.
OP YANBU.

The op does not say "aibu to think that having a child is the same as having a disability/ child with a serious disability, and as the correct use of P&C spaces is protected by law, and I am the centre of the universe anyone who uses them without a baby or toddler in tow, no matter what their difficulty should face the full force of the law"

They are a courtesy, but isn't it also courteous if you don't have to do something like open your door wide enough to get a rear facing child seat in or deal with a child who has SPD issues in a busy car park, to NOT use the P&C spaces? I mean a dog, really? Why would she need the safe pathway to the store or extra-wide space because she had a dog - which she left in the car?

*Sirzy Sat 23-Nov-13 20:13:04

It is hard to get a car seat out of a normal sized space

then don't get the car seat out. It took me until DS was about 4 weeks old to realise that taking the car seat out is really just a waste of time and energy. Much easier to just lift the child out!*

Where do you put a 7lb baby if you don't have the car seat? In the shopping trolly?! Have you tried strapping a newborn into one of those plastic reclined seats they provide (the straps of which are often covered in shite - newborn....poor immune system....) Those seats have straps that don't even come near to holding a small baby in. So, where do you put a baby on a shopping trip if they are not in their car seat?

Put the spaces at the back of the car park....I don't see the issue as being close to the store...I see the issue as safety for the family

Our local shopping centre has "seniors spaces". I always wonder if they'd demand proof of age if you park there.

Quite lifeisajumprope
Besides, it is definitely not "easier" to take my baby out of the seat rather than take the seat out. Isofix just unclips. So baby stays safe and snug and can be transported around the shop in the trolley so I can keep track of toddler. Far easier, quicker and safer than unstrapping baby.
When she was smaller I used the sling but that's still more cumbersome than undoing the isofix seat.
And yes, I am perfectly capable of managing with whatever circumstances I am faced with. I am just addressing the erroneous suggestion that tacky a baby out if a seat is much easier than taking the seat out.

Seniors spaces.
You see, you'd hope that ppl would just think, do you know what, I don't need that space, someone a bit unsteady on their feet needs that, rather than "well I was 60 last week and even though I am as fit and strong as my 40 year old kids I fancy parking there and as the spaces aren't protected by law I'll have that one and fuck over the smug oldies"

In a big multistory car park I could not get my group 0 car seat out so had to take it out whilst not in the space, leave it pushed up against the next car and then drive into the space. I was shitting myself for those few seconds that a car would drive past and knock baby in car seat.
Fair enough, anything over a group 0 seat doesn't NEED a bigger space but for that reason alone it pisses me off no end to see people with no kids using the spaces.

I think there's a deep rooted issue of a problematic attitude towards mothers. It reminds me of the derisory tome taken when referring to school run traffic, which is deemed less worthy, more troublesome than commuter traffic.
I've heard ppl (even on this thread actually) make the comments about being able to use them with their adult children with them. "well, I'm a parent and this is my child" type of thing. I do think this is underpinned by a misogynistic attitude that condones a dismissive and negative approach to women, particularly to mother's. It's not nice.

And for me, getting the car seat out (especially the first couple of months post birth) was FAR easier and less painful than bending completely down to get the baby out in a way that would support her hear...with the car seat I could stay semi-upright to release it a pull it out....just because one person finds it easy to lift a baby out of a rear-facing seat doesn't mean the next person will.

Bottom line, if you don't have additional things going on that make shopping a little more difficult don't use the bloody spaces. And I'd have no problem a blue badge holder using any space they bloody well want to if it makes their life easier.

As for challenging someone...I wouldn't do that...because someone's needs aren't obvious just by looking at them.

Life - I wrapped mine in a blanket & put them in the reclining seats - there was only one car seat trolley anyway designed as others have said for giants, so I used that once & never again. Found the blanket much better as they were then at eye level & more comfortable than being super squished in a car seat.

Not sure it's mysoginistic to think p&c spaces are a waste of time. I find it slightly baffling how gadgety everything is becoming with babies - suddenly need a million extras that you don't really

Also find p&c causes so much angst & anger. Trips to the supermarket get much easier when your day isn't ruined by all 'your' spaces being taken

Oh and OP did start the disabled comparison - on a second or third post of hers.

Lamsie - if you have had a blue badge refused it can be much easier to get after the child turns 5. Especially if you are claiming mobility. We went fr

We went from no mobility payment to higher rate when ds1 was 6. And of course higher rate mobility entitles you to a no-questions-asked blue badge.

Bottom line, if you don't have additional things going on that make shopping a little more difficult don't use the bloody spaces.

But that is the whole point, MANY people who don't have young children but aren't registered disabled have additional things going on which make shopping a little more difficult. Yet it seems some people believe no matter what a parents needs for that space are going to be greater when that is actually quite possibly rubbish.

I know you have said you wouldn't challenge people but plenty on this thread have said they would and do with no consideration for how shit that could make someone feel who was already having a tough time.

Perfect example of Mumsnet bullying with sarcasm used to make the OP feelfeel just that little bit smaller. Well done ladies and gentleman.

Our shops don't have them at all.

I live in Stepford, stacks of children and yummy mummies and giant SUVs.

We all somehow have managed to survive with our big fat cars without special places.

When I lived in London I didn't have a car at all and had to deal with the groceries and kids with the buggy and bus.

This was also not that difficult.

Disabled spots matter, P&C ones don't.

Yes TheRealAmanda you'd hope so. And do you know, I think most times I've passed there I've noticed at least a few free, so maybe that is what happens.

I must check tomorrow when I'm there I'll lurk around and take notes about who uses the spaces

YANBU at al! It drives me mad!

Marketing ploy or not, i absolutely think that people that park in them without babies are selfish.
Have you tried getting a baby car seat in and out of a normal space with cars parked either side? It's impossible!
I also don't think that parents should park in them once their children can walk confidently.

I found them more use once my children could walk. Three running off in different directions? :shudder: Nothing to do with p&c but I did once get completely stuck in the middle of the road with ds1 being held in one hand heading in one direction & ds3 in the other trying to head in the other direction. Couldn't move! Much easier when one was in a buggy or carried

I don't know why the subject of parent and child spaces results in the derisory opinions expressed by some posters on MN. They are convenient for parents with small children but I agree that they don't need to be closest to the store as long as there is safe access. I use them because the extra space to open car doors makes life easier when you have a baby in a car seat. I don't think they should be abused and I wouldn't use them when I don't have the children with me.

Oh & while I was standing there stuck, one of the nursery nurses from ds3's nursery walked past and said 'I don't know how you do it' & walked off leaving me completely stuck.

It doesn't matter that they might not be absolutely essential.
They are useful. It makes life easier, less stressful. To blatantly and proudly declare that one will park in a p&c space without meeting the car park declared criteria for their use smacks of a rudeness specifically reserved for women, for mothers.
That is not the same as a belief that they are not necessary.

Er they're reserved for parents - not mothers???