In thinking Mother and Baby car parking spots....

[Writerwannabe83]

....are actually for parents with babies/toddlers?

It was always my understanding that the wide spaces are for parents who have car seats and pushchairs to contend with, not for parents of 10 year olds who just want to park nearer to the shop, like a family that I saw today?!

I'm only moaning because I've just twisted and scraped my back trying to remove my car seat from my half closed back door door, in a very tight parking space whilst trying not to scratch the car I'm parked next to.

I was secretly fuming at those in the Mother and Baby spaces who surely shouldn't have been there, like the one I mentioned above.

And breathe

This is a totally new complaint I have never seen on MN before

let's play Bingo.

i will dab the 10 year old may have a hidden disability

Maybe those parents want to ensure that their ten year old doesn't wang the door open into a closely-parked car?

Yabu. I have 3 DC under 4 and have never ever used a parent and baby space. They are not necessary. Find a space. Park in it. Go to shop.
Big cars are the reason normal spaces feel too small for people.

If your child is small enough to be carried in a car seat then I recommend parking as far away as you can it invariably gives you more space. My favourite car park has parent and child spaces which are marked out by coloured paving blocks, the spaces are very generous and it's common to see cars park in the gaps designed for easy access.

Hmm, I wonder how this will go in the new friendlier AIBU? ;)

Ooo I bet 'entitled' crops up somewhere.

I do that. I park there when I don't even have the kids in the car just the boosers
I think P&C spaces are fair game for all

I don't think YABU but this won't end well. P&C parking threads on MN never end well. I've never seen so much hatred for those spaces as I've seen on this forum.

At asda the parent and child parking spaces state that they are for children under the age of 12 and in a car or booster seat. So at Asda a small 10 year old in a booster seat would qualify as the parent and child space being suitable.

They're not mother and baby they're parent and child, thus they're intended for anyone with a child.

I don't blame you, I got The Rage at a single man in a huge 4x4 with no children or even car seat who took the last mother and baby space. I even beeped really loudly at him, much to the total embarrassment of my dp who was driving at the time. I think they are necessary, I've hurt my back loads of times trying to squeeze the car seat in and out!! to be fair not a great example as I made dp get the seat out on that occasion

Another who is amazed this had happened. I've NEVER seen complaints about parent parking on mumsnet before!

I know what you're saying, but the Mother bit pisses me off. I hope it said Parent.

I'm not being difficult or the sake of it, just fed up at the assumption that so many places make that women/ mums do everything child related. DH has just spent two week looking after 5 month old DS when I had to go to work, and was incredulous at how many places only have baby changing facilities in the ladies loo.

I know it's an unpopular view on mumsnet but I actually agree with you. It's really hard getting a baby or toddler in and out of a car seat in a tiny space, all the while trying not to scratch the car that has parked a couple of centimetres too close to you. I think P&C spaces are necessary and it's irritating when they are misused. Therefore YANBU!

Marks place.

How do you know they were 10, Writer?

We're they in situ before you arrived?

why do people take the car seat out to go shopping unless it one of these

www.pramcentre.co.uk/tn_images/x348y295/2011-09-27_out%20and%20about/PROMEADE/promenade-with-car-seat.jpg

2 Dc and once the seat was fitted, then never really got taken out.

They aren't necessary. Generations of parents managed without them. They are a nice perk if you can get one. They should be at the back of the car park imo, that would stop people who shouldn't use them doing so.

Surely you just park a little further away so can get a free space next to you in order to get car seat out.

How do you know they were 10, Writer?

^this!!

I just see then as a convenience - if there is one free, I might use it. If they are full, so what? I don't care who is actually using it.

I can't believe a poster beeped at someone for using one, that is very rude.

Also I once saw a motorbike parked in one, that did make me laugh, imagining how pissed off it would make the parking police!

You are 100% correct and very reasonable... However, this is mumsnet and this is akin to saying something 'disablist' or worse so brace yourself OP!

Why does everyone hate them so much? In the tesco I go to, they're not even close to the door or sheltered from the rain. Just bigger!!!

ICan - because it's easier to put the car seat on the trolley than to carry the baby.