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

[Deverethemuzzler]

Car parks are dangerous places if you are not careful. There is no denying that.

But if you park next to a trolley park that issue is solved by putting the little kids straight into the trolley and pushing them to the shop.

If the kids are too big to go in a trolley (my 6 year old fits in a trolley and he isn't a tiny one) you have to drum into them that they have to look out for cars because cars won't look out for them. Its a lesson worth learning.

People really can argue as much as they like and I DO get that P&C spaces are nice BUT they are absolutely not necessary. I think they have caused more trouble than they are worth.

I have seen posts from people on these threads stating that they just cannot manage without them. That is nuts.

It is difficult shopping with young children and others should appreciate that but I honestly think that P&C spaces make other shoppers less inclined to be helpful. They piss everyone off so much.

[3littlefrogs]

There was no internet shopping when mine were small. I don't understand why people with babies and toddlers don't just do their supermarket shop on line. I would have loved to be able to avoid taking mine to any sort of shop when they were little.

[oxfordmumma1]

Agree they should be parent and toddler spaces. Tescos recognize this. Shame Asda do not.

[Eminybob]

Yanbu. I totally agree. And people who use them that don't have a need to are selfish arses IMHO.

[CallMeExhausted]

I don't get fussed about the spots, personally. They are intended as a courtesy and are unenforceable.

I park at the back of the lot because it is easier to load/unload my DD's wheelchair without worrying about additional vehicles either parked or driving too close.

Admittedly, it is a longer walk in, but so much less stress.

[Writerwannabe83]

I've been out all day and can't believe how many responses there are

I didn't realise it was a hot topic on MN, I was just venting!!

I haven't read all the thread yet so I'm going to go back and read all the posts now

[Mumblepot26]

Another one who thinks YANBU, I have a feeling most who think YABU had young kids before these parking spaces existed, and therefore just think we should all suffer like they did, or else they have never tried to twist and squeeze their young children and baby seats out of these impossibly tight spaces.

[Deverethemuzzler]

No. You are wrong.
Read the thread. Lots of people have children now and don't think the spaces are necessary.

[Sirzy]

DS is 4. I still think the spaces are nothing more than a marketing gimmick

[Slarti]

Since when has having a child along equated to a disability?

Since when has a visual impairment equated to having no legs? Despite both being eligible for a blue badge, it doesn't, of course. Having spaces that are useful to people with children and people with varying but not equal disabilities isn't a statement of equivalence, it's simply a practical measure that accommodates an overlap in needs, namely more space!

[Slarti]

And of course OP, it's 'parent' not 'mother', but it's hardly surprising you conflate the two here on Mumsnet (by parents for parents).

[Deverethemuzzler]

Since when has a visual impairment equated to having no legs? Despite both being eligible for a blue badge, it doesn't, of course. Having spaces that are useful to people with children and people with varying but not equal disabilities isn't a statement of equivalence, it's simply a practical measure that accommodates an overlap in needs, namely more space!

No, no, no!

Blue badge spaces and the use of blue badges are about leveling the playing field for people with disabilities. Its not just about space. Proximity, ease of parking near amenities, priority parking for people who are unable to use our largely inaccessible public transport etc

If you have shared spaces they will all be taken by people who think they need more help than someone who is child free.
I don't know how you think your statement is not equating having children with having a disability. It clearly is.

[MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom]

Where are these supermarkets where if you park far enough away, you'll get a spot with space around you for your car seat and pushchair? Free spaces are rare enough in themselves where I live, never mind one with free spaces to the side of it too

I love P&C spaces I don't like knocking other people's cars when they've parked so bloody close I can hardly get in the space, never mind getting the baby out, so P&C spaces are great if they're free. I don't care if they're next to the door or a mile away!

[Memphisbelly]

Our local carparks say spaces to be used by parents with child under 36 months.

[MyFairyKing]

This is clearly goady. The OP has been on here forever and is an active poster, it's not like she doesn't know this topic is bunfight central.

[Deverethemuzzler]

I have Sainsbury's x 2. Asda, Tesco and Morrison's within 3-20 min drive and its possible to park out of the way in all of them.

Christmas at Morrison's gets a bit lairy but I don't like it there anyway

[MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom]

We have a Sainsbry's, ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons, all 'superstore' type things and yet never any empty blocks I never queue for a parking space though. If one doesn't have spaces, we go to the next one along (except for Sainsbury's because I hate it but that's me ) and just drive between them until there's a spot.

I could live without P&C spaces but I don't want to unless they're willing to make other spaces bigger

[Writerwannabe83]

I'm not toady fairy - there hasn't been any nastiness on the thread at all, isn't that what goaders want?

Yes I am a regular but I've never commented on a car parking thread for parent and child so genuinely wasn't aware it was a topic that can get heated.

To those who commented, yes I did mean parent and child instead of mother and child - just bad wording on my part.

I guessed the boy was 10/11 as when I walked into the shop the family were standing at the entrance doors whilst the dad was on his mobile. The mom was talking to her son about buying him some shirts ready for him starting secondary school.

[toomuchtooold]

My Tesco parent and baby club car disc says they're to be used till your kid's third birthday. Ha right.

I found them incredibly useful when my twins were little and I did resent when I'd drive up and see someone take the last space then get out with like, one, older kid, and I'd to go park miles away. Particularly aggravating when it was raining - if there's an easy solution to keeping two 8 month olds dry while keeping hold of the trolley, I never figured it out.

Oh well, I suppose hoping for dry babies is just a sign of my sense of entitlement... I'm a total shocker that way, I even take my children (two of them! In a buggy! Which doesn't really fold up!) on the bus sometimes, even when they might be about to kick off.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

I like p&c spaces because they're big, nothing to do with where they are in the car park. And being 38 weeks pregnant, space to get out the car is important!

[Writerwannabe83]

Someone told me pebble that pregnant women are allowed to use the spaces but I thought they were winding me up. Is it true then??

[Writerwannabe83]

I mean Pobble, not pebble

[CharlieSierra]

Slarti the fact that there will always be someone who would actually have the neck to argue that a fit parent of a 12 yr old should have equal dibs on a priority parking space with someone with disabilities is why these threads always turn into bunfights, what a trite argument you make.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

No idea, I have a 2 year old as well which is why I use them.

[maggiethemagpie]

Another one who doesn't care that much what age the kids are but gets REALLY pissed off when they are called 'mother' and baby spaces - does that mean dads aren't allowed to use them then?