To think that mother & baby spaces are for people with babies & small children?!

[cranberryx]

Parked up at asda before work and low and behold what do I see?

3 vans, an elderly gentleman and a young couple all park up and get out of their vehicles and stroll into asda. Not one car seat, not one small child in sight!

I know it wasn't a busy time (8am) but still, I would be so peed off if I parked up with my little one and couldn't find a space with space to get a car seat out of etc!

Next time I might have a word! Or am I just being a grump!

It annoys me and I have challenged people in the past using them without a child or baby in tow.

Mainly work vans, when there's plenty of other spaces around for them to park in.

I usually say it straight: "These spaces are for parents with young children or babies".

YANBU. I didn't see what all the fuss was about until I had to leave my tiny baby on the ground in a car park and reverse out blocking the traffic in order to get him back in the car. I had been hemmed in on both sides and couldn't open any of the doors wide enough to get his car seat back in.
Now if I'm on my own with DS and can't park in a P&C space or next to a curb, I don't stop. Despite the sniffy comments above, P&C spaces do serve a purpose.

Thanks TidyDancer

It is inconsiderate to use them when they are of no real benefit to you but there are others besides parents of young children who find the extra width or closeness to the store, a great help. I never use them on my own but when I have my ds who has sn with me, I see no issue with using them.

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary Aha! But being "injured" doesn't allow you to use the P+C. You would only be "allowed" to use it if you had your 3wk old with you!....Therefore - P+C or "priority" spaces SHOULD be available for anyone who feels they need them. Not just people with babies or blue badges.

I did have him with me, do I count now?

They are trouble...

I agree with pps who say it is a bit crappy of you to use them if you need need them, you just fancy parking a bit closer to the front. It's not nice for parents with really young babies trying to get them into the car with not enough space...

Yes 'law' as in 'is there one?'
So Thanks for the info on disabled users parking in p&c spaces, makes interesting reading. Just crossed my mind the other day when I seen it happening.

The extra width is definitely all I'm concerned about as opposed to proximity. I rarely manage to get a p&c Space so drive until i find an 'end' space to park in.

What Tidy says.

And yawn.

I'm not sure why mums with grown up kids are keen to let us all know they survived without these parking spaces. Good for you. Society advances though, doesn't it? I'm really grateful for these changes.

zazzie is spot on.

And please remember you can't see if someone is disabled so think before you decide to tell someone off!

My 11 year old tells people they have forgotten their kids.
Usually when we are trying to keep the 2 year old out of the rain, or get her inside for a new nappy.
Some supermarkets will fine drivers who park in child or disabled bays (I think £60?), then donate the money to kids or elderly charities.
Not much you can do.
Same with the selfish muppets that parked right next to me earlier.
Totally empty carpark, apart from me and dd.
dd was sleeping, so I caught up with some paperwork and let her sleep.
We were parked in the furthest corner, away from the path and away from the gate to the road.

So why did they park right next to us and bang all their bleeding doors?

At least 40 other perfectly good spaces!

Did they think their little car would be lonely ?

my adult child will be home soon. if I can't find a BB Bay i will park in a P&C one.
(and tell security who will look at me and say thats fine)

I'm happy to let pregnant women use the spaces too

erm, my childs not grown up. And yes when she was younger I used p&c spaces if one was free and for whatever reason I didn't want to walk across the car park. But because I'm honest enough to admit that was why I can't get het up about anyone else deciding to do the same, parent or not. I also find it really pathetic when you consider the number of parents that manage to shop with just public transport or on foot

Why should there be "mother and baby" spaces in the first place, you aren't incapacitated are you? you've only got a baby/young children. Why should you take priority? Its not like you have to walk miles to get to the shop or trolley.

And if someones 11 yr old asked me where my child was I'd say no sweetheart I'm just being lazy like your mummy. ( I don't actually park in them as standard but have done when I've taken an elderly relative somewhere)

I was waiting and waiting to finally be able to 'legally' use the parent & baby spaces all through my pregnancy.

All through my pregnancy I was waiting to actually have a baby, to hold him, feed him, play with him. Not once did I consider that I could suddenly park in a special spot just because I could reproduce.

Bore off?? I've never been so insulted in all my ...no, actually I've had far worse.

That was a list of behaviours I regularly witness outside of schools which literally put childrens, parents and other road users lives in danger and your only issue is my mentioning kids names?

That actually reinforces my decision to park in P&T places On Principle and I'll wear my twat badge whilst doing it.

I seen a disabled badge holder in a M&P space, wonder what's the law on that?

I'd explain to you that disabled people are also able to be parents. I might draw you a little venn diagram, but that might make your head implode.

I think yabu.

Its a space. I never understand why some people are so entitled about this!

Try going on the bus with two young children, pushchair and your shopping; the half a minute walk from an ordinary space won't seem half so bad.
You are young, fit and healthy; elderly people are often not so fortunate.

My response would have been exactly the same. Lurked.

Dislike precocious children even more than the p&c spaces and their entitled occupants.

I had a neural opinion of p&c parking spaces until more recently.
Twice I have been mid way through getting my children out of the car when the car next door has decided it CBA to wait for a minute and has swung out. On one of those occasions if I hadn't banged on their back window, they would have taken one of the doors off my car.
On the other occasion, they waited until I'd parked my buggy by my car and was about to open the door before suddenly reversing, almost hitting my buggy. I hadn't heard any engine noise (or I'd have kept out the way) as it was a Nissan leaf.
P&c places are safer, especially if your child is young enough to still be in the infant carrier style car seats as you need to get the door very wide to get them in. I have had cars park over the line next to me and I've had to manoeuvre my youngest in from the opposite side.
I would be happy if the places were further away from the shop, would probably get abused less. Just as long as they're near the trolleys!

Oh, and for all the people going on about 'not having them in their day and surviving' you didn't have modern car seats to manage either, which are much safer but do mean you spend a heck of s lot longer with the door open and your arse hanging out of the car as you fight a toddler into their car seat.
I know the spaces are a perk, but they're a really useful one.