Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

354 replies

cranberryx · 08/07/2015 19:12

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!

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 09/07/2015 09:12

When DS was small and I used what my local Sainsbury's still called mother and child spaces I always hoped somebody would challenge me and say they weren't for fathers with children - I would so have enjoyed it. Alas, it never happened. He's thirty now and they have all long since been painted over as parent and child - or have they?

TheTravellingLemon · 09/07/2015 09:13

I've been on MN for a fair few years now and this is one of the only subjects that I can't wrap my head around.

Before I had DC I never would have even considered parking in a P&C space, regardless of whether I could legally or not. They're there because other people need them more. I have no legal requirement to give up my seat on the tube to someone who needs it more than me, I still do though.

No, toddlers don't melt in the rain and c section scars aren't going to burst because of a little walk across a car park and a pregnant woman is not going to go into labour because she has to stand between Oxford Circus and Bank, but it's about a little bit of consideration to fellow human beings.

I find it massively frustrating when I see the P&C spaces full of two seater sports cars and vans and cars with no child seats because I think it points to a general lack of consideration for other people and that's sad.

Why wouldn't you go a teensy bit our of your way to help out someone else? Not because the law tells you to, but because it's just a decent thing to do.

PurpleDaisies · 09/07/2015 09:14

Have a look at the signs in the car park. As I posted earlier, my local supermarket has a cut off of 12.

PurpleDaisies · 09/07/2015 09:15

Sorry, my post was for wherearemydragons.

zzzzz · 09/07/2015 09:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ghostyslovesheep · 09/07/2015 09:25

wow you encourage your child to shout at people in car parks - gold star! Especially if he's shouting at people with hidden disabilities or health issues

people like you make me want to park vertically across 4 P+C space and stay there all day Grin

Whathaveilost · 09/07/2015 09:27

My 11 year old tells people they have forgotten their kids

Your 11 may open their gob to the wrong person one day and end up with more than they bargained for!

Just because you and they ( and many of us) disagree with other people's parking habits if you encourage and allow an 11 yer old to speak like that I fear they will carry on and get more confident,(or cocky) not every one will tolerate being spoken to like that - not where I live anyway!

itsmine · 09/07/2015 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

twofingerstoGideon · 09/07/2015 09:41

As I posted earlier, my local supermarket has a cut off of 12.

How ridiculous.

PurpleDaisies · 09/07/2015 09:45

I agree twofingers. I was just letting the poster know what the supermarket says. I'd hope people would be sensible and use them only if they felt they needed to. I'm sure plenty of pregnant women choose not to use priority seats on trains when they are feeling fine and their ability to stand isn't impaired.

Sleepybunny · 09/07/2015 09:55

I don't think YABU. The spaces are provided for a reason, and I imagine must be a godsend for people with multiple young children or who have recently given birth.

Our local ASDA issue £70 fines to those found abusing the p&c spaces, and have people that patrol the carpark.

Teeste · 09/07/2015 10:00

MidniteScribbler 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.

Of course, I only got pregnant so I could feel justified in my DH using a p&c space. Doesn't everyone? It's not like I can have two different emotions at the same time, such as being excited about having a baby and mildly looking forward to an easier parking space in a lighthearted way on the few occasions we actually go to supermarkets and it comes up on MN.

Jeezy creezy. My first post really does stand.

Bubblesinthesummer · 09/07/2015 10:03

Someone once tried to tell my DP off for parking in a P&T place as they couldn't see any children etc etc.... He did however give them short shrift as he openedid the boot to get my wheelchair out....

The woman didn't even have the grace to apologise Shock

budgiegirl · 09/07/2015 10:05

Well said, TheTravellingLemon.

It's really just about consideration for other people. It's not essential that parents have a bit of extra space to get their small children in and out of the car, but it's helpful. It's not essential that the spaces are right by the door to the supermarket, but when you are juggling shopping, buggies, small children it's safer than walking across a busy car park with no pavements.

And anyone who has a problem with a blue badge holder parking in a P&C place the the disabled bays are full is an idiot.

Scotinoz · 09/07/2015 10:10

Parent and Child parking spots are really handy for getting blooming capsule seats out. I'm happy to wrangle my toddler across the car park, it just kills me when there's only 6 inches between me and the next guy and I have to squeeze the car seat in.

I was impressed at the size of the spaces in the UK. We have them where I am in Australia but they're a bit hopeless. Close to the door but not actually big enough to open the doors on each side wide enough to do up seatbelts etc. And more often than not snaffled by seniors when all the senior spots are taken.

queentroutoftroutss · 09/07/2015 10:20

Just because someone doesn't have a child seat in their car it doesn't mean that they do not have a small child with them, most people with smaller babies just take the whole seat out and into a trolley or pram frame so that argument is a non starter.

Lurkedforever1 · 09/07/2015 10:30

Let's be fair though, if people want understanding for car seats and kids they need to be equally understanding for anyone else who might need consideration. In my experience I've found it's easier and requires less space to get several small children ( including a modern car seat) out of a large 4wd, and easier to walk across a car park with them, than it is for an elderly slightly arthritic person to get out of a small low down car and walk across the car park. Ditto with parents, lots easier for parent a with one 2 yr old to manage in a normal space than parent b with new born twins and a 2yr old. So should parent a also avoid p&c spaces incase someone more needy comes along? Or parent c who's 8yr old is wearing a plaster cast and on crutches? Or shall we just stick with first come first served for anyone who feels the need to use them?

FraggleHair · 09/07/2015 10:41

My 11 year old tells people they have forgotten their kids.

And are you proud of that kind of bratty behaviour?

GreyBird84 · 09/07/2015 10:44

Where did I say that Sooty? I was clarifying that they most definitely did not have any children in tow.

Dawn - empathy? I only asked if anyone knew if there was a law or guidelines surrounding disabled people using P&C spaces. I have not said anything derogatory about disabled people. Jealous? Um no. What a weird thing to suggest.

daisywellies · 09/07/2015 11:21

"My 11 year old tells people they have forgotten their kids".

Might I suggest then that, rather than worrying about other people's behaviour, you teach your 11 year old to not be such a rude, obnoxious little brat?

SoupDragon · 09/07/2015 11:29

Just out of interest, what's the general consensus wrt what age you can use p+c spaces until? My youngest dc is 3 and I'm thinking the clock is ticking.

I stopped using them when my youngest could fasten her seatbelt herself. There was no need for them after that as I could open the door to let her in/out whilst protecting the door of the car next to me.

Alisvolatpropiis · 09/07/2015 12:01

P&C spaces should be done away with. They're a courtesy not a right, get the fuck over yourselves. And the fact that Asda generally have them closer to the store than Blue Badge spaces drives me insane. So ridiculous. If I was BB holder I would most certainly be parking in the P&C spaces.

I have a 4 week old baby and thus far have felt the need to use them precisely zero times. I imagine that will continue. I park a bit away from the shop as I always have done.

RachelRagged · 09/07/2015 12:04

Well ain't you charming ?

Muppets because some of us think OP is BU ?

Its a forum. people have different views .. I am no Muppet tyvm

Alisvolatpropiis · 09/07/2015 12:05

Grin @ Andrew, your post re mother and child spaces and being challenged made me chuckle. It so would happen these days if they were still so named!

daisywellies · 09/07/2015 12:10

I think these spaces should not be near the door. There is something fundamentally unpleasant about elderly people being expected to park further away while a young parent nips into a reserved space right at the door. Whinging about how 'helpful' it is etc doesn't convince. It would be 'helpful' for lots of people, but only disabled people absolutely need and are entitled to a space by the door.
Extra wide spaces should be provided further back in the carpark. And if a parent can't steer a couple of children safely to the door then maybe they shouldn't be let out with young kids.

Swipe left for the next trending thread