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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that people who don't have young children who park in parent and child spaces are selfish?

439 replies

Kjc105 · 01/02/2017 18:37

I was reading an article on the Daily Fail about a young couple with a baby who were left a note saying that parent and child spaces are for people with children (they were with their baby) but what annoyed me were people commenting under the article who were saying that they always park in parent and child even if there are other spaces available as they feel parents are entitled to too many things and why should they be inconvenienced by people having children. Is it me or is this totally selfish as the reason why those spaces are they are for the safety of the children, more space so other car doors aren't dented and closer to the store so it is generally safer for children and less likely for a child to be hit by a car. AIBU to think these people are selfish?

OP posts:
Original poster
Kjc105 · 01/02/2017 19:19

I do tend to go to places that have those spaces. Sometimes the wind makes the door open further than it would and I don't want to cause any damage to someone else's car.

OP posts:
MistressPage · 01/02/2017 19:20

This has been done so often, but YANBU OP. Lots of sneering Mumsnet vipers will be along to call you entitled and whinge about not having the spaces in their day, and offer increasingly ridiculous suggestions (my fave was the lunatic who suggested removing the baby through the window) but the fact remains that regardless of location, you really need the extra space with today's car seats for babies and toddlers, and childless people who pinch the spaces are selfish and thoughtless ( unless disabled etc)

twinkletoesimnot · 01/02/2017 19:21

One of the dj's on heart radio this morning was telling people to buy a car seat from a car boot so that they could park in parent and child spaces!

Original poster
Kjc105 · 01/02/2017 19:21

Thank you MistressPage!

OP posts:
PigletWasPoohsFriend · 01/02/2017 19:22

but people who have problems with their knees who struggle to walk surely shouldn't be driving or should be dropped by the entrance?

Hmm
Kronutpearl · 01/02/2017 19:23

What I find more perplexing is why parents take their kids shopping with them at all. I can literally think of nothing worse than dragging my 11mo with me to the supermarket. I either do it online (mostly) or have a delightful time doing it on my own in the evening.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 01/02/2017 19:24

Cue all the posters with mobility issues in 1...2...3

I do. Your point is what exactly.

PlayOnWurtz · 01/02/2017 19:25

Cue all the posters with mobility issues in 1...2...3

Too late I posted earlier

ilovesooty · 01/02/2017 19:25

I have a friend who's waiting for a replacement hip. It doesn't render her unable to drive or entitle her to a blue badge but I imagine if she has to wait much longer she'll benefit from a space near the supermarket entrance.

It would certainly be interesting to see how much the spaces were used for P and C purposes if they were at the far end of the car park.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 01/02/2017 19:26

When I had babies if there were no parent and child spaces we parked on an end space where you could open the door fully or next to an empty space (and hoped it would be empty when we came back) They are a nice to have not a right. People have been coping with babies and cars a long time before anyone thought of parent and child spaces.

Mumzypopz · 01/02/2017 19:26

Supermarkets don't create P and c spaces specifically so as people don't dent their cars or so as precious Mummies can take those bulky car seats out, it's because parents spend masses of money in their shops and they want them to choose their shop above another shop that has no P and c space.
I really don't think more cars were dented before they existed as people were more careful and ensured their kids don't just doing the door open. With P and c spaces it's fine if they fling the door open, so you don't have to be more careful. It's a bit like it being proven that new roads with less signage actually have less accidents on them, because people pay more attention.

ilovesooty · 01/02/2017 19:27

19:22 Piglet exactly. All kinds of ridiculous

PlayOnWurtz · 01/02/2017 19:27

And the more road calming measures you put in place (like zebra crossings etc) the more fatal accidents you'll cause.

Original poster
Kjc105 · 01/02/2017 19:28

I certainly wouldn't mind having to walk from the back of the car park but it's just the safety issue that bothers me. If there was a dedicated walkway from the back of the car park where I could safely walk with my child where no cars were speedy by I would have no problem with that whatsoever.

OP posts:
sweetpea75 · 01/02/2017 19:29

Our kids are 8 and 10. We still park in them.

SumAndSubstance · 01/02/2017 19:32

Our local Tesco has the P&C spaces quite a way from the door, but at the end of a safe, wide walkway straight to the shop. It's brilliant - there's always one available. I agree that the point of these spaces is that they are wide, not really that they are right next to the door and I don't understand why so many shops put them there.

Dawndonnaagain · 01/02/2017 19:33

Cue all the posters with mobility issues in 1...2...3.....
Yep, here I am. You know what, those of you who can't manage to get a newborn out of the car and do your shopping. I'm pushing sixty. I get my 5'6" ten and half stone dd out of the car, into her chair and then we do the shopping.

catwoman0815 · 01/02/2017 19:35

I often park there with my 9 year old (autism and severe learning diffs). we cannot get a Blue Badge so this places are usually the safest option for us as they are close to the entrance in our local tesco and sainsbury's.

Original poster
Kjc105 · 01/02/2017 19:35

Dawndonnaagain - do you do this in an ordinary space?

OP posts:
Fallonjamie · 01/02/2017 19:36

Is there a little alert that comes up if we haven't had this discussion for a week or something?

HunterHearstHelmsley · 01/02/2017 19:37

people who have problems with their knees who struggle to walk surely shouldn't be driving or should be dropped by the entrance?

Well, no. It's this sort of attitude that reminds me that my need at the moment is greater and stops me feeling guilty. Those that shouldn't be driving are the ones that don't have the spatial awareness to manage to open a car door to get a baby out without dinking another car.

Mumzypopz · 01/02/2017 19:37

Dedicated walkway!? Goodness me. Parents just need to hold their child's hand and walk carefully like everyone else. Where there are dedicated walkways, like at our local shopping park, people just let their kids run off unsupervised. The walkway is behind parked cars, so cars could easily reverse into them without seeing them. But if parents hold hands with kids until they are old enough to walk sensibly there would be no need for dedicated walkways. I'm with the whole "it's nice, but not a right" view. If I go to our local shopping park and there is a line of empty P and c spaces, I will go in one.

Foxesarefriends · 01/02/2017 19:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Kjc105 · 01/02/2017 19:39

You're so perfect aren't you? Did I say I have ever dinked someone's car? I'm just conscientious enough to be AWARE of it. That is not the main reason for parking in those spaces, it is safer for the children and allows space to move and pack away a buggy.

OP posts:
Redglitter · 01/02/2017 19:39

, why should I be inconvenienced by someone who has a bad knee?

Because you're perfectly capable of walking more of a distance than they are!!!