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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parent and child parking spaces confusion!

53 replies

bumblebeesaremyfave · 05/09/2017 18:27

I'm new to all of this so would appreciate some opinions. I was of the understanding the parent spaces were wider purely for the purposes of getting babies/young children into their car seats safely and having the space to have the pram/pushchair next to you rather than behind the car.
I understand that disabled drivers can use them- which I agree with but why would parents with children who aren't in a car seat need the spaces? Surely unless they have a blue badge they shouldn't be parking there?

OP posts:
MsMommie · 05/09/2017 18:32

Not all children need car seats. They're still children.

Fairylea · 05/09/2017 18:32

I sometimes park there with my son who has autism. He doesn't qualify for a blue badge but needs the space as I have to open the door wide to put him in his car seat and do up his sealt belt and sometimes he has meltdowns which means he can bang the door open too wide and would bash into neighbouring cars. We have appealed for a blue badge under severely mentally impaired criteria but they have made this virtually impossible to claim under. For reference my son is 5 and the size of a 7/8 year old and has severe autism. He attends special school.

Spikeyball · 05/09/2017 18:39

A child can be in a car seat until they are 12. Some older children still need help getting into the car and being fastened in and may use a buggy or wheelchair ie the same needs as younger children but this doesn't make them eligible for a blue badge and so cannot use a bb space.

paxillin · 05/09/2017 18:39

It is up to the individual provider to come up with and clearly state the rules.

Original poster
bumblebeesaremyfave · 05/09/2017 18:39

@Fairylea that definitely makes sense. I hope they get your blue badge sorted for you. I'm ashamed to say that thought hadn't crossed my mind.

OP posts:
flumpybear · 05/09/2017 18:41

My understanding is they're a courtesy from the shop and not subjected to rules like disabled spaces
I use them with my kids still, 8 and 5 as they're safer spaces for getting to and from the shop - usually - plus kids often bang the door into neighbouring cars Shock

Spikeyball · 05/09/2017 18:43

Mine also has very aggressive behaviour when he has a meltdown and space is needed to avoid getting hurt. He didn't get a bb till he was 10.

Wolfiefan · 05/09/2017 18:45

Fairy why on earth can't you get a blue badge?! That's awful. Of course you need the space. How stressful.
My youngest is 7. I don't use them. Haven't for ages. She's won't bolt across the car park and is capable of walking. I park in a quieter bit of the car park at the end of a row if I want more space and then walk. Leave the p and c spaces for those with an infant in a bloody great car seat or recovering from c section.

zzzzz · 05/09/2017 18:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sharklovers · 05/09/2017 18:49

YABU. Anyone can park in a P&C space.

mimblewimble · 05/09/2017 18:49

I looked this up the other day as I wasn't sure if there were rules on it. The consensus seemed to be primary school age is fine.

My kids are 8 and 6. I don't often use them these days, but do sometimes, for the reasons flumpybear said.

Justforthisposttoday · 05/09/2017 19:00

I use them and my youngest is 5yo. I was worrying about how long I could continue to use them. As I need to be park very close to the shops as my bowel illness means I have accidents if I am too far away from a toilet. I have had to abandoned full shopping trolley and still had problems getting to the toilet in the actual shop !

If they are just a courtesy like flumpybear said, I might continue using them. Even without the kids. After all I can't use the shop without a close space.

Fairylea · 05/09/2017 19:00

Thank you for your kind comments. We have appealed and appealed but apparently because my son enjoys social situations (ie enjoys being around other children) he doesn't fit one specific criteria of the rules required for higher rate mobility dla which would give us a blue badge. I wish the dwp would realise that because a child can be interested in others it doesn't mean they aren't severely cognitively impaired! Even a baby likes to look at faces! Hmm It's complicated but that's one of the reasons they gave.

It's very stressful when I'm out in public with him. I love him to the moon and back but his behaviour is very unpredictable.

elfinpre · 05/09/2017 19:04

You should always check the terms and conditions of the particular car park. Local Sainsbury's says kids up to age 12.

MsPassepartout · 05/09/2017 19:07

Parent and child spaces are often placed next to pedestrian walkways in supermarket car parks. Makes it a bit safer getting an older child from the car to the shop, especially if the child hasn't got much road sense.

notarehearsal · 05/09/2017 19:11

Must say I've often wondered about this when watching parents and lanky clearly teenage 'children' getting out of the car

Bambamber · 05/09/2017 19:14

A lot of car parks specificy an age up to which the spaces are supposed to be used for. Often I see up to age of 12

ManTheBarricades · 05/09/2017 19:39

This reminds me of something I was thinking of the other day - what time is it ok to use a P&C space at night? If I go to the supermarket at 9pm and it's dark I would use it. I've noticed that they're always empty, so clearly some people don't agree.

WeAllHaveWings · 05/09/2017 19:39

All you need to know is, if there is an empty space and you have a younger child then park. Otherwise myob what others are doing.

TidyDancer · 05/09/2017 19:47

P&C spaces are a marketing tactic not a right. Park there if you fancy it, everyone has an equal right.

PurpleDaisies · 05/09/2017 19:51

This reminds me of something I was thinking of the other day - what time is it ok to use a P&C space at night? If I go to the supermarket at 9pm and it's dark I would use it.

Why does the time of day make any difference? If you have a reason to use one, just go for it. If not, surely at 9pm there are lots of free spaces anyway?

ElizabethShaw · 05/09/2017 19:51

I have three supermarkets in town - one has parent and child spaces, one has parent and toddler, one specifies under 12s.

blackteasplease · 05/09/2017 19:53

I wouldn't use it if just with my 8yr old although she is still on a booster (she's 135cm).

Beginning not to use them with 3 yo either as he's getting too old for their to be a real need.

Sometimes I find them more hassle than they are worth and prefer to park in first space I come to, further from the doors.

But I like them as a concept in general. I found them.most useful when dd and then ds were in the maxi cosi thing that you take out of car in it's entirety (the 00 seat?) because there is more space.

blackteasplease · 05/09/2017 19:54

Can't believe some places say up.to 12! I thought it was pre school.

missadasmith · 05/09/2017 19:58

but why would parents with children who aren't in a car seat need the spaces? Surely unless they have a blue badge they shouldn't be parking there?

you clearly have no idea how hard it is to get a BB.
I have a DD with ASD and severe LD. zero road danger awareness. extremely impulsive etc. She will need life long 24/7 care care due to the severity of her difficulties. yet we do not have a BB. Government changed the regulations and now those with LD and/or Add cannot get BB anymore if they have 2 functioning legs.

I can assure you, OP, that I need this space so much more than someone with a baby who can easy park elsewhere.

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