It's a parent and child parking one

[meow1989]

Fully prepared to be told IABU, and I wasn't actually affected so I probably am.

Pulled into a supermarket earlier where there was one parent and child parking space left. Just before me, a hatchback pulled into it, half over the dashed lines so I had to park in a regular space, of which there were a few, (hatchback relevant as not a huge 4x4 that wouldn't fit in a space). Regular spaces weren't too bad to be fair so although to get pram and ds our in car seat I had to be mindful and careful with doors and wait for the car next to me to get in out etc I was able to manage.

The car that had parked in the last space was occupied by a mother, a teenage girl and a boy of 5 or six in a school uniform (well behaved).

AIBU to think that if you have children of an age where they do not require equipment to be out and about then you don't need to take the last parent and child space? Also that the spaces are massive and there's no reason to park half in, half over the lines?

Like I say, it didn't actually affect my day much, but things like this irrationally annoy me. Totally aware it's a first world problem and that I must not have enough to worry about.

I wish places would get rid of them or put them in the back next to the walkway.

Strapping a well-behaved five year old into a car seat requires the door to be opened to exactly the same degree as a naughty 4 year old.

You were annoyed about a parent and child using a parent and child space? Really?

YABU

Unless you know the child, you were only guesstimating their age. They might’ve been a tall three year old.

And you have no idea if that child (or the older child or the parent) has any hidden disabilities.

Even if everything you assumed is true it’s not really unreasonable to use a P&C space with a five year old.

I had to park slightly over the box today as the person next to me had parked half into the box lines meaning if i parked in the lines like normali wouldn't be able to open ny door fully. When i came back another car was in that space properly making it look as if i was parking like a dick. I was also parked in a parent and child space eith my kids 13 and 7 as there where no disabled bays left.

Everyone seems to have a different expectations of how P&C spaces should be used, and it often seems to be based on a belief that other people's situations must be easier than theirs. I was once shouted at for parking on one when I was carrying my baby in a sling rather than a pram, apparently I "didn't need the space".

I think anyone who has a children under 12 or so might need the space.

A 5 year old? Of course it's ok. My 5 year old is pretty good but I always park in p&c if they are available. I worry incase he swings his door open. Sometimes I need the door open wide in order to strap him in. I also would rather not drag a young child across a busy carpark if I can park much closer.

Part of the reason for the spaces is to protect other car owners as some children like mine are prone to throwing open the doors too much and denting the next car a bit

We continue the child spaces anymore, the youngest is 6 years old and I expect him to behave in a car park. I haven't used one of those spaces since he started school.

Typo...we don't use the spaces

It's parent and child I still use them with my ten yo if the parking a available I'll use it 🙌 I am a parent with a child

You also need the extra width to strap a young child in. My ASD child at age 9 almost 10 still can't reliably strap themselves in.
A 5 yo is perfectly acceptable in that space.

YABU, she still had a young child with her.

You'd be livid if you lived near me. The P&C spaces are always full of people with no kids, old people or guys who don't want their 2005 lowered Seat Leon with go faster stripes on to get scratched.

She was not unreasonable to use the space with a child. She was I reasonable to not park tidily.
My daughter is 7. Depending on circumstances, I sometimes use child spaces, other times I don't. Tesco is under 5 so I don't (even though my short 7 Yr old might pass for 5).
Multi story in town hasn't got many p+c so I find a space with another empty space by the side or tell my daughter to wait for me to open the door before getting out.
Sainsbury's there tends to be spaces free, so if it is just her and I, I will use them.
My daughter is older than some who use them, and can get in and out of the car herself, but is short and so often leans on the door when getting in and out, which can mean the door swings open.

Once you don't need to take a car seat out or harness them in, move somewhere else (so around age 4).

To use them when your children are at school is taking the piss.

I use them now and then with my 8 year old if I have a particular reason. My bug bear is families that park there when only one adult gets out to shop. You don’t need the space then

Parent and Child spaces are for people who need the extra door space to open them fully to load/unload toddlers and babies in to car seats and prams/trolleys.
Not 5/6/7yr olds upwards who can get in and out fine on their own.

Don't be a lazy, cuntish, cheeky fucker and use them just because your kid is young enough to wear a school uniform.

@Looneytune253 you're a cf if you still use them with a bloody 8yr old. How lazy are you?!

@Howhot how about get out the car before him and hold the door to stop that from happening, like you should be doing anyway?

OP I feel your annoyance. It's sacrilege on MN to have an issue with P&C spaces but in reality it is super annoying to have some arsehole take a space that doesn't need it. In my mind, P&C spaces are for parents that have children in car seats that they need to get out. Everyone else should park in regular spaces.

Parent a child spaces are for parents and children. There is no 'law' about who they are for. They are not for parents who need to get the car seat out. They aren't for parents who exclusively have non-walking children. They are for parents and children.I have a 2 year old who can walk perfectly fine, so can I not use them? I also don't get his car seat out of the vehicle. I like the space so I can open my door fully to unbuckle him. My DN is 5 (just) and still rear facing and my DSis still likes to open to door to undo the harness.

@alphabravo its not an issue for me now as DS knows better but thanks for the advice 👌

But at 8 months pregnant I'm not going to start parking elsewhere now.

As others have pointed out, OP, you don't know what needs other people's children might have so you shouldn't assume or judge. That said, I haven't used P&C spaces since DS2 was a pre-schooler and I think people using them when they have older children who have no additional needs are probably just lazy CFs!

YANBU. My local supermarket has labelled the spaces “parent and toddler” to prevent people using them when they really don’t need to.