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 still need to open my Y1 daughter's car door wide to be able to lean over and do up her seat belt so YABU.

Some people appear to very judgemental of others, and assume their needs outweigh other peoples.

Age is not the only judging factor. My daughter is of an age that most of you would say shouldn't use a child space. She can get in and out of the car herself. However due to her lack of height and her seat being there needs the car door to be open wider to get in and sometimes leans on the door in the process.

A number of you appear to have judged someone like me lazy, cuntish and cheeky. I am far from that. Anyone that knows me would say I am more than considerate of others, and have brought my daughter up that way too.
I appreciate that someone may get more benefit from it than me, but that doesn't mean I should automatically not use that space if I meet the criteria given in that car park. I do realise their needs though and park at the bottom end of the car park, which is a bit further from the door so that someone with a toddler doesn't have to go as far.

It is difficult with a baby (moving a car seat in and out for a travel system etc) and I’ll be honest it did used to annoy me seeing 10 year olds hopping out of the car in the spaces I needed when I was in that situation, in busy car parks. However, having read this thread I realise I was BU at that point, as I didn’t consider additional circumstances. I have a 2 and 1/2 year old, and a 7 year old, and have always tried for the last year or so now onward to not use the spaces, instead I seek out end of row or by a break for a path etc spaces so that I have room for the toddler to get in and out but to leave the parent child in case another parent needs it more than me. Can’t do anything other than slightly fume if you want to dwell on it though OP, they aren’t a law thing just a courtesy so nothing could be enforced regarding them anyway as far as I am aware

34w pregnant and I use these spaces from time to time.

@cryingwithlaughter you could have done the exact same thing when you needed to get your car seat in and out the car though...

5 year old is fine to park in P&C. I strap my five year old in rather than let him do it himself as I want to be sure he’s safe. This require the door to be wiiiide open, hence then need for P&C

As previous posters a 5 year old will probably be in a big car seat so needs the extra room to open doors. YABU.

I did get the rage the other day and tell a motorbike parked in the middle of a parent and child space to jog on though. He started to tell me he had a child in the shop (he didn’t), saw my face and decided to move his bike.

I always park in them with my mum. I'm 38 but I will always be here baby.

Kidding 😂

My DD is of school age (4), and she still has to sit in a car seat, they are supposed to until at least 6 I believe, so we still need a parent and child parking space, as I can't fasten her in otherwise, crossing the car park isn't really a problem for us, but if I am in a regular space and some numpty parks over the line into my space I really struggle to lean in and fasten her in as I have a bad back.

YABU as you found out OP :)

I park in P&C spaces when they are available which is pretty much all the time in supermarkets. When we can’t get a space like that I tend to park further away so we don’t have anyone parking near us. My kids are 5,6 and 10. My youngest can’t do his belt up yet, he’s quite small, you might take him for a three or four year old and he doesn’t have the strength or dexterity to put the belt into the clip thing.

I don’t think I’ve ever taken my pram into a supermarket if I drove there. I’ve either put the car seat in those special trolleys, baby in the seat or popped them in a wrap. So to be honest it wouldn’t occur to me that someone with a baby might need to set their pram up. It is a bit of a mission though when you have several kids trying to get them in an out and hold on to one or two whilst you get the other out lol.

I think as long as we are considerate and stick to that particular car parks rules regarding the spaces (age 6,age 12 and under, etc) then it’s all good :) even if we think a parent and a lone 11 year old shouldn’t be using the spaces lol.

Someone’s child might have SN and they might need the space more than you.

I parked in them when DD was 11 and had broken her leg. Because she was in a full leg cast and it was a nightmare otherwise.

@Vampiratequeen children in the uk require a car seat until 12 years old

Thesnobbymiddleclassone actually children 3 and over are allowed to take short journeys without a car seat if that car doesn’t have one

I know they needed a booster until then wasn't sure on the actual car seat. My DD's is suitable up to 11 anyway so was going to use it until then.

I park in them with my 5 year old. She is disabled and gets Disability Living Allowance, but doesn't qualify for a blue badge (gets lower rate mobility). She's on the 14th centile for height and weight & needs help getting down safely from the car seat, and her brain damage means she has no impulse control, risk awareness or understanding of consequences, so bolts in a random direction as soon as her feet touch the ground (bit like the daughter in "There She Goes" who spotted an X across the road & just ran without checking it was safe).

@Biancadelriosback I did say in BUSY car parks. Those spaces aren’t always available. It’s easier now, not needing such a wide angle, in the car parks that I personally use. When I say the break for a path it’s fenced so not wide enough for a car seat to be taken in and out, but enough for a toddler to squeeze in with supervision. And the end spaces aren’t easy to find as staff often take them where I am. I did when I could find them use those spaces back in the baby days too but what I’m saying is that it was annoying when hey were all taken and I had nowhere. But if you read my post in full you will see I said that it’s only a courtesy thing and that I also hadn’t considered additional needs, so not sure why the come back on me was needed there

The Sainsbury's near me says that parent and child spaces are for adults with children under 12. Five, I'd say fair enough but 12???!!!

Mumsnet is such a eye opener. I had no clue supermarket car parks were full of self appointed parking monitors people assessing the size and age of my children when I’m legitimately parking my car in a p&c space

My personal view was that the P & C spaces were for those who needed extra width , so those with car seats to get out, prams to park safely, or pregnant women who might struggle in a smaller space.
If your child can get in and out of their seat unaided, can open and close a door unaided, and can walk unaided, there is no reason to park in a p & c space. If you're afraid they'll bang the door into a next door car, you leave the child locks on and open the door for them. Or teach them to open the door carefully.
Lazy parenting is not a good reason to be unmindful of others.

They were fine to use it. As long as they have a primary-aged child I wouldn't be bothered. And I've seen plenty of older people use them, not bothered by that either.

I don't tend to use them when I'm out with just my very sensible 6yo. I would use them with my 2yo (and probably will when she's 10 because she's a loose cannon) and baby as the space and proximity make it easier.

There is no age limit for reasonable use. Even over 12 is fine if needs warrant it as some 13 year olds may have more need for it than some 3 year olds.

They're not "Parent and Naughty Child" spaces. To be honest I don't really think the spaces are necessary anyway (I say that as a parent of young children) but of course I'd use one if it was available! But obviously you can't start saying which children do or do not qualify for a space 😂

I have a 4yr old and a 7yr old and still use them, they have in the past flung their doors open and hit my dads car, that was bad enough but at least my dad didn't charge us for the damage!! I'd hate for them to do it to a strangers car!

My 4yr old isn't always well behaved either.

@cryingwithlaughter because parent and child spaces are exclusively for parents who need to get their car seat in and out. They are primarily for parents with children. Your post reads that you still think that this is the case.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers only in an emergency?