Would you park in a parent and child space if...

[BabyNameDilemma]

It was after 8:30pm and you were 34 weeks pregnant. Asking for a friend

I needed parent and child spaces way more when I was pregnant than I do now I have a baby. Firstly, I was huge and secondly, I invariably needed a wee so badly that walking a long way across the car park would have been torture (usually go to the supermarket after a 45 minute-1 hour drive back from work). Now I’m not pregnant, I’ll happily walk from one end of the car park to another and usually use a sling so find even fairly tight spaces doable!

Yes - at that time of night when most youngsters are in bed (or should be by the norm, not exceptional circumstances of course) and there are plenty of spaces.

In the daytime - never ever. Not even if all of them were free and I had to drive all the way around to the next lot and it was raining. I just don't/won't. Having said that heavily pregnant and in the day, not every time but in the last few weeks of pg and with excess fluid and SPD then yes I would/did. I think most other parking parents would understand that (rather than the entitled single bloke who is clearly not pg van driver types with no kids, or the 4x4 drivers again with no kids with them.

34-is weeks or less and in fine health and normal enough bump size and no problems walking anywhere, then no.

As a side note, I find it far more infuriating when people who have children who are perfectly capable of unbuckling themselves and walking to and from the car unaided use parent and child spaces. If you have a (NT) 10 year old you do not need a P&C space. You are just lazy.

No, it wouldn't be that busy at that time. Just park in a normal space.

I do, it's closer to the shop, I'm heavily pregnant with a huge baby and need the door wide open to try and hoist myself out of the car. I can't do that in regular spaces and I guarantee someone always parks next to me when I do park in a quiet area.

For those saying they use the space to save their cars being dented. This makes you a selfish twat as that means someone with child has to park in a normal space meaning they have to open their door wider to sort child out (either getting car seat in and out or strapping child into a complicated car seat required by law) this means said person will probably scratch the neighbouring car.

That's what p&c is for. So yes those parents that also use them because they have older children (8+) unless with additional needs to are also selfish.

And I don't want to hear any crap about "leave a parent at home with child" as that is not always possible. E.g. single mum, subject to controlling relationship, risk of child abuse so mum doesn't want to leave kid, partner working, other commitments, might be only time mum and baby get out.

Also home delivery isn't always great as the substitution or selection of fresh stuff isn't always good.

I too wish p&c was further away as it being close to the shop is not the purpose.

And if people didn't use car parks as a race track then there wouldn't be so much danger with a child getting out of the car in a normal space.

Our asda recently redid the car park and put a double line between each space making them a little wider.

Yes I would park there. It’s 8.30 at night, surely most children should be in bed?

Yes.
And if someone with children objects, criticise them for having young children out after bed time and say that you, as a responsible almost-parent would never do that. Quote a fictitious authority to back you up. Give them something else to huff about.
Who is more parent with child than a pregnant woman?

No

Absolutely not.

This will be the woman still parking there with an 11 and13 year old.

I take umbrage to people using them for perfectly mobile children over the age of 8,

I take umbrage with people who can't understand mobility is not the only factor.

Totally. Even if I wasn't pregnant tbh, the p&c spaces are always empty at my usual shops after about 8pm

I wish all car park spaces were like those in Costco warehouse with plenty of room to open doors for everyone.

I never park in a disabled space but if I go to a supermarket at or after 10 p.m. I will happily park in a M&C space as I consider that past the time little ones are in bed

Totally fine if you're heavily pregnant. I have a DC and probably stopped using P&C spaces when they were about 6. I tend to park as far away as possible now (as I don't like negotiating small spaces with someone waiting behind me - makes me nervous and I can't manage to park), and we walk the distance to the door. I was massive when pregnant and struggled to walk !

Yes. Didn't pregnant women used to be referred to as 'with child'.

@MaybeitsMaybelline I admire your clairvoyant skills if you can tell what sort of woman I will be in 11 years.

For the record, I already have 1 DC and I know what it's like to have to climb in with him through the boot because some bellend has parked too close for me to lift him in.

I wouldn't use them during the day. At my local supermarket there are 12 p&c spaces which are usually empty after dark and it seems silly to waddle past them.

I do at night when I’m on my own.

At 9pm in Tesco in a fairly deserted carpark, I find it unlikely that 20+ parents with kids are all about to turn up and need the spaces

Yep. Having recently experienced trying to get into the car with leg in a cast and being unable to open the door wide enough I would honestly park in a parent and child with a large bump without any hesitation. Car parking spaces are getting smaller and smaller I feel.