Parent parking question

[m0therofdragons]

Last week I took my dc and their friends to the local supermarket after school to pick their pizza for tea. I had my three dc (dd1 11yo and dtds 7) plus friends aged 11 and another 7yo. When we arrived there were lots of parent spaces that go along either side of a walkway.

I haven't used parent spaces for years as my 3 can do their own straps etc but on this occasion I decided that the number of dc meant I could justify using one (plus there were at least 15 others available). It meant I felt the dc would be safer and give me more control over the excited 7yos. The signs don't have an age limit on them.

I'm curious what others think. Are my dc too old for me to use the space? What's your cut off?

Toddler age for me so yes yabu

My limit was when they no longer needed strapping in. I feel no sorrow using them when I have my 6yo and mother with me, as she has mobio problems but not bad enough for blue badge but the extra space is a massive help for her getting out of the car.

I think they are just really for people who are getting car seats in and out of cars and who need to strap children in unless the children are not NT and need extra safety precautions.

Parent and child is parent and child. Doesn't specify age. As long as you can reasonably call them a child.

Also, there were lots of spaces. I'd maybe be less inclined if there was only one left.

@popcorndiva tbh I didn't bother with them with one toddler until the twins were born, then they were a life saver. Spaces a parent and child spaces not parent and toddler if that makes a difference.

I think once you stop having to strap them in you have no need to use them

There are no legal restrictions to stop you (like there are with disabled spaces) and there were plenty of spaces if there was a sudden influx of parents with tiny children, so I don’t think you were being unreasonable. You made a judgement based on keeping the children you had with you safe, and you didn’t put anyone else out, so it’s fine.

I don't think it would have crossed my mind if there were only a couple of spaces but the non parent and dc spaces meant crossing 3 car park roads so it was a safety consideration. I was also worried about doors being flung open as my car is wide. I probably was a bit u though.

I always thought the extra space was so you can open the doors wider to reach in and help with car seats / get car seat out. I just don't know why they would help with 7yo being excited. Surely it's the same issue anywhere in the car park?

If it makes life easier then park there.

It was pretty selfish , obviously they are meant for pre schoolers at the oldest unless SEN.

Signs at both my local Asda's and Tesco say 12 years or under so you'd be fine here 😊

I’ve just googled it and apparently most supermarkets have the cut off at 12 so you were totally fine. Common sense prevails!

My youngest dc are 7,6, 5,5 dts and 4 and my dh doesn’t use parent and child.
I use a disabled space.

I don't care in the slightest, tbh! I mean that kindly. I can see Y OP felt safer in shepherding a large brood from the P+Ch parking. She qualified according to the usual rules (had < 12s with her).

I think 12 is ridiculous unless the children have additional needs.

I saw a lady using one today. No children. No disability as there we're plenty of disabled parking places left yet she took the last child parking space available. That is using it when you shouldn't!

Seeing a parent with 7yo children wouldn't bother me.

My youngest dc are 7,6, 5,5 dts and 4 and my dh doesn’t use parent and child

No one is dishing out medals for people not using something they are allowed to.

I saw a lady using one today. No children. No disability as there we're plenty of disabled parking places left yet she took the last child parking space available

Not all disabilities mean you have a blue badge. In fact they are very hard to get. In which case a p and c space may be the best bet to make an otherwise impossible or very painful shopping trip possible

As there were plenty of other spaces, it's fine.

Children in groups get silly and there was a safety concern that using the parking space solved.

No one is dishing out medals for people not using something they are allowed to.
Indeed however anyone is allowed to use parent and child they are not like disabled spaces. However it’s very selfish to use them with healthy 7 year olds.

The ones round here are 12 and under, so would be fine!

I'll still be using them when DD is 7. They're nearer door and fewer roads to cross. They aren't parent and baby, they're parent and child.

You had two 7 year olds with you, I think that's fine.

I have a baby and I always pull people up who are using p&c when they shouldn't be as it really annoys me, but I wouldn't bat an eyelid at you.

Just two 11 year olds and I'd think you were out of order.

I'd argue you still need that wider space when kids are getting into the car themselves. I'm paranoid mine will open a car door into a car next door.