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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is it ok to use parent and child parking when heavily pregnant

163 replies

Karigan195 · 15/07/2019 14:47

Exactly that really. At 34 weeks. Had several instances of people parking next to me and then not being able to open my car door enough to get in. So far my tricks have been to just park well away from everyone but still had to clamber over passenger seats and on one memorable occasion over the back seats when I could only get in through the sliding door. Obviously all the above is getting harder so would it be unreasonable to just say sod it and park in parent and child?

OP posts:
Vesperia · 15/07/2019 16:38

cars are just bigger these days hence all spaces are too small - imo parking spaces should all just be P&C sized spaces - if anyone's ever shopped at Costco there parking spaces are all van sized & perfect.

ethelfleda · 15/07/2019 16:39

I wouldn’t object OP.
I have a toddler and if you took the last P&C parking space and there wasn’t one left for us, I would not mind one bit Smile

Yabbers · 15/07/2019 16:40

Yep. I’d have no problem with it.

mamansnet · 15/07/2019 16:53

It's ok with me, OP!

I actually put a sign in my car window at 8 months asking people to give me plenty of space to open my door as I was heavily pregnant and might deliberately damage their car by trying to get in mine. Given the state of my own car, they obviously realised I wasn't joking Grin

boosterrooster · 15/07/2019 16:56

Go for it! I have the same issue, people seem to love parking right beside me for some reason.

SquishedPheasant · 15/07/2019 17:00

Sorry going to against the grain here and disagree.

Having a toddler its important I have the space to open my car doors knowing I have the space to get him into the car safely with no damage to mine or anyone elses car. You're an adult and pregnant, need more space park further away simple.

Sirzy · 15/07/2019 17:02

By the argument squished you are also an adult who needs more space so park further away? Simple?

PurpleDaisies · 15/07/2019 17:02

Having a toddler its important I have the space to open my car doors knowing I have the space to get him into the car safely with no damage to mine or anyone else's car.

Why is it not important that the op can get into and out of her car? You could just park further away, as I’m sure you must do in car parks without p and c spaces.

lifeinthedeep · 15/07/2019 17:05

I would if I were you! People underestimate the hindering effect of the bump. I have a 3 door car with long heavy doors and it was absolutely impossible while pregnant.

SoupDragon · 15/07/2019 17:06

Having a toddler its important I have the space to open my car doors knowing I have the space to get him into the car safely with no damage to mine or anyone elses car.

But you also said "need more space park further away simple." Why does that not apply to you?

Pinktinker · 15/07/2019 17:06

I did this too, perfectly acceptable. You are a living, walking example of ‘parent and child’.

SoupDragon · 15/07/2019 17:07

What about when you come back and someone's parked too close for you to get in your car?

SoupDragon · 15/07/2019 17:07

When other parents can't cut a pregnant woman some slack there really is no hope!

Marylou2 · 15/07/2019 17:08

Of course you can! Tell them we said it was OK. I had to get a complete stranger to back my car out of a hospital parking space when I was 9 months as the car next to me had left so little room . A very kind and very slim man just about squeezed in the space so I could go home Smile

BossAssBitch · 15/07/2019 17:12

SoupDragon

Fit and healthy women with children who are able to walk across a car park should not use the

Even if they can't get a car seat in and out?

Eh, why would a car seat need to be removed for a child who can walk? Confused

nokidshere · 15/07/2019 17:15

Yes, you have a baby, don't you, and it's impacting your ability to get in and out of the car. It's the people with school-age children who are taking the mickey.

Our local Tesco and Sainsbury's both clearly state children up to the age of 12.

SoupDragon · 15/07/2019 17:18

why would a car seat need to be removed for a child who can walk?

This is why punctuation is important. I read it as being the women who could walk across the car park.

cloudyinjune · 15/07/2019 17:23

I was told to do this by my physio and at the hospital.
My PGP was so severe I had to get out of the car with a full door and they told me to.

cloudyinjune · 15/07/2019 17:24

*full open door Grin

Yabbers · 15/07/2019 17:24

As long as it’s not a disabled space then park wherever makes life easier!

With the number of people who misuse these spaces, particularly in areas where there are loads, as a blue badge space user I’d be happy enough to see a heavily pregnant person use a BB space.

SquishedPheasant · 15/07/2019 17:25

Why should I put my toddler at risk walking across a busy car park because theres people without children or children over the age of 10 using the bays?

Sirzy · 15/07/2019 17:26

If you can’t safely walk your child through a car park then the risk isn’t other people it’s the parenting!

SesameSam · 15/07/2019 17:29

Absolutely fine by me. I did it and would do it again.

PurpleDaisies · 15/07/2019 17:32

Why should I put my toddler at risk walking across a busy car park because theres people without children or children over the age of 10 using the bays?

Again, what do you do in places without p and c spaces?

LegionOfDoom · 15/07/2019 17:32

Well i did from around 5 months when I was pregnant with my twins. Even when dd wasn’t with me. I was huge and couldn’t get out of a normal space as it was just too tight.