I parked in the parent and child without a baby today.

[StephenQueenBooks]

It's not what you think.

I was meeting my brother with my new nephew (7 weeks!) In town so I went into one of the P&C spaces because I know after this shop we would be going to a few others.

Get out of the car and walking around the Asda waiting for him he tells me he's not coming. I went straight back to the car and did a walk of shame back with no baby. I saw a woman packing a toddler into a car a few spaces down give me a look.

Wibu? I genuinely was going to have a baby come back to the car and then didn't! I felt a bit bad in the end.

Well - no of course you weren't BU.

I'd have said something to you if I'm honest. I hate when people park there with no car seat aged child. Bloody difficult getting them in and out in a normal space. You should have just parked in a normal space and if you were taking your brothers child elsewhere with your brother, you could have moved the car to allow your brother to get the baby in

The reason I was in there was because of the difficulty getting the car seat in. He has one of those pram things with the car seat attached so we were going to have to fit the car seat in completely, not just get the baby in the car. We couldn't do all that in a normal space.

I felt bad because I ended up not picking him and the baby up so I wasted time in the space.

What did people do before P&C spaces? They managed, that's what. I managed so why cant people do it now? I tend not to use them nor do I park in disabled bays, however if I needed to I would park in P&C, if it was the the only space available & I wouldn't like to be the person who said something to me about it because they'd be very sorry. It's not the law, it's a convenience, a little customer service. A real 1st world problem

Of course YANBU. I always park in P&C spaces if they’re available. I’ve bedn told off before by busybodies but it’s not like they’re disabled spots.

Jay I agree in them being customer service, I think having them at the back would be best to avoid people misusing them.

I went in the space because I have a little 3 door Corsa! I love it but she isn't easy to get in and out the back of, never mind with a big baby carrier.

Don't give it a second thought. Those people will have forgotten about it by now.

Dont worry about it. You weren't to know he wasnt coming

YANBU but that woman had no idea of your situation, from her perspective you were probably just another CF hence the Look

birdlawyer I can completely appreciate that

Wouldn't think twice about it. See it everyday. Cars parking no children, no rear child seats. It isn't actually illegal to use those spaces without a child. Some car parks stipulate parent and for child under 12. Can see why folk ignore these as 12 is a bit old to be needing assistance getting in and out of a car unless special needs.

I wouldnt worry about that, even if they looked at you in a way, you honestly thought you were going to come back with child.
My father once came to pick me up and parked in child section and came into waitrose to find me, on the way in from the car park he got abuse from a woman with child, as he took the last available space. He walked up to me and she saw him pick up my dd. I hurled abuse back at her because I'm ghetto at times lol especially when it comes to family and staff in waitrose had to explain to the lady that regardless that theyre mother and child spots, it's not illegal for anyone to park there if they like, it's just bad manners if you have no child.
I don't think any harm was done if you came out when you found out and left. It's no ones business, regardless if person parking honestly has a child, or is just an a-hole without child. It's like disabled toilets, some people go in as there's a shorter queue or it's more comfortable and those that need it have to wait.

You couldn’t have known your brother would pull out of the meeting though. I honestly wouldn’t give this a second thought!

Yanbu. Don't sweat it.

Ignore it.

You could have been pregnant and unwell.

You could have a hidden disability and not had your blue badge yet/on you.

There are loads of reasons why you parked there.

Incidentally I have child seats in my car but rarely take any child to the supermarket. In theory I could park in the P&C spaces without them but never do.

When I have children with me the P&C spaces are full but the rest of the car park is fairly empty so I park far away from the shop door in two spaces. In the one supermarket I can't do that I know the 7 spaces I can use that I can get them in and out.

Yabu, I don't think you needed a p&c space if it was just load the child in at the end and you had your brothers help, I guarantee someone else would have needed it more than you. I'd have given you a look too.

Tigerlily you must be an incredibly selfish person to park in p&c spaces if you don't have kids, do you not have any empathy for anyone else or do you think you're needs are more important than anyone else.

Last week had to go to supermarket, I've got an 18 month old, and a 4 year old and I'm 38 weeks pregnant. Every p&c space taken. Had to carry 18 month old on one side whilst holding hand of 4 year old across carpark. It was only a 3 / 4 min walk but was very hard and had pain in my pelvis afterwards.

I'm not comparing my level of need with someone who's disabled, and I'm sure someone will come along in a minute to tell me it was my choice to have 3 children and / or visit a supermarket (oh the audacity).

But it would be really nice if people considered whether they really need the p&c space before using them (certainly if you've actually not even got children but also if you've got older children).

I can't stand the attitude toward P&C spaces.

Going out with kids is harder than without - FACT. So there's a little something to make life a bit easier when you park.

No one gives a flying fuck if Sharon Smartarse managed without them in the dinosaur years. They're here now so don't be a twat and use them if you don't need them!

OP YWNBU as you thought you were picking up a child. If plans change, it's unlikely anyone would go back and move their car. C'est la vie.

@PavlovaFaith totally agree, also there were far less cars years ago and so the ‘normal’ spaces were probably the size of bloody parent and child now. Now the ‘normal’ spaces are crammed in to accommodate as many cars as possible, it’s ridiculous.

@PavlovaFaith completely agree with you. I don't understand the attitude about this issue on Mumsnet. I use them withDS if they are available. Helps make it easier and safer to get him in and out of the car. If one is free I use it.

When he was 2m old I went out and used a normal space at a retail park. I got back to the car and someone had parked so close to my car I couldn't open his door at all. Someone else on the other side was again so close I couldn't get him in that way. I ended up in tears trying to work out what to do, eventually a kind old lady stood by the pram whilst I moved the car out of the space so I could get him in. Then an impatient man started beeping at me to move whilst I was putting him in his seat and folding the pram away. I didn't go out the shops with him again in the car for weeks. For a new mum things like that can be really upsetting and knock their confidence.

And I think @Tigerlily86 is incredibly selfish to do what you say you do and apparently not give a hoot what others think.

moonage even with my brother there, in a normal space we couldn't squeeze the car seat between my car and another to get it in the back of my three door. that's why I parked there.

If Sharon Smartarse managed years ago why can’t Wendy Whingebag today?

All this angst because a woman a few spaces down 'gave you a look'?

Blimey.

I don't think you were being particularly unreasonable. However there is only really an issue getting a car seat in and out if you are on your own with a baby as if there is a driver and another adult you can move the car out long enough to fit the seat in.

I've only been driving about two months worra I worry about how i do anything and if it's okay haha

YANBU. My mam drives around with my ds car seat in her car and when she's picking me up she parks in p&c spaces and if someone says anything to her she brings me to come out and prove there is a child, it's ridiculous. I don't agree with random people parking in them and I also think where they are positioned is best as my toddler loves to walk so it's much safer than walked across a whole car park. People just need to open their eyes and use spaces properly and then people who need the space would be more understanding in your situation then and not jump the gun.