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AIBU?

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Original poster

Parent and child spaces

40 replies

Wuzzle85 · 21/01/2020 13:44

Looking for a general consensus here- at what age to stop using parent and child spaces.
I’ve been out running errands today with my 6 month old son, which has included multiple stops. At two of the places I have been unable to park in parent and child spaces as all have been taken. I ended up parking further away so I can open my door fully and get my son out his seat. I don’t mind this and accept it it is part and parcel. However both times as I was either leaving or arriving have come across parents using the spaces with older children. Both cases the children were old enough/big enough not be in car seats and on both occasions sat in the front seat- both around 10 plus. Now I always looked older than I was as a child so can appreciate that I could be over estimating their age or there could be other reasons (ie disabled child needing the space etc) but just wondered what the general consensus as to when is appropriate to stop using a parent and child space and when is it just taking the mick.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wuzzle85 · 21/01/2020 14:08

@PumpkinP
I’m sorry that you are not entitled to one. I honestly think you should be. Like I said because of knowing others in circumstances like yours I try not to judge and never comment on it but it is frustrating when you see the spaces abused. I had never considered it from a locality point of view before. Just the need for space to open the door so thanks for that.

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 21/01/2020 14:09

I haven't used them with my kids for quite a while (youngest is six, they help each other with seat belts, and I park at back of car park for more space). They don't need the benefits of them.
I park in one with my mother (and kids) because she struggles getting in and out my car, walks with a crutch and needs more space. I wish there were special spaces for the elderly.

claireyjs · 21/01/2020 14:11

Legally kids 11 and under are allowed to use them.

Curiosity101 · 21/01/2020 14:14

I don’t need to be closer to the shops

This is something I've always wondered about. I'm surprised they don't put some of the parent and child bays further from the main entrance. For some parents who literally just need the extra wide space it'd be just as useful, and in theory they'd be more likely to be free cause they're less convenient in terms of distance to the entrance.

TheCakeCrusader · 21/01/2020 14:15

I have 2 older children who have ASD who can both become very anxious in situations where they are not able to get in and out of a car with sufficient space around them. They might ‘look’ like neurotypical children but unless you know them, you will have no idea of what continued heightened anxieties are continually going on and how this can then impact on their behaviour/ repetitive thoughts for the rest of the day. Whilst I generally try not to park in the P&C places now that they are older, if I’m unable to find a space with enough room either side or there are no other available regular spaces, then I do park in these areas to avoid my children starting to visibly fret and become anxious.

🙁

Serendipity79 · 21/01/2020 14:16

Its not necessarily an age thing. If I only have one of my small kids in the car I probably don't need one, and I'm not fazed if one isn't free. If I have both of them in the car then I try and get one if poss. My small ones are 3 and 6 and trying to keep one still while you sort the other out is a nightmare.

For me its about safety, although in one supermarket nearby I prefer to park in a space far from the store as the parent and child spaces are right next to the main route in and out of the car park. The kids are safer away from that road, no matter how wide the parking space might be.

Dandelion1993 · 21/01/2020 14:30

I stopped once my eldest was 3 and didn't need to have to dorr so wide open and had a ff seat I could reach easily to harness up.

AryaStarkWolf · 21/01/2020 14:32

YABU

Dandelion1993 · 21/01/2020 14:32

I only use them if I have my baby (11 months) with me.

Hoik · 21/01/2020 14:38

Legally kids 11 and under are allowed to use them.

Legally anyone can use them as they're simply a courtesy.

Lunafortheloveogod · 21/01/2020 14:39

I don’t care about anyone with a child using them. Even if the kids older, I’d rather the child didn’t throw the door open n damage the car next to them.. also knowing we can’t see every disability and I’d assume the parents themselves can use their own discretion on if they still need it.

What I can’t stand is single people.. men and women.. with not even a hint of a child (looking at you Mr 2seaterporsche) who park there because they don’t want a scratch or ding or to walk an extra 10feet. Especially the fuckers who park squint in them!

Last week my DM had to pull out of the space to get me (heavily pregnant so I’m quite round) and ds (10months) into the car in a p&c space because the twat next to us had parked right next to the car not even in their bay. No car seats in the car either.... and unless they’d needed to get a jet out no excuses. It was a mini, so unlikely a wheelchair ramp situation, and there were 6 more pc spaces empty on the row never mind the row opposite.

GinDaddy · 21/01/2020 14:44

The biggest problem you'll have @Wuzzle85 on this thread are folk who believe that because who uses such spaces can't be firmly defined, the no one should be able to use them.

You get people who will argue till they are blue in the face that parent and child spaces shouldn't be used by anyone really.

There's no analysis of who is more deserving as a parent. It's more the case that if there's any debate over it, then no one should have them.

Personally I think anyone who needs to open the doors to help their child in and out of their seat and fasten their belt, should be eligible, and it's not so much an age thing, as a need thing.

Clearly 10 year olds (without any disability) should be fine to get in and do their own belt, so YANBU at all. But enjoy the vitriol from those who don't like seeing someone else have a privilege, so destroy it so no one can have it.

Urkiddingright · 21/01/2020 14:49

When they stop using car seats. The idea of them is to allow more room to get them in and out of car seats. I hate seeing people with teenagers use them or worst still, people with no children at all. Fair enough if there were no disabled spaces left and they needed one but there’s always an abundance of disabled spots wherever I go.

lyralalala · 21/01/2020 14:55

This is something I've always wondered about. I'm surprised they don't put some of the parent and child bays further from the main entrance.

Because they are a marketing tool. If it’s easy for people to shop there with their kids they will, and they’ll spend more money (apparently you spend more money when you have your kids with you generally)

For me I use them I several places with my 16yo DD. When those shops move the Blue Badge spaces closer to the door than P&C I’ll use her BB to park in them. While P&C spaces are closer and have a safer route (in all three the majority of BB spaces involve crossing the road, but P&C are outside the door or have a walkway) I’ll be using them as she’s actually more difficult to keep safe than a younger child in a car seat (I have two of them too so I do know the difficulties)

SouthWestmom · 21/01/2020 14:58

Mix of reasons

Laziness
Don't care
Can't get a BB due to the very strict criteria that excludes a lot of people with mobility issues (mental and physical health)

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