Parent and child parking spaces

[WeightyMama]

I’m aware I might get thrashed for this but here goes.

At what age child do you think you should stop using parent and child spaces? I went to the supermarket yesterday and there were no spaces left. I had to park quite far away with my baby so that I had somewhere with enough space to get everything sorted. On my way back to the spaces I noticed a woman getting back in the car with one child of about 12/23 years old. Child opened the back door, got in (no car seat), no issues.

AIBU to say that at that stage you should park in a normal spot and let others have the parking? I would understand if the child was heavy handed and might bash the door into a neighbouring car or something, but this child was far from that.

I used them until my ds was 15 and we got a blue badge.

One of the reasons stated for needing it now was people judging me for using child and parent spaces with my child and supermarkets putting age limits on children using the spaces.

My son would have opened the door nicely and sensibly and got in. But he needs the wide spaces.

regardless of all this - turn your child locks on!!!!

no child below the age of trust (whatever that is) should be in the back seat with the internal handles enabled.

[quote WeightyMama]@Sirzy do you would rather I took a blue badge away from someone instead of just using a p&c space? Weird.[/quote]
No I said IF your back problems are that bad then it’s something that maybe needs considering. Only you know how bad it is. But even with a bad back things like taking car seats in and out are surely only creating more issues for you? When Ds was about 3 weeks I realised that by taking his seat out the car I was making life harder for myself!

@Confusedandshaken shes always been the the 'old biddy', even when i was a teenager

If they weren't right by entrances people wouldn't abuse them.

I get the need for more space but there is no need for them to be right by the entrances next to disabled parking.

But yes 12 is taking the piss

Some of these responses are extraordinary! It wouldn’t even occur to me to use these spaces with my 12 and 6 yr olds. I stopped using them when my youngest was about 3 or 4. They are so obviously designed for families where getting children in and out of the car requires more room to move.

People with fully mobile school-age children who are NT do not need to use the spaces and I find it bizarrely selfish if they do.

Supermarkets could easily address this by putting them a bit further back with a safe route to the store entrance- parent with child still has the space around the car, and other people can't be arsed to park there if they have to walk the same distance.

As for cut off... I would say around 7/8 as upper limit, assuming no disabilities etc.

@wearetheweirdosmr

If they weren't right by entrances people wouldn't abuse them.

I get the need for more space but there is no need for them to be right by the entrances next to disabled parking.

But yes 12 is taking the piss

Yeah in our local Tesco they are closer than the disabled bays. On a day my son is in more pain I park in the P and C spaces and display his BB.

That's a sure fire way to piss off the parents 🤣🤣🤦‍♀️

Parent and child spaces (which at all my local supermarkets are displayed as babies/pushchair users) are for children who need significant extra space to load/unload from the car and/or are unsafe to walk across a normal car park.

This includes babies in prams right through to 15 year olds with learning disabilities who will fling the door and run into the way of traffic.

What parents should be asking themselves is ‘Are we capable of completing this shopping trip without the use of a child space? Do we actually need this space or is it just easier/more convenient?’

However, if your neuro/physically typical 10+ year old can’t open a car door or navigate a car park under adult supervision you’ve failed at parenting they’re more than capable at that age

I personally think the wider spaces are for when you’re getting kids in and out of car seats. Once they don’t need them, and get themselves in and out the car, I don’t think you should use them.
But I used them when I was heavily pregnant.

[quote WeightyMama]@PascalHey I realise my no? Sounded a bit arsey, but it was more because I don’t know what they are! I haven’t seen one. Maybe I need to find a different supermarket but it’s the closest.

To everyone saying spots should be far away, I have explained why it would be beneficial for me to be closer! But I understand those with disabilities using them if there are no free space - but at my supermarket disabled spaces are just as close as p&c which is good, sorry to hear in some places they arent[/quote]
All that’s actually needed for a small child in a car seat is the space to open the door. I also need space to open the door as I have a condition which sometimes seriously impacts my mobility, although doesn’t qualify for a blue badge. So we are equally in need of a wide space, and possibly equally would find it easier not to have to walk too far. Your baby shouldn’t make you any more entitled to have your needs met than me, and yet it does. And now you’re bitching that other equally entitled people beat you to it. The spaces are ludicrous . The fact that they’re often closer to the door than the blue badge spaces is offensive.

I think it depends on the supermarket. Most round here are 12 but I’m fairly sure our local Tesco is something like 5. Whether 12 is the right age or not is irrelevant if it’s what it says on the sign.

Fwiw though I agree that for a child with no other disabilities or relevant conditions a child of 10 and above should be able to get out the car in a normal space without damaging cars next to them.

I think the cut-off should be when they reach secondary age. I rarely visit a supermarket with my nine year old nowadays, but I need the space more than when she was a baby - purely because of the car we had at that time. She’s in a HBB and can’t fasten the seatbelt herself, so I will find a spot with more space unless I’m at the supermarket that has an enormous amount of adult/child spots.

It’s just so bloody irrelevant, park somewhere else and think yourself lucky you can.

YABU...it's a marketing ploy. I park in those spaces as regular spaces are too narrow for my vehicle.

Personally, I wouldn't use them beyond the point when my child needs assistance being put in a car/booster seat. Generally, from around 6-8 years depending on the child and the car. 8 year old still needs someone to climb in the car to help her do the seat belt in dh's car because it sticks. Technically, yes, older children are still children, but it does mean that it uses up a finite resource for other people who may need them, which is a bit silly.

I don't mind people with older children parking in them as much as I mind single men in expensive cars though.

Once children are over 6/7/8 depending on maturity I don’t think they should be used by them.

I think the spaces should be put at the back of the car park with a walk way to the shop. It isn’t about how close they are to the shop but being about the open the door more and get children in and out without damaging another car imo

I had to leave my baby in a car seat on the side of the car park while I reversed half out the space to get the car seat in when I was alone once. Only had a slight heart attack that someone would steal them 🙈🤣

@PinkTonic have you actually read what I’ve posted? I have said that I fully agree with the need for those with mobility/disability requirements to use them and that whilst at my local supermarket they are equally spaced, I am sorry to hear in other car parks that p&c are closer. What are you having a go at me when I am supporting everything you’re saying?

@Fembot123 and @Skinnytailedsquirrel have you both rtft? I’m guessing not.

Yeah, I’ve read what you have to say.

@Mrsdarwin god that must have been a concern, I’d be so panicky if I had to do that!

@Fembot123 so basically I should be grateful that I have to be in agony whilst I lug my heavy baby and car seat across a large car park? Cool.

[quote WeightyMama]@Fembot123 so basically I should be grateful that I have to be in agony whilst I lug my heavy baby and car seat across a large car park? Cool.[/quote]

I don't quite get this line of thinking tbh. Yes, it's down to you to get your baby from car to store.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

YANBU but aot of people on MN just about wet themselves with the excitement of making sure a parent with young children should know they have no right to those parking spaces, anyone can park in them, and they will most definitely have a hidden disability (very rarely the case). It's quite pathetic.

I agree.

I was once shouted down for saying that I'd seen single, able folk park in the parent and child spaces by the cash point who just wanted to use the machine. Got shouted down for not realising that they might have hidden disabilities... my arse!