To think that people who use parent and child spaces without children are selfish *****

[hotcheeto]

Fill in the starred swear word as applicable.

I've only started truly noticing how many idiots do this since I had my baby 4 months ago. I can't believe how many people I've seen do it. And yes I always call them out and have had some pretty disturbing abuse thrown back.

I have also always reported to the shop staff to be told it isn't illegal and there's nothing they can do bar having a parking attendant out constantly which isn't possible (I know this isn't the shop staff's fault).

No disabled spaces? Fair enough, crack on. But this isn't the case 99% of the time. People use them because they are close to the entrance. I would rather the spaces be far away from the entrance with a small trolley park nearby with car seat/child seat trolleys.

Yesterday I purposefully parked straight down the middle of two normal spaces because I didn't want to risk having to reverse out just to get my baby's car seat back in. As I was walking in I witnessed 3 separate very able bodied people walk back to their cars without children.

Just really pees me off 😒

These threads always turn into a bunfight. I personally think that parent and child spaces should be only for those with kids up to 5 years old who don't need a buggy. Disabled people should obviously be able to park there if no disabled spaces are available. I don't see why it's so hard. Just be considerate to others. Unfortunately this is not an attitude a lot of people have, instead it's a poor me top trumps.

Parent here of baby, I don't really find the parent and baby spaces that beneficial. I can perfectly get baby in and out in a normal space. So bit of a non issue I think.

Yes, true. But cars are quite big now. Just because something didn’t exist previously, it doesn’t mean it should be selfishly mis-used now that it is here. I wouldn’t want to live without many of today’s conveniences.

Have you nothing better to do?

Perhaps I will start doing this tbh. I hadn't before because I was worried they were germy if I'm honest. But a wipe and a blanket would suffice. He's 4 months old now so sturdy enough but as a FTM I was apprehensive.

You park down 2 spaces for your convenience, without caring about the convenience of other people. Why do you expect other people to care about your convenience?
I wouldn’t do either, but I’m perpetually surprised by how angry selfish people get when other people turn out to be selfish to.

*too
Dammit.

The spaces are bigger but getting one used to be a real treat for me - life is too short to be policing and fuming over them, and it's actually not tenable to have to park between two spaces everytime one isn't available as your completely stopping someone else being able to park in busy times at all which I actually think is worse than someone parking in a wide bay.

I don't know how many times but I have a baby will get you out of a fine but a lot of places will do you for it.

Legally disabled drivers can park in the disabled spots then.

@Heronwatcher TBH I’ve never understood parent and child spaces. Most if not all times it’s perfectly possible to get a child seat or a child out in a normal space

It really isn't. Car seat on a pram with baby in, toddler in tow as well. Most car bays wouldn't let you get the pram alongside so you leave it behind car, potentially not enough space to open car door and get seat in car, and you've got a toddler waddling about amidst it all too

Yeah I'm going to call BS on that. I have never ever seen or used a P&C space that was the same size as a standard bay with no additional space.
Aldi, Lidl, etc they all have P&C parking that is larger. It is literally the point. They wouldn't be able to out up a sign claiming it's a P&C space.

If you don't qualify for a blue badge why do you think you're more entitled to use a space that was designed with a purpose in mind, which doesn't apply to you?

It funny how many people think P&C spaces existing is 'entitled' but then feel they are more entitled to use them than the people it is aimed at.

I hated pushing a trolley around with the huge car seat on it - definitely have a go with the little seated ones. Found it much easier.

Yeah but then you get the parents of kids with autism who could be any age but bolt in car parks

I'm not sure why wanting my child to be safe makes me obnoxious.

That's not what makes you obnoxious.

You can ensure your child is safe without parking across 2 spaces.

I've had 3 DC close in age, and never required this, and often (mostly I think) used non-P&C spaces as they were rarely available.

Please let me know what you would do?

I did. Read my post again!

I find it quite hard to believe you've been so unfortunate to be blocked in on both sides. I've never experienced this.

I'm on your side re P&C spaces but you are 💯 wrong to park like this, deciding that your need for 2 spaces trumps someone else's need for 1.

In terms of the car seat, you don't need to take it each time either - sling, pram / buggy, use trolley directly.

(Which doesn't mean you don't need the P&C space, I fully agree with you on that).

I’ve got a child with hidden disability who has a blue badge so technically can park in either space, we get looks off people if we use p&c as he’s not a toddler and looks from people if we use disabled as he isn’t in a wheelchair so doesn’t look disabled. In reality it’s not a massive problem for us as I try to never take him to shops as that’s a whole different issue in itself but if I do I prefer to park close, so I can get in and out in the shortest time possible to reduce the possibility of any meltdowns. I’ve even sometimes left him in the car if he’s calm and if it’s a small shop and I can see out window as it’s the lesser of the two evils of trying to get him to go in. People hate it even more if you use a p&c space and leave the kid in the car but they do tend to be ones you can see from shop

Did you read the whole comment, especially the following sentence when I said I know there are invisible disabilities? Also when I said I don't know they aren't disabled. 🙄😂 I was just describing the situation. Jesus.

I’m legally disabled for life. But like most disabled people, I’m not entitled to a blue badge.

Yes, I rarely took the car seat out either, beyond very early days or very quick trips in. Kids hate being kept in there too.

This totally. I don’t see why people are so against parents with young children being safe. Sometimes people didn’t choose to have children or all the difficulties that come with it either.

Why should they have to suffer? Those spaces are specifically for that purpose, so you can safely get people in and out of the car, sort out your buggy, deal with a newborn or toddler etc. If you have additional needs then I’m sorry about that but you need a disabled badge or you somehow have another coping mechanism.

the needs of young children and families are important, and this is a parenting website! I don’t know why you are labelling it as entitled, and that we mean nothing, and would be a complete cunts for daring to complain about it....

I always think they should just do away with P&C spaces. People only need them because they drive oversized cars.

I just used to park further away from the entrance so there was plenty of room.

You can also shop online if you don't like supermarket car parks.

There is probably a case to offer wider spaces to non blue badge holders who want them, but charge (more). Although I suspect everyone would find they could magically manage with a smaller bay after all.

Fewer people drove tanks then.

If you can't get your car seat out why not just get baby out and use the baby seat in a trolley?

Yep , I took DC out of the car seat, much easier.i don't believe anyone except people with disabilities deserve an allocated space

And even when Ds was little 13 years ago it wasn’t advised to leave them in if for long periods which is another reason I don’t get the need to lug the whole thing about!

No, ‘entitlement’ is taking something which isn’t there for you.

In places that don’t have p&c spaces, we just make do. It’s more difficult but it is usually possible. It’s not about whether it is possible to park without p&c spaces, it’s the frustration that something that could be so so helpful to one person (a parent) is taken by someone else who needs it so much less.

yes, blue badge holders can also park there. Not disputing that. It’s selfish people who can’t be bothered to put in a little bit of effort to park properly in a normal space.