To feel that parents with older children shouldn't be using parent and child car parks?

[mickitee]

Several times since having my baby, I've been to car parks where all the parent and child spaces were full, and then struggled with her pushchair in a regular car space only to look over and see a family with older children (8+) getting into a car in one of the parenting child spaces.

Am I wrong to feel that these parks are designed for families with babies and younger children using pushchairs, or who actually need what's the extra space to be able to get their child in and out safely without risking damage to cars around them. If your child is at an age and ability level where they are capable of getting in and out of the car safely by themselves, you don't need the space and are just making life more difficult for other parents.

So, AIBU to feel annoyed about this?

I vividly remember that horrible day when I looked at my 3 year old and realised I didn't have a baby anymore!

Just because a child is older than a toddler does not mean that the parent shouldn't use the parent/child parking space. There are lots of people with medical problems that is not immediately visible i.e. my 13 year old grandson has problems with his feet and when he has a flare up it is painful for him to walk far distances. If he is with me when I go to do shopping and there's a space I will take it, although I do also have the option for a disabled bay as a badge holder if a bay is free, if not then it's the parent/child bay. If neither bay has space and it's a distance for him to walk he will stay in the car. So I don't think it's right to presume that one shouldn't use the P&C bay just cost their kids aren't in pushchairs.

Totally agree, had this yesterday, a mum driving an unnecessarily large Mercedes takes the last parent space and gets out with a girl clearly old enough to manage the door on her own, so selfish, spaces have a pram in the sign which should be a clue

P&c spaces were less common when I had my eldest and mostly used by people "in a hurry" ie those who hadn't actually planned enough time for getting on with their day. If you park away from entrances around the far edge you will tend to find enough room to park, get put whatever equipment you need. You do need to plan your activities to what you can manage, relying on parking somewhere specific isn't possible