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?

we use P&C for our disabled DC…now aged 19.

So get a blue badge.

I think they're for people with younger children or older children who need the extra space e.g SEN/medical needs.

However it's a Mumsnet parking thread so you're probably about to get 10 pages of people insisting that almost everyone who uses a P&C bay has a perfectly decent reason to do so and you're an arsehole for suggesting that there might be some lazy people using them.

I think the problem is that car parks aren't fit for modern purpose. Cars are wider, and lots of people need extra space for a host of reasons, some more than fit and healthy parents with a baby they could remove from the car seat anyway. Those spaces should be renamed as "extra width" spaces. I actually think the proximity to the shop is more important for those with toddlers rather than babies because your baby with you pushing or carrying them isn't going to get knocked over by a reversing car that can't see them.

That’s what I find annoying. They’re there for a very clear purpose with a very clear target user.

Imagine arguing you should be able to use a disabled space because of x, y or z. You either fit the criteria or you don’t. It’s so frustrating reading people bending the rules to suit them, because they can. It’s just an abuse of privilege.

They’re not called “if you feel you need them spaces” they’re “parent and child”.

oh God, so boring. There are so many more things in the world to get irate about than this

YABU and quite naive.

They are parent and child spaces not parent and baby spaces but also you have no idea about any hidden disabilities.

New parents always think babies are the only important ones until their kids get older....

@CecilyP

I just had a quick Google and Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda all state parent and child spaces are for parents with children up to the age of 12. There is a sign in our local ones saying just that.

No we don’t, we’ve tried

For what it's worth my OH used to use the P&C spaces when there were no disabled bays left. His mom had a blue badge and so he just said they did fit the description of parent and child. (yes I know that they often have ages noted on the signs)

Where I live it says very clearly the spaces are for parents with children under 5 for pushchair/car seat space

I do agree that some children it’s not always clear cut but because of ND…. But the rate children are being diagnosed with ND these days, it makes it more difficult.

the big problem is that there generally aren’t enough P&C spaces or even general parking spaces with a decent amount of room to get out in the first place.

the one that really winds me up is people using a P&C space… and then leaving their kids in the car!!!!! If they are old enough/mature enough to leave unsupervised in the car, you don’t need one of those spaces.

Not at my Tesco

Yabu they're for children up to 12 or beyond if they're disabled.
The world doesn't revolve around you because you had a baby.

But other than being in the car park disabled spaces are in no way comparable to P and C spaces.

one is essential one is nice if you can get one

Put child locks on the door?

Well then you need to take that up with the Local Authority, or park in a disabled space in defiance. Not one that is entitled for another user.

I disagree - they both have defined user. If you don’t fall into the definition, you’re not entitled to use it.

I think once a child is no longer using a car seat and there's no additional needs at play then it's not really necessary to use them.
I can't say I judge when I see cars with older kids without car seats using them though as I don't know their situation. It's the kind of thing I don't have the headspace to dedicate to forming a strong opinion on it.

The law very much disagrees with you!

In what sense?

But you need a blue badge to park in disabled parking spaces.

FWIW OP @mickitee - there is a post like this every other week. The results are always the same. A lot of people will say YABU and you are just lucky to be able to use one

people are dicks

You're probably right. I use them with my DC anytime I can get one which is rare. I do it because I have a large car and I like to be close to the supermarket.
There's always someone worse than me though. They're particularly popular where I am with White Van Men.

I was just as disabled before I got my BB.

There are very many disabled people who are not entitled to a BB