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 completely agree OP, they are clearly meant for babies and young children where a parent needs to be able to open the door fully to get the child in and out/ lift a baby in car seat out to click onto a pram.
A lot of people use them just because they have a car seat in the car, even when the children aren't actually present.

Of course you're not, but everyone's an entitled fecker these days and aren't backwards at telling you why they should have what they want when they want it.

Yes, I'm realising that now. There are a lot of people in the street who are very defensive. I'm not talking about policing it or banning other people from using them, and there are a lot of situations that I didn't spell out in my original post like older children with disabilities or even adults with disabilities who are entitled to use the spaces. I guess I was wrong about the age this occurs, but I specified that I was talking about older children who get out of the car without assistance, and walk safely across the car park independently. If someone's 10 or even 15 year old is still unable to do that, then clearly I wasn't talking about them.

To be honest though, a lot of what I'm reading is people saying they do it because they can. It's a bit sad that so many people think that saving themselves a minor inconvenience is worth the risk of putting someone else into a really difficult position.

They are clearly meant for children up to the age of 12.
Because that's what the rule says in very clear English.

Calm down. I only do it in Waitrose where we're all entitled.

I have in the past used a Parent and child space with my autistic son because he has a tendency to bolt and the likelihood of that happening is less in a parent and child space as they tend to be closer to the entry.

I've done this with my ASD kid too, even though he's almost 10. The parent and child spaces are next to a safe pedestrian walkway in our local car park. I'm dreading the day when we have to use the normal bays as DS has no awareness of danger at all and I'm terrified he'll walk out in front of a car.

This is incorrect. I the owner of the car park can enforce it

YANBU. It’s mental that anyone uses them without a young child. I stopped using them once DS was out of the 5-point harness as that’s when he no longer needed my help to get him in and out.

but I specified that I was talking about older children who get out of the car without assistance, and walk safely across the car park independently. If someone's 10 or even 15 year old is still unable to do that, then clearly I wasn't talking about them.

But that's the point OP. My 17 year old can get out of the car without assistance and walk safely across the car park independently. However, on most days, she can't walk from the end of the car park to the shop, round the shop and back to the car. You are not going to pick that up from watching her for 30 seconds. Which is why she often brings her mobility aid even though she's been advised by her physiotherapist to try to reduce the amount she uses it - because people make judgements otherwise. Just like you just did.

This post is not about you, though, so you don’t need to write dozens of contributions focussed on how you’ll use the spaces no matter what, whether in your DP’s expensive car or not, etc. etc. Good grief.

I use them with my 10 year old but only if we need to get somewhere quickly. I never use them otherwise. Car parking spaces are not big enough these days though and if you're rammed it between two suvs you're fucked

YANBU. I regularly see tradies in work vans in them, plus single men in luxury cars. People are selfish **holes.

It's up til 12 so YABU - I won't use them given the choice, but sometimes that lovely big space is all that's available for my car so...

Also I once moaned and a man sat in his car in one and just then his family came as he must have come to pick them up or waited for them and I felt really stupid. Still didn't really need it though

Again, it's not about me making a judgement, it's me asking whether it is reasonable for people who do not need the spaces, and who know that they do not need the spaces to use them. I trust that you are making the judgement that your daughter needs those spaces.

My Ddad had a pop at a guy in a van who'd clearly parked there for the space and was on the phone. Except a few mins later his missus and toddlers came out of the shop, double buggy and all.

I don’t disagree with the OP either. :)

YANBU. It’s so weird that they go up to age 12, they should just be for the car seat years.

(Autism/adhd is different, that’s a disability and carries first dibs on any space).

Assuming NT, this is crazy. You need to explain to your 7 yo how to behave in certain situations. There's no reason they cannot be trusted getting out of a car (unless you haven't mentioned SN).

Don't be ridiculous. It's perfectly within the realms of normality that children up to the age of 10 can and do behave unpredictability. And for all those saying their child doesn't do 'whatever' just because they DONT (usually) doesn't mean they WONT (ever).

I use them with my younger DC since they are often located in a place where it is not necessary to cross the carpark traffic so it is safer. They are for parents with children so I don't think it is misuse.

They should put these spaces at the back of the carpark . That would discourage others from using them

And so defeat the object that the store is aiming for?