What is with childless people parking in family spots!!!

[Asher09]

I have a toddler and a baby - so thats 2 car seats and a double pram. I genuinly need a fair bit of space when parking and recently I've seen so many people without children parking in the family spots - its so frustrating!

Surely family spots are there for a reason - they're closer to entrances and allow more space to get in and out. Its so helpful to a parent!
When inconsiderate people park there without thinking it leaves me driving around with a screaming toddler and a crying baby trying to find a decent spot where I have some room - some car parks have such narrow spots its impossible to get my kids in and out without hitting a car.

I've caught some people in the act, and have confonted them 'Hey I think you've left your kids in the car' but no one thinks they sre doing anything wrong or should move.

I think family spots should have the same rules as disabled spots. Just don't know how that would be implimented.

Well essentially it's annoying for you but it won't stop happening until supermarkets wake up and put the family parking the furthest distance possible from the entrance. I see the need for a wider space to get kids in and out but not the necessity of being close to the entrance.

The needs of a child under 12 and a baby are so different

Yes - 'under 12' which seems to be the supermarket standard, makes no sense. Why would a non-disabled 11 year old need extra space? If anything, an average child of that age is smaller and more agile than an adult so could cope more easily with limited space between cars.

I’d love that. I agree with op it’s about to e space not the distance, I’m fine to push the pram from the end of the car park but getting my baby’s car seat out of the car needs the door wide open or it doesn’t fit through the gap. Trying to do that, attach it to the pram and also get my toddler out safely is really hard in a small space with cars next to it.

Portugal seems to manage it. Anyone disabled, pregnant or with an under 2 has to be taken to the front of any queue on a first come first served basis, else risk a fine of €1,000 for the shop/restaurant/facility manager.

Please read it again - its HELPFUL and CONVINIENT to a parent 100% but it wouldnt be a problem if it is further away. Its just helpful that it is close.

We all coped before these spots came into existence. You will too. They are a marketing ploy from the centres, not a necessity. You’d probably rue the day you ever decided to confront me over one with ‘non existent’ kids. Actually, I’d just leave one of my adult kids there in the car and point you to them. Ridiculous.

That’s a good system! It just recognisers that some situations makes things harder.

Oh look, here's the pile on with everyone asking "well people managed before we had P&C spaces" - they also managed without cars, washing machines, and indoor plumbing, but life was harder.

YANBU. It's selfish AF to take a P&C space if there aren't kids in the car. Why make life harder for others, on purpose?

I have uncontrolled epilepsy so I do actually need a space near to the entrance in case I have an aura whilst shopping and sometimes can get back to the car quick enough to seize in relative privacy.

I also have a 7 year old and before I started having seizures just parked at the other end of the car park where there was plenty of space.

So no, disabled and parenting spaces are in no way comparable.

So why would you use it then? Just to make life harder for other people? You sound like a right bundle of joy.

God people are so bitter these days. I agree with you op!

"You'd probably rue the day"

Oh look everybody, we've got a bad ass over here. Just say you are selfish and move on.

If you have uncontrolled epilepsy should you be driving?

I'm sure you'd manage?

I agree they shouldn't take up space where there could be more disabled parking, if you need space for a buggy or pram then a short walk shouldn't be a problem?

You lost me when you compared P&C spaces to Disabled spaces. They are by no means comparable.

You didn't make this any better when you came back to reassure us that you don't think that disabled spaces are less important. Of course they fucking aren't - they are much more important and your failure to acknowledge this makes you VU imo.

They’re not a necessity but they make life a lot easier for those with young children. Of course we’d all cope without them and we do when there’s no spaces, but when you’re having a bad day with two grouchy kids it’s nice when there’s spaces available and you can get them out without fuss and trying to squeeze car seats out without scratching the car next to you. Why would you want to make others lives harder and park there when you don’t need to?

My understanding is that parents have priority but anyone can park there. So, YABU.

I’ve got a blue badge and have, on occasion, used them when all the disabled spaces have been gone. Sometimes by people who don’t even have badges 🙄

I have not RTFT but i am often confused as to why they should be near the entrance. I know why disabled spots are - but as someone who had my DCs before these spots were A Thing, i generally parked in the quietest spot of the car park, away from other cars, where there were fewer cars likely to be moving around (especially when it was a toddler/baby combo) and i generally could find a spot with a clear space on either side for getting the door open.

I found it a lot safer and wonder why the wider parent/child spots aren't there instead of the area of high traffic near the doors.

As for a reason why people use them? Pick as many as you want: people are arses, people want to park close to the entrance (maybe because they have limited mobility but don't qualify for a BB), maybe they want to be able to open their doors wide enough to get out and are driving a modern wide car, it's close and they don't have a coat, don't want to get their hair wet, are lazy, are going to pick up something heavy and/or bulky and want to be sure not to have to carry it too far and be able to get the door open when they get it... so many reasons.

Don't be ridiculous, of course they aren't the same as disabled spaces.

Having a child is a choice, having a disability is not.

I don’t drive, but I have a Motability car for my named driver and blue badge.

I sometimes drive elderly family members. When I do, I park in a P&C space so they can be near the store and have room to get out with their walking aids. If I was their regular chauffeur I’d have a blue badge for them, but I don’t because I only take them out occasionally. I also used the P&C spaces when I was pregnant because I was too big to get between the cars in a normal space, and when I was driving DH around with a broken leg (you can’t get a blue badge for a temporary need). Honestly I think they should be renamed accessible spaces and be available to anyone who needs more room.

^This. It's not altruism or caring for you. They want your money. That's why most of the offers inside the supermarket (e.g. 4 for 3 etc.) are geared towards people with younger kids/families. They don't give a stuff about single people or those with older kids.

That’s what I was going to say, people coped before without them. Like a pp I know someone who does shopping and drops her toddler at nursery then she goes home (wfh) so her car can look empty.

I have an ongoing knee issue and often need to open the car door fully. Without fail, everywhere I have asked about parking has told me to park in parent and child spaces.