Parent and child spaces should be for those with children 5 and under

[seize]

Parent-child parking spaces at supermarkets should be reserved primarily for those with children aged 5 and under, aside from older children with special needs (although a blue badge might be more appropriate where they meet the criteria, in these cases).

I was alone with my 4 month old today, the trolleys with the baby seats are kept next to these spaces. The spaces which have the easiest access to the trolleys had all been taken with the last taken by someone just before me, I reversed into a space around the corner and the driver was shaking their head at me, presumedly because their space only had extra room on one side and my space came up to them (see picture). I was surprised to then see them get out with a child of about 13. I saw multiple other people using these spaces with children looking like teenagers. I was able to get a space which still had fairly easy access to the trolleys, albeit by needing to walk on the road and inbetween the other cars, multiple people had parked in the spaces with the easiest access with much older children. I was lucky to get a space at all, had I not I would have had to walk across the busy carpark holding my baby.

YANBU- Just because someone has a child under 16 doesn’t mean they should take up these spaces, they should save them for people who need them the most.

YABU- first come first served, who cares if someone with a baby is having to traipse across a busy car park holding a baby to get to the baby trolleys.

Not aged 5 no, but 10 yes. Limit it to the age of 10. You will want it to be an older age @seize when yours are older. 5 is too small and young to expect people to stop using P & C spaces.

I've never needed a parent and child space more than when I was heavily pregnant cars had parked right up against the edge of the bays next to mine. I couldn't squeeze me and my bump into the very small gap of my open door and ended up having to go through the boot looking like an undignified elephant. Even that was touch and go.
If a child is able to get in and out of the car themselves and safely do their seatbelt without the help of an adult leaning in then there is no justification for taking up the space just because they happen to be a child.

How did breastfeeding mean you needed the space, out of interest? Or do you just love any reason to add that bit? 😂

Ours say under 12 and travelling in a child car seat, which I think is fair.

What about getting them INTO the pushchair. In a P&C bay I can put the pram down the side. It's safe. If not I have to put the pram behind the car on the road where it could get hit. A walking child can wait down the side of the car with you.

She had her tits out when it happened. Duh.

Yes I remember when eldest was in the baby room the preschoolers seemed full-grown. Then before you know it there's a three year old despotic dictator living in your house and you learn the truth!

At least they had a child. I think anyone with a child should be able to use the spaces, as you can’t judge why they might need them for their child. But hate when anyone without a child uses the spots 😡. I only park in the parent-child spaces when I have my child physically with me

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I was wondering that.

I have never seen someone in a supermarket take a child out of the car and put them in a pushchair...never.
A car seat, yes but a pushchair. why would you?

If you have a pushchair Surely you would park on the far side of the car park with lots of space and then whizz them to the door.

These spaces are for people that need more room, not necessarily closer to the shop. I used one when 37 weeks plus pregnant. I needed it, I was fucking huge. I'd have used it even if at back of car park (though imagine if you had SPD you would also need proximity). I need it now because I have the pram and car seat. Not necessarily 5yo, but I think it should be for people who need space due to pregnancy, pram etc. Once a child can get into car and do up their belt unaided I don't think they're needed and can use a normal space.

Everyone I know does it. If its a small shop I put his car seat on the pram, self scan shop into bags underneath. Big shop I put his car seat on those car seat trolleys pulled up next to door. Shopping with partner? One pushes trolley, one pushes buggy. Shopping center? Of course I use a pram. I live in the city, it's busy right to the back of the car park! There is no loads of space.

I think most are under 12.
My DD is 6 and although she can just about get into her seat, she still needs me to buckle her in and sort the straps. I can't do that up against another car without risk of damaging it. As I'd rather not ding someone's car door doing this, I park in the parent and child spaces. That's what they're for.

It's very unlikely to get hit just alongside your boot. A car would need to be very close. People pack shopping at into their boot from a trolley all the time. Anyway, it's just a pushchair. A walking child still needs to get from the car to the shop.

Please don’t do this. If you have a small child, it’s really important they are not in those car seats for any length of time.

If they have a blue badge and no disabled spaces left, or are very elderly, then yes of course. Sorry should have clarified that.
A non blue badge holding middle aged woman with no obvious injuries took the last baby and child space the other day, in torrential rain when I had my toddler who I had to walk across the car park. Despite me pulling up and asking the woman if she had any kids because these spaces were for parents and children (she ignored me)

Putting them in a buggy or trolley at the back of the car never felt as dangerous as walking two small children beside a trolley with no free hands.

I don't think it's as trivial as that. I think it offers a fairly good representation of how society thinks about others needs versus their own. I'd like to think there are still communities who haven't been infected by rampant entitlement but I'm not convinced.

Agree they should be well away from the entrance, wide enough to get to a carseat or to help a child in/out and with a safe path to the shop. Then they would be used just by parents with babies/children.

Park further from the entrance to have more space. People with kids walk to the shops from the bus stops and living close by so walking a few more metres in your case will be ok.

Carrying a baby across a car park! Heaven forbid! 🤣🤣 I didn't even have a car for years when DS was a baby. Navigating public transport with a kid is far more stressful! You're not the first woman to have a baby. Just see them as a bonus. And yes I still park in them with DD who is 8 (if they're not specified as parent & toddler/under 5s)/ because I'm allowed to!

So... Could have had an invisible disability then.

I find it more difficult now with an autistic 11 year old and a 7 year old to get them in and out of the car safely and across the carpark to the shop than I did with a newborn in a car seat or sling.
My local shops all have a direct pathway with bollards from the parent and child spaces to a zebra crossing which means limited walking across a car park when 11 year old is impulsive and has no sense of danger.
So for that reason I have continued to use the PC spaces. I'm unsure if we would be entitled to blue badge as don't claim any disability benefits although i must admit I've never actually looked into it.