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

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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.

Ok well have fun with your metaphorical kicks, but not just with parking but in general I will continue to challenge people who are in the wrong. And for the record I'm not screaming like a banshee at these people, I'm asking a simple question and their reaction is usually a pretty good give away of guilt.

I used to appreciate parent and child spaces when I had 3 kids under 18 months (twins followed by another 18 months old).
One baby on its own I think it’s okay just to use a normal space.

On a related subject it would really annoy me when parents with one baby would take a twin shopping trolley so they could put their handbag on the spare twin seat.

Those spaces out of courtesy are reserved for people with children, yes they may be free spaces but it's not "courteous" to use them if you're just being lazy

It's a supermarket car park not the Milton Keynes magic roundabout you're trying to cross. It's not that hard to walk through holding a single small baby.

I might not have to be there.
But there's sweet fuck all you can do about it.

So you keep doing you.
I'll keep doing me and then I'll do my shop and load my stuff into my extra roomy space.

In general, if shopping with young ones is so stressful, why not get it delivered?

Yra that's the whole point.

Ain't it crazy how I'm in a professional job, raising kids and voting..

It really could be anyone you know.

How do you know the 12yo didn't have additional needs?

It says more about you that you wouldn't feel guilty doing that than it does about me challenging someone like you

It's a parking space.
There's a lot of things I probably should feel guilty for in my life.

I can promise you...a parking space isn't even in the stratosphere of the list.

YABU, a four month old is not going to run between car. Getting a blue badge is not indicative of a need for the parking space.

Eh?

I wouldn't park in a p&c space personally. Even though I think they're unnecessary.

But I think it says an awful lot about you that you feel entitled to challenge people who park there for reasons which you cannot possibly know.

I hope that your attitude is born from ignorance and a lack of empathy/imagination rather than simply not caring about the impact that you might have on someone who may already be having a really tough time. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, anyway.

I agree 13 is taking the mickey, unless the child has additional needs that require a wider space.

On the age limit of 5, though, my 7 y/o is still in a car seat and struggles to do the seat belt by himself (not just clicking it in, but pulling it tight across his lap and chest. The parent/child spaces, allow me to open the car door wide enough to be able to reach right over to buckle him in properly. I think the rule should be for children still in car seats. Once they don’t need them any more, a normal space should suffice.

I do like the idea of putting the spaces further away. You’d get the space you need, as a parent, without it being in a desirable position, so less appealing to others without young children.

Everyone here is saying not to challenge someone because how do you know they don't have anxiety, how do you know they may not have a disability and what an awful situation this would put them in.

CFs like PP won't give a shit about other people.

So what they really need to worry about is
How do you know the person you're challenging isn't unhinged. And is going to give back to you a hell of a lot worse.

I agree with this.

People need to be more understanding. No all disabilities are obvious or come with a badge to use for parking.

Child spaces are supposed to be about safety. Sometimes that means children over 5.

Ha! Very true!

YBU. I disagree.

Just let people be-I once parked in one pregnant with two toddlers and a lady came running up to me saying they were for people with babies before she realised. We laughed it off but now when I think about it tbh had I been having the shittest day she’d really have upset me.

my mil struggles with a cane and she’s forgotten her blue badge once or twice and had people come up and start to tell her off (one person banged on her window) before they realise. Everyone thinks they need everything more, we’re such a selfish bitter society now

You sound great 😅

I think P&C spaces should be used by anyone who needs them with kids under 12, older kids with disabilities and no badge, and adults with disabilities where there's no disabled spaces left.

I know it's tricky with a baby but I really don't think getting bent out of shape about the whole system is helpful. Sometimes it works, sometimes you're schlepping two small kids across a busy car park.

The same people who cry about navigating kids in a car park are the same ones who will happily take babies and kids pumpkin picking and manage to get them out the car to the entrance in an uneven muddy field that’s been turned into a makeshift car park without any complaining.

Ah I see, so you wouldn't actually call anyone a 'cock sucking cunt' - was it? Phew

No, sorry I absolutly will...
Because I do believe in what I've said.
I am the unhinged they should fear.

I mean I'm.not aggressive or violent ever. There are certainly worse than me!

But I absolutly will ask a child they're with why they're mothers a XYZ what ever combination of vile swear words I fancy that day.

Because why should society be the only ones to suffer their rudeness.

I have empathy for other mums/dads struggling in small spaces when someone has used parent and child one out of laziness, those parents may also be having a tough time. As I've said anyone using those spaces where it looks like they need it, a cane, age, etc, I obviously wouldn't say anything. But a lot of these invisible disabilities I've looked at and ones you've mentioned are not really in need of it in my opinion and if they are, they should be applying for a BB.