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.

I thought these spaces were for children under 12. Though in fact my son at 12 could have passed for a 15 year old! But I wouldn't have used it when he was 12 - I used them when they were in car seats.

I’m guessing your child is a bit older? Car seat laws have changed and they need to be in one until 135cm or 12 years as a minimum. My kids will be in one til they meet both requirements personally. And I’ll continue to use p&c spaces til they can safely strap themselves into their seats. Which will be when they move from a rear facing harnessed seat to a high backed booster. For my daughter, that was just before she turned 7.

Kids are in booster seats etc until they’re almost teenagers nowadays. There’s not enough spaces to go around. Parents with pushchairs have a higher need as they need space to park the pushchair at the side of the car.

Have you ever had a pram…

They do at our local tesco, with a safe walkway to the shop (albeit a slightly longer one) and quelle suprise, no one ever uses them. The parents manage just fine in the smaller spaces when they are closer to the shop.

My husband works with a guy who accidentally killed someone in a grocery car park. Genuine accident so no prison etc and it's rare, but it does happen

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.

Your baby is safely in your arms and you can competently assess for danger as you cross the carpark. Try this with multiple children who are all walking and one of whom is a bolter - you will discover that you currently have the easiest job with an immobile baby and are making a mountain out of a molehill

I do think the spaces should be reserved for those with a child who is young enough to be in a car seat but can’t bring myself to get worked up about it if someone else takes the spaces

Lol a pram is easily a thousand times better than a toddler in a carpark.

The OP is more likely to be hurt while driving to supermarket than walking across carpark holding a baby

At my local supermarket they have electric buggies for people with mobility issues. So people might manage to get tot he door from a nearby space and then shop in one of the buggies and yes some people will just about manage to walk round but in pain and struggling.

Until my colleague's severely autistic DS got his blue badge, she parked in the PnC spaces when he was with her. As he has no concept of danger.

I don't know how they work out the numbers but I struggle to get a disabled space at my local supermarket as there aren't many. Lots of empty P&C spaces.

Maybe spaces should be a combined P&C and disabled so they are fully used. I tend to shop during the day, I'm retired, but P&C spaces might be busier after school runs or when parents get home from work.

I think we should move them to the back of the car park. They cause too much angst with people who don't need them parking there who wouldn't if they were further away.

I get your frustration and share the grump at selfish people who genuinely do not need the space. I don't park in them with my 8 year old as he can get out unaided, I do park in them with my 4 year old so that I can help her with the belt.

But you did lose me at the hand wringing over carrying your baby across a car park. For goodness sake, there are folk in other countries who carry babies whilst also working in the fields or carrying heavy loads because there's no other option. I'm assuming you're exhausted and overwhelmed but I do think this was massively over the top.

I find these threads midly amusing as a car-free household, because we have always walked. Across lots of roads as well as car parks. Online deliveries when we didn't fancy it. It'll really do you no harm to walk a few minutes with the baby. It would do the teenagers no harm to walk either. Useful for those with disabled children have the space, so they can get out wheelchairs, walkers or whatever elae is needed, everyone else comes across as a bit fussy.

No, because then you'd get parents filling up the disabled slots unnecessarily and people would believe that the two are equivalent.

Better to keep them separate but with an absolute acceptance that disabled people can park in any space that suits them.

Or just get rid of the P&C spaces and convert them all to disabled ones.

That would make it even harder for disabled people, and lead to even more of a sense of entitlement from some parents.

disabled spaces need to be plentiful and they need to be protected for those with blue badges.

It is odd though that people are saying the disabled spaces are empty when P&C and full and my experience is the opposite. The only reason I can think of is that the majority of those groups shop at different times. Otherwise we need the disabled spaces closest to the shop entrance and more disabled spaces as I think the disabled need them more.

I've brought up 4 and regularly shop with GC, I also shop with disabled husband and I know which group I'd prioritise.

It’s amazing how many people insist this is a safety issue. If there were instances of small children being put at risk of harm, then why on earth don’t we have them everywhere? We have car seat laws and regulations. If there is a genuine risk to children, then these spaces should be mandated by law and enforced accordingly.

If people just said “yeah it’s so much easier and more convenient to have P&C spaces” then I’d totally be on board. I reject the idea that people are entitled to them because their specific circumstances are the most important ever. It’s also absolutely ridiculous to suggest a parent with a small baby is more entitled than a parent with a 5 year old. If we say they’re needed for safety, then 5 and 6 and 7 years olds - who legally need to be in car seats - deserve the same safety.
These spaces seem to encourage a vocal minority of busybodies who seem to think they own the car park. Would I use one if I didn’t have a legitimate use? Absolutely not! Equally, would I slam the door on someone behind me because I couldn’t be arsed to hold the door open? Also no! I just don’t think I’m oh so important that I’d reprimand someone for not holding the door open for me. Life’s too short to get over involved.

Lost me at pregnant people

@source as above. Honestly, enjoy that baby stage. It comes with its challenges, but having to carry them across a carpark is not one of them. Come back when you have multiple older children and read this. You’ll have a little eye roll at yourself. Honestly, you will.

There should be as many spaces for people with disabilities as possible, but no P&C spaces, instead more car parks should have the spaces between each parking space. My thinking is that there are many people who struggle getting in and out of cars, needing the door to be fully open, but wouldn't qualify for a blue badge, and obviously aren't a child/parent, so more space between spaces would help everyone.
I have intermittent muscular/skeletal issues, as well as being quite a tall person, and getting in and out of cars in cramped spaces is a bloody nightmare, I've had this for 20 years, and for the rest of my life no doubt.
If P&C spaces are present, I agree with the PP who suggested they should be further away, detering CFs from using them.

Well many more people do drive their kids to school when it rains

The only person who looks like a twat is the person parking in a p&c space without a child 😂

The buggy isn't a big risk IME, you park out at the back of the car, close enough that no car would be driving there anyway and it's a big lump of metal that is clearly visible to passing cars anyway. It doesn't need to be by the door.

Walking small children through a carpark is much more dangerous as they aren't as visible to drivers and may be in the path of cars, never mind that their behaviour can be erratic and you may not have a free hand to hold theirs if you also have a trolley.

If you have a buggy with you you're one of the least in need of a special space IME.