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.

Except most drivers feel they have the right to drive anywhere and be able to park at that destination, where do you draw the line?

Just parked next to a p&c space and a single, perfectly healthy looking youngish man got in and drove off 🙃 the one closest to the doors too, tell me that's not laziness!!!

Didn't. My dd is a young adult now, so it would be concerning if I was still trying to strap her in.

And fwiw, I'm not looking down on anyone. I'm merely suggesting that, if people find it difficult to manage in a car park, online shopping might suit them better.

You do realise that it takes more space for my tiny 7 year old to get out her car seat than it does for me to get my fat ass out? Especially if you have a extended rear facing child (mine rear faced til 6) where an adult will need to tighten their harness.

Mmm, the tone of your posts has been suggesting that because you managed, so should they

Trapsing across a car park with adhd 8 year old and 6 year old is also very dangerous and dont have a badge for that. Agree people with no kids can get out of these spaces though and they should make more of them. Plus understand your complaint completely.

Getting shopping delivered means you need to pay more. Many people don’t have “more” to spend.

Running a car ain't cheap

What did we all do before p&c spaces were a thing? I had my children in early 2000 and some car parks didn’t have them and some only had a few. It was first come first serve and if you didn’t get one you parked in a normal space and believe it or not didn’t complain, managed perfectly fine and got on with the day 🙄

Whilst in principle I agree with you (to the point of a standup row with my mother that she can't park in them JUST because all the disabled spaces have gone), but I have 4 neurodivergent children. The worst one was my son who has ADHD and still couldn't cross a road at age 16. I don't get a blue badge for that and nor do I want one as I just need a bit of understanding. He doesn't look weird so you wouldn't know. All you'd have seen was me and a tall 16 year old getting out of a car. If you'd carefully you would have seen that I would have got out first and that his door would have been child locked and that it would have been me that let him out. But most people don't look that carefully so I expect a lot of people on here would have judged me. He's now almost 18 and has FINALLY learnt that when you get out of a car you stay by the door and look around you - I no longer park in child and parent spaces - but it has been hard work and he does still forget.

Whilst I know you've said it's ok for disabled kids many disabilities are not visible. You can spot a worried parent though. If the parent gets out and walks off, then hell and brimstone etc, but if they've hovering around an older child/teen please accept there may be something that you can't see.

Made me laugh! She will change her tune when her kid grows up! Wanting to extend until 21!

… nobody said it was?

However, a car is essential for many people - I physically couldn’t get my children to school and nursery and then myself to work without it. It costs pennies for me to stop at the supermarket on the way from picking them back up, since it’s en route anyway.

Whilst in the supermarket, I can pick up a Too Good to Go bag, or shop in the yellow label section, cutting my food bill significantly.

You can’t do this online. Plus, they often don’t look for a sensible selection of fruit (for example, I’d choose one ripe set of bananas and one less ripe set) so food is more likely to go off or not be ripe for when it’s needed.

Plus, you also need to pay for a delivery slot, which is about £5 for times im available to let them in.

to the point of a standup row with my mother that she can't park in them JUST because all the disabled spaces have gone

yes she can, actually even if all the disabled spaces are free she can still park in a P and C space if it is better for her needs

Nonsense, I was born in the 80s and almost everywhere had them when I was growing up.

I agree, the age limit should be lowered and I also think that pregnant women should be able to use them too. I have a 7 year old and if it’s just me and him, I’ll park somewhere else as he’s more than capable of getting in and out on his own but when I have my 2 year old with me, I do use them as I need the extra space to get her in and out. It’s not the end of the world if I can’t use them but it does annoy me when I see someone in their big fancy car using them because the space is bigger. But then small parking spaces is another issue.

I thought they were for under 5s already!

They do loads of half price offers online

Because I calmly ask people why they're parking in parent and child spaces when they don't have kids. Ok then..

What are you basing the 5 year age limit on?

These spaces are designed to allow you to fully open doors to enable you to safely lift small children and babies out of car seats. Anyone using these for older kids or even teenagers are simply being selfish/lazy.

Oh I didn't know that! It was tied up with the fact that my step father uses her badge, illegally, and that it frustrates me. But ok. Thank you!

YABU, they are a courtesy, not a right. It's easy to carry a 4 month old baby - park on the end of a row if you're that fussed, and use a sling, they are a doddle.

I do prefer it when they're on the other side of the car park under a safety path - fewer lazy arses trying to nab them, just people who benefit from a wider space for access to car seats etc.

@Laladance - cars weren't always as wide as they are now. This means many standard parking spaces are more snug than they used to be for opening doors fully.

No, I'm simply saying that I don't think that anyone has a right to p&c spaces, and that people shouldn't get all precious or entitled about these. If people find it hard to manage without the wider spaces, other options are available, such as parking further away from the shop and walking, or getting online delivery.

They could be disabled. It is none of your business.

YANBU!!! I hate when people use parent and child spaces with no children in sight! I have a 1 year old and 3 year old (also a primary aged DC) and when the 1 year old was younger we used a Duna pram/ seat and i can assure ALL the posters saying dont get worked up about it, it is infuriating when you have to park in a normal space with 2 small DC and try to open the doors enough to get them in/ out. I have given up shopping many times because its impossible! My 3 year old has recently had a SEN diagnosis and there is no way i would of been able to leave him (to climb out of a trolly even when straped in) at the back of the car to put his sibling in, he would've been off!