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.

This! I know a lot of parents of autistic teens who are runners but don't qualify for a BB. My LA doesn't issue BBs for invisible disabilities. When DC was a baby, I was find parking far from the shop entrance. Not anymore. DD outruns me now which is a real issue.

Come on @ginasevern in what world were all the disabled spaces taken but 15 free parent and child spaces were available. Just put your blue badge up on the dashboard and nobody would question it.

@ginasevern I'm sorry that happened to you. You should have called the police or one of the supermarket attendants.

He was a knob of the first order. Don't let him put you off xx

What a horrible man! At least you aren't the one tied to him for the next 18 years like his partner is 😔 .

Well you're the one questioning random folk so...

YABVU & extremely entitled

Entitled to want spaces to be used for the people they’re designed for?

How did we manage with DTs before such things as Parent and Child spaces were the norm?

Nah, it’s part of the social contract that we just all get on with life and only use them if we need them. As others say, you can’t tell this by looking at them. And remember, they are mainly a marketing ploy by the store. We notice stuff depending on the life stage we are at - taking my elderly frail mum shopping who isn’t actually disabled but can’t walk far is just as much hassle as a baby. But no adaptations as she isn’t likely to spend as much as a busy young mother.

The OP only wants them to be used for children of an age she has determined is appropriate. So, yes, very entitled and ridiculous.

Seriously OP? I think her story is very sadly believable and probably depressingly common. Even as someone who doesn't have a blue badge it's noticeable how often those spaces are full even if the rest of the carpark is empty.

You surely can't begrudge someone with a disability with or without a blue badge a P&C space? The shop certainly wouldn't.

You're not covering yourself in glory here.

Yes because they're just a courtesy, you have no legal right to those spaces.

Sometimes other people might need them more, e.g. a disabled person who can't find a space. Why would anyone begrudge them?

I assure you they were all taken otherwise I would have parked in one. I've never parked in a p&c space before. In fact I usually order things online. I didn't have a chance to put my blue badge up, I don't move very quickly. Besides, this man was half way in my car before I had a chance to draw breath. I don't think he would've taken much notice even if I had waved my blue badge under his nose. He was like a religious zealout on a crusade.

They're designed for parents and children, OP feels more entitled to them with one small non-walking baby than other people equally entitled to use them.

Nope. My eldest is 8, has autism and adhd and until I get a blue badge if he’s with me alone I’ll keep using them if they’re the safest place to park. He’s still a child who needs to be kept safe, safer than a child who can be carried or put in a pram.

And that's exactly what some people are like on these threads. Ridiculous to get so frothy over nothing.

This is the one ^

I generally don’t park right outside front of shops anyway as I have nothing against walking the additional 10 steps and others may have a genuine need to be close to the entrance. Plus my car is less likely to get dinged by some slothweasel if I park at the back.

On the rare occasions that I have used a P&C bay because all other spaces are taken, no one has ever questioned me but if they did.. I think I’d just laugh!

No wonder there's so many selfish entitled children. They learn from their parents who are even worse. A parent with toddler needs a bigger car space than someone with a 7+ year old.

@ginasevern how didn't you have time to draw breath you said, "Told me how selfish, thoughtless, ignorant and pathetic I was. How I had no idea what it was like to be a young parent. Really? On and on" if they were going on and on and into this much detail surely you had more than enough time to reach to put your blue badge in sight?

I really can't put into words how little I care.

Also I really do hope I pass on my belief of Parent and child spaces to my children.

It will be the only thing that brings me peace on my death bed.

will it be an extra wide death bed nearest to the door?

I think shops etc should provide more p & c spaces tbh. I agree it's a nightmare trying to get a baby seat out of a small space, especially if you're driving a massive 4 x 4. I preferred getting my big shop delivered when my son was a baby but was happy for him to walk once he was older. From the age of around 10 wouldn't use p & c spaces.

I agree they should be used as intended but sometimes circumstances don't allow others a choice.

Our Tesco has the parent and child spaces significantly closer to the entrance than the disabled parking. When my DH would go to Tesco with his 90 yo mobility challenged mother parking in a P&C space just made more sense. Even sometimes later when she needed a wheelchair the only spaces with enough room were the P&C ones. When challenged (& he wanted to be polite) he would simply point out that he was a child with his mother.

It's about safety. I agree with the OP. Although actually, a toddler is harder than a baby to manage in a carpark.

Not just near the door.
In the door.
Maximum inconvenience for all involved.