To solemnly swear...

[QueSyrahSyrah]

...that once my DS is old enough not to need a pram or a car seat, and old enough to be trusted not to throw the car door open, and assuming he doesn't have any mobility difficulties that affect getting in and out of a car, that I will no longer use P&C parking spaces?

DS is only 4 months old and I am already sick and tired of having to scramble and contort myself to get him / his accessories out of the car in tight spaces, only to walk past the full P&C spaces and find a family with teens nonchalantly strolling back to their car, or like today a Dad sat in the car with his child and the engine idling while Mum came back from the shop alone.

No problem with people who have older kids with mobility difficulties using them. No problem with heavily pregnant women using them either.

But when I no longer need to then I won't. I won't inflict the inconvenience on others with small babies and small kids.

That is my rant over for today. Thanks for listening.

Usually their up to 12 years old. I think also disabled people can use them if the disabled spaces are full. Anyone else using them are just selfish. Unfortunately people are very me me me now and don't give a shit about others

Thing is we've all solemnly sworn something at 4 months old and realised that we had a rose-tinted view of life being easy when they're older.

Have you also sworn never to bribe him, or let him have screen time above and hour and no smart phone until he's 18yo?

And before you ask, no I haven't used parent and child spaces for my older children. I preferred to park at the far end of the car park and have lots of space round rather than join the fight for the few spaces there were for p&c. I suggest you try it.

Ps they're about 21 when you can begin to trust them not to throw the car door open anyway. You can tell them regularly but they'll forget just at the wrong moment. Once they're paying for their own car repairs it really helps them remember.

@MargaretThursday Well I drove up to the almost empty top floor of a multi-storey yesterday to have space. When I returned there were cars parked on either side of us in such a way that my only option was to carry DS in the drivers door and lay him on the passenger seat while I pulled the car out of the space enough to open the door and get his car seat (that I had on the pram frame) in. It was either that or leave him alone in the pram in the car park while I pulled the car out, which is obviously not a valid option.

In fairness to that particular car park they watch the P&C spaces on CCTV and put warning notes on those that abuse the spaces (ie: park in them without kids at all). I believe the notes are warning that they've noted their reg and repeat offenders will be fined. My friend got one while going to pick her son up, they waived it when she returned to the car with him.

I'm semi-lighthearted with this by the way. I've just had a few 'argh' parking moments the last couple of weeks that have added up.

Thing is we've all solemnly sworn something at 4 months old and realised that we had a rose-tinted view of life being easy when they're older.

OP isn't being naively rose-tinted by thinking that getting children out of the car is easier once they don't have a car seat and can strap themselves in. Even if you have to open the door for them, any situation where you don't have to lift them in and then lean in yourself is definitely easier than one where you do.

I would be very surprised if fines were legal. These spaces are a courtesy not an obligation.

@MyKidsAreTooNoisy of course they're legal. The car park owner can put whatever restrictions they like, for example not exceeding a set time in the car park. They'd have to be properly and clearly signposted etc.

www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/parent-and-child-parking-rules-know-the-rules-before-your-park/

@MyKidsAreTooNoisy A) not in the UK so perhaps different laws and B) privately run car park which I suspect means they can do whatever they want anyway.