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Original poster

Is it ok to use parent and child spaces at 27 weeks pregnant?

131 replies

dogmumma90 · 30/10/2024 17:26

There have been a few times recently where my husband has had to move my car out of parking spaces, because the car next to me has parked too close and I can't get in.

I have a large car and always park sensibly and carefully, but people seem to come along and park close to me, so I then can't get back in the car because I'm 27 weeks pregnant. In one case I was there alone and a very kind stranger had to move my car out of the space for me because I couldn't get in!

I hate to take up a parent and child space for someone who actually has a young child with them, but would I be unreasonable to start using one of these spaces now?

OP posts:
ricestardust · 30/10/2024 19:08

If your bump impedes your car access, switch to P&C spaces now. I'm pretty sure P&C has always been for bump to 12 y/o. (Although the oldest "child" I ever saw in a P&C parking space was driving the car. That one took the biscuit.)

happytobee · 30/10/2024 19:38

Just to throw another opinion out there, if heavily pregnant is acceptable for P&C at what point is it okay for someone morbidly obese to use a P&C or a disabled space due to not being able to get into their car if someone parks to close? The real issue is more down to spaces being too small, people not parking considerately, less people walking / using public transport and cars getting bigger, I don’t know what the answer is to these issues is though

pavementgerms · 30/10/2024 19:39

Get a car that's not so big you can't park it properly and get in and out of it.

Original poster
dogmumma90 · 30/10/2024 19:41

pavementgerms · 30/10/2024 19:39

Get a car that's not so big you can't park it properly and get in and out of it.

As previously said, I do know how to park my car properly. If at all possible I park on an end space away from the shops, I have no control over how others park next to me. Thanks for assuming I can't park though... 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
itsmabeline · 30/10/2024 19:54

happytobee · 30/10/2024 19:38

Just to throw another opinion out there, if heavily pregnant is acceptable for P&C at what point is it okay for someone morbidly obese to use a P&C or a disabled space due to not being able to get into their car if someone parks to close? The real issue is more down to spaces being too small, people not parking considerately, less people walking / using public transport and cars getting bigger, I don’t know what the answer is to these issues is though

Same as any disabled badge holder.

Heavily pregnant is a parent with a child. Morbidly obese isn't but I would expect them to have a blue badge.

Whammyammy · 30/10/2024 19:59

Parent and child spaces aren't enforceable, so technically anyone can use them.

However, I'd say it's morally OK to park in them if pregnant.

On topic we saw a man with his daughter o a motorcycle using one today, meets the "guidelines" but I chuckled and thought a few on here would be savage.

Cookiecrumblepie · 30/10/2024 20:00

I think if a space is for parents with children, that’s who the space is predominantly for. You can walk and avoid traffic etc easier as you don’t have children who scurry around and a pram to deal with. I would park further away so parents with children aren’t left without a space which is really meant for them.

Lifeonttheedgggge · 30/10/2024 20:04

I have only ever used parent and child spaces when I have my child with me. To be honest, it never occurred to me to use them when pregnant but I never had the problem of not being able to get back in my car - does it really happen a lot? (Like someone else said - what do overweight people do!?) I would just park further away if possible and leave the space for someone with a baby/child.

Original poster
dogmumma90 · 30/10/2024 20:07

@Lifeonttheedgggge It never occurred to me to use those spaces either until a family member suggested I use one if there are a few available, after I parked in an end space at the opposite end of the car park to the shops, and came back to my car unable to get in because someone had parked on the white line next to me, and I was left hanging around for 20 minutes for them to get back to their car because I couldn't squidge the bump through the barely-existent gap 😅

OP posts:
Mam89 · 30/10/2024 20:08

I actually think this is a situation where you think you need to use them now, but when you have the baby with the car seat, pram, trolley etc you’ll realise you didn’t really.

itsgettingweird · 30/10/2024 20:11

dogmumma90 · 30/10/2024 18:10

To clarify, I do always try to park far away from the store and in end spaces if possible. Unfortunately that was exactly what I'd done when I was somewhere alone, got back to the car and someone had parked their (even bigger) car on the white line and I had to hang around waiting for them to come back before I could get in.

It wasn't an end space if someone parked next to you!!! End space is the space at the end where no one can park next to you.

I've had to do this plenty of times with my disabled ds when all disabled spaces and P and c spaces are taken up - often with people without BB, without small children or without any children!

But that's the way of the world nowadays.

If I had a Penny for every person in a BB space "just going to be 5 mins as picking someone up" and thinking their convenience trumps the inconvenience of disability I could afford to build my own car park 😂

TheGoogleMum · 30/10/2024 20:11

A visibly pregnant woman using one of these spaces wouldn't bother me, I had to sometimes in my pregnancies near the end as there was no way of squeezing in.

Original poster
dogmumma90 · 30/10/2024 20:11

itsgettingweird · 30/10/2024 20:11

It wasn't an end space if someone parked next to you!!! End space is the space at the end where no one can park next to you.

I've had to do this plenty of times with my disabled ds when all disabled spaces and P and c spaces are taken up - often with people without BB, without small children or without any children!

But that's the way of the world nowadays.

If I had a Penny for every person in a BB space "just going to be 5 mins as picking someone up" and thinking their convenience trumps the inconvenience of disability I could afford to build my own car park 😂

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Lol, it was an end space... In an end space there's a space on one side of the car, but not both.

OP posts:
misszebra · 30/10/2024 20:13

happytobee · 30/10/2024 19:38

Just to throw another opinion out there, if heavily pregnant is acceptable for P&C at what point is it okay for someone morbidly obese to use a P&C or a disabled space due to not being able to get into their car if someone parks to close? The real issue is more down to spaces being too small, people not parking considerately, less people walking / using public transport and cars getting bigger, I don’t know what the answer is to these issues is though

it would be okay for someone morbidley obese to use a p&c spot if they were either pregnant, or with their child... clue in the name. it would also be okay for them to use a disabled spot IF they had a blue badge - it is against the law otherwise. not sure why this needed elaborating youd think its quite obvious

Suzuki70 · 30/10/2024 20:14

dogmumma90 · 30/10/2024 20:11

Lol, it was an end space... In an end space there's a space on one side of the car, but not both.

Show quote history

But surely you park in an end space with the driver's door on the end side?! Reverse in if you have to.

Original poster
dogmumma90 · 30/10/2024 20:15

Suzuki70 · 30/10/2024 20:14

But surely you park in an end space with the driver's door on the end side?! Reverse in if you have to.

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I always reverse in to spaces. If there's a wall/tree/hedge on that side it's impossible to get close in to that side with the driver's door?

OP posts:
TossedSaladandSE · 30/10/2024 20:16

Yes of course

msmatcha · 30/10/2024 20:16

Yes use them if you need space to open the car door extra wide - I did!

misszebra · 30/10/2024 20:16

dogmumma90 · 30/10/2024 20:15

I always reverse in to spaces. If there's a wall/tree/hedge on that side it's impossible to get close in to that side with the driver's door?

Show quote history

my god they are really clutching at straws OP 😂

TheGoogleMum · 30/10/2024 20:16

happytobee · 30/10/2024 19:38

Just to throw another opinion out there, if heavily pregnant is acceptable for P&C at what point is it okay for someone morbidly obese to use a P&C or a disabled space due to not being able to get into their car if someone parks to close? The real issue is more down to spaces being too small, people not parking considerately, less people walking / using public transport and cars getting bigger, I don’t know what the answer is to these issues is though

As a fat person who has been pregnant it is different, fat squishes, baby bumps don't

itsgettingweird · 30/10/2024 20:17

In one of our local shopping centres the blue badge spaces are across a road. The P and C are directly outside the shops. If I go with DS the spaces directly outside the shop are much safer and easier for him. So we park in them with his blue badge.

Don't blame you.

Same here. And why is a baby in a pram any less safe than my ds in his wheelchair or crutches with only one leg?

Also my local Aldi has 5 BB spaces and is free so everyone visiting town and the dentists with a BB parks there. There is 18 P and C spaces.

My ds cannot get out of the car unless he has the wide space. It's Combe isn't to be able to take your pushchair to the car door.

It's necessary for my ds to be able to wheel his wheelchair there!

User79853257976 · 30/10/2024 20:18

itsmabeline · 30/10/2024 18:17

Yes, use them.

You're not "ok to walk" any more than someone with a baby or child is.

Well actually it’s not about the walking. OP has said it’s about the space. It is safer for people with young children to have the pavement nearby etc.

pizzaHeart · 30/10/2024 20:18

Lifestooshort71 · 30/10/2024 17:39

That's the problem with big cars isn't it? If you were overweight instead of pregnant where would you park? Personally I'd look to park further away if possible.

That’s the interesting point^ but pregnancy works differently than being overweight. OP has got a big car before pregnancy and she can’t swap it for a smaller one for a couple of months.

itsgettingweird · 30/10/2024 20:20

Lol, it was an end space... In an end space there's a space on one side of the car, but not both.

So park on the end that means your side won't be blocked in.

Seriously it's really not that hard to figure out.

RichPetunia · 30/10/2024 20:21

I would have no problem with you using a mother and child parking space.