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AIBU?

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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:
Mam89 · 30/10/2024 21:25

I actually have a friend who said she was happy when she was pregnant as she would finally be entitled to use the P&C spaces (she meant she would start using them at 12 weeks)! I think she was missing the point.

Tink3rbell30 · 30/10/2024 21:26

No, just park further away where there's always space.

BeesTreesSeas · 30/10/2024 21:26

Yes definitely! (Remember returning to my car at 36 weeks and with the car parked next to me, I couldn’t open door wide enough to get my bump through! Thank goodness my Dad was with me and could get in and reverse it out! So use the big spaces! X

Franjipanl8r · 30/10/2024 21:35

All these “park further away” comments… why not ditch the car altogether and jog to the supermarket!? 😂

Waffle19 · 30/10/2024 21:38

I’d probably be a bit annoyed unless you were super heavily pregnant and struggling with SPD or something that made walking difficult. But of course I’d never know that from just looking at someone.

I think if you’re 27 weeks pregnant and physically fine then I’d just park further away but only you know how easy that is for you or not and obviously it may change the more pregnant you get.

I have a 4yo and a 1yo and I tend to just use them now if I’ve got both kids as I don’t feel like I need one as much with just one. Everyone is different of course (some people might have four year olds who would run off for example) and I’m not trying to be a martyr, I just try to leave the spaces free for others who probably need them a lot more.

Threelittleduck · 30/10/2024 21:52

I never thought about using a P&C space when I was pregnant but I don't see why you can't use one. It's not as if it's a disabled space.
I personally would park further away but I don't have a big car so am less likely to have problems with parking/other people parking.
Just park there someone will probably have an issue with it at some point but tough. They aren't a protected space.

Negangirlxx · 30/10/2024 21:56

Yes you can use them!

I am 38.5 weeks, and used them from about 30 weeks, as I had terrible pelvic, and back pain. I have to open the car door so wide, just to get in and out. It can be so difficult, and walking can be so uncomfortable/painful at times. Using those spaces is a lifesaver, when I have to go to the Midwife, or the Supermarket. Trying to get in and out of a car in a normal space is so difficult, and I only have a small car, so it’s not due to the size of my vehicle.

surreygirl1987 · 30/10/2024 21:56

Waffle19 · 30/10/2024 21:38

I’d probably be a bit annoyed unless you were super heavily pregnant and struggling with SPD or something that made walking difficult. But of course I’d never know that from just looking at someone.

I think if you’re 27 weeks pregnant and physically fine then I’d just park further away but only you know how easy that is for you or not and obviously it may change the more pregnant you get.

I have a 4yo and a 1yo and I tend to just use them now if I’ve got both kids as I don’t feel like I need one as much with just one. Everyone is different of course (some people might have four year olds who would run off for example) and I’m not trying to be a martyr, I just try to leave the spaces free for others who probably need them a lot more.

I think that's really sensible.

V0xPopuli · 30/10/2024 21:59

I would have no issue with this.

Im less impressed when people pull up in huge 4 x 4s with 9/10 year olds and use them. Or indeed people with expensive cars and no kids at all.

The spaces are for people who need them

surreygirl1987 · 30/10/2024 21:59

Mam89 · 30/10/2024 21:25

I actually have a friend who said she was happy when she was pregnant as she would finally be entitled to use the P&C spaces (she meant she would start using them at 12 weeks)! I think she was missing the point.

Jeez. Yeh, some women use them just for convenience not because they need them. Across both my pregnancies I never found myself in a situation where I absolutely had to park in a P&C space. Now, I'm not saying that no pregnant woman doesn't ever need to use one. But I always found spaces, even if a bit further away, and if on my own I tried to park on the left of the space so there was always adequate 'bump' space. I imagine that's something obese people have to deal with on a daily basis anyway - just had to use some common sense. Mind you, I had a small car - maybe people in those huge oversized cars have a different experience!

MsCactus · 30/10/2024 22:41

I had v hard pregnancies. I'd need the extra space much more pregnant than now when getting out my toddler tbh.

But my pregnancy was so hard I couldn't really walk, so I think that'd counts as disability re parking spaces

Suzuki70 · 30/10/2024 22:52

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.

Thank you! I think clutching at straws is describing "parking on an end" as being against a car and a hedge or wall. It was quite clear that wasn't what the previous poster meant.

Viviennemary · 30/10/2024 22:59

No it isn't. Unless it's OK for any other person who has difficulty getting in and out of the car but doesn't have a blue badge. There are many.

Ella31 · 30/10/2024 22:59

I've had to use them lately as I'm pregnant too and have pgp. Finding walking very difficult. Dh to be fair is doing all the shopping but on the days he's at work , it's a struggle. I'm not even big yet so I've no doubt people think I'm taking the p* but my pelvis is literally murdering me at the moment.

Allfur · 30/10/2024 23:01

If shopping is such a struggle just get it delivered

Papergirl1968 · 31/10/2024 00:07

Changing the subject slightly but is it ok for grandparents to park in a parent and child space?
If I take my 18-month-old DGD to the supermarket or wherever, we might not necessarily have DD with us. So I’m a parent with a child but not my child…
Noted parent and child spaces are not legally enforceable and I’ve never considered it before but this thread has made me wonder if people look at me and think “cheeky mare, she’s too old to be that kid’s mother and shouldn’t be using a parent and child space.”

Solmum1964 · 31/10/2024 00:30

If in any doubt, speak to customer services about it.
I'm sure they'll reassure you that it's absolutely fine.

Solmum1964 · 31/10/2024 00:33

Papergirl1968 · 31/10/2024 00:07

Changing the subject slightly but is it ok for grandparents to park in a parent and child space?
If I take my 18-month-old DGD to the supermarket or wherever, we might not necessarily have DD with us. So I’m a parent with a child but not my child…
Noted parent and child spaces are not legally enforceable and I’ve never considered it before but this thread has made me wonder if people look at me and think “cheeky mare, she’s too old to be that kid’s mother and shouldn’t be using a parent and child space.”

This is fine too. I don't think anyone would question your use of a p&c space in the circumstances described.

Userxyd · 31/10/2024 02:48

Absolutely! You'll struggle to get out of the car in a normal space - you need to open your door wide x

Mam89 · 31/10/2024 06:09

Papergirl1968 · 31/10/2024 00:07

Changing the subject slightly but is it ok for grandparents to park in a parent and child space?
If I take my 18-month-old DGD to the supermarket or wherever, we might not necessarily have DD with us. So I’m a parent with a child but not my child…
Noted parent and child spaces are not legally enforceable and I’ve never considered it before but this thread has made me wonder if people look at me and think “cheeky mare, she’s too old to be that kid’s mother and shouldn’t be using a parent and child space.”

Yes I think it’s fine for anyone with a baby or small child to park there as long as that baby/child is with them and getting out of the car. I used them when taking my nephew aged 2.

RebeccaJD · 31/10/2024 06:42

Haha! I needed these spaces more when I was pregnant than now with a baby. I think people generally see a car seat and know if they park too close they might get boshed but there’s nothing to show you’re pregnant.

I remember going shopping at odd times so I could get parking spots at the end of rows so no one could block me in. This was after the time I was 9 months pregnant and had to climb over the passenger seat cause couldn’t get my car out and the parking person said I’d still get a fine if I went over the time.

I think when pregnant women get to a certain size they should get a temporary disabled parking badge so they can get in the car.

But knowing people using these spots have mostly been heavily pregnant themselves - they should absolutely understand why you’re using them.

RebeccaJD · 31/10/2024 06:44

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

I think the problem is if you’re obese you could squash your belly and just be uncomfortable. You can’t squash to get into a car when pregnant.

moneyquestion5 · 31/10/2024 06:48

I would park the tractor further away and leave them for parents with kids. It's not like you have little kid running across the car park.

CecilyP · 31/10/2024 06:50

misszebra · 30/10/2024 17:47

OP is PREGNANT not overweight

Show quote history

But the very obese person would still have the same problem (in many cases even more of a problem) with an over large car and a too small parking space. I feel you’re making a moral judgment rather than looking at it as a practical problem. I guess with the sheer number of very large cars, sooner or later, all parking spaces will need to be redrawn.

110APiccadilly · 31/10/2024 06:51

My view would be that if you're struggling to get into or out of a car parked in a standard space due to pregnancy (at whatever stage) then it's fine to use parent and child spaces. I'd imagine you're visibly obviously pregnant so hopefully anyone watching will realise why you're using that space. But if not, well, it's not really their business.