What is the Mumsnet consensus on P&C spaces?

[JacquesHarlow]

As per many people, I’ve been out at supermarkets and retail parks around 8 times this Christmas. 5 of those in Surrey, one in Wythenshawe, the rest in the Newcastle area.

My DCs are not toddlers any more so I don’t have the same “will the door open wide enough to take out the car seat and plug it into the pram system” dilemna.

However I have huge empathy for the mothers (and on occasion dads) who I do see doing this. There’s a lovely convenience to parking in a bay where you can pull the pram alongside, open the door wide enough, then take out the seat and baby in one go.

So why is it that on all eight occasions, I’ve seen large SUVs with a solo occupant, the majority of them women, pull into a P&C bay, walk out, and then shoot that filthy “I dare you to challenge me” look?

it is honestly fascinating to me to see how often this happens now. These folk are not in any way visually disabled or physically showing any signs of disability, although if they were, there were numerous disabled spaces available in every car park I saw this happen in.

Nope, these were people who just wanted “premium” parking. They were blatant about it. There were no elderly passengers, hidden disabilities or anything else.

Am I going to get the usual Mumsnet gaslighting of “you don’t know what a person is going through” or are we going to accept that people are CFs who want to take anything that is available to someone else in case they feel like they’re the ones missing out?

I am curious to see if the overwhelming consensus on Mumsnet is that because we had to struggle without the spaces, then NO ONE deserves to have them. That we shouldn’t make life more comfortable for mums and dads with newborns and toddlers, because those spaces really should be for everyone.

so let’s see

YABU - Those spaces shouldn’t be for parents. They should be for everyone

YANBU - Those people who selfishly park there are wrong and this is why we can’t have nice things.

In all honestly it’s annoying, yes. I’ll eye roll but never confront - it’s not worth your blood pressure rising. There are far worse things in life.

People do it, because it’s not enforceable like disabled parking.

I am also in the camp of park as far back as possible where I can take my time to park. I hate when someone’s waiting for me to slot in to a space 😂

My reasonable adjustment is parking in the P&C spaces (or at least, I did before I got my BB)

I’m amazed at the amount of people who can’t just park up and Chuck baby in a sling and get on with their day.
its just a parking space!
local shops, on street parking, schools, hospitals and small carparks don’t have them.
if you can’t manage Tesco with a kid then get your shopping delivered

I’m more bothered by the tight-arses who use supermarket parking as free parking - it’s this that makes the car parks congested and less likely to get a space. More supermarkets need introduce ANPR receipt validation.

Yeah but how would you know the difference, my ds doesnt LOOK disabled. And we didn't have a badge at this point.. so to you, it would have looked like a "child who is able to get in and out of the car". So it would have annoyed you.

Ds is 16. If I can’t get a blue badge space or like our local Lidl the P and C spaces are better located than the disabled I will use one with him.

I think on the whole though P and C spaces have created a lot of helpless parents who seem to think it’s impossible to go to the supermarket without one (yet manage just fine at the attractions that don’t have them!) and even worse some who think they are comparable to disabled parking!

I no longer use them as my kids have all flown the nest but it still infuriates me when some dick - usually tattooed massive men - in a big car to fit their meaty heads casually parks in them and clearly don’t give a shit. (I was waiting for a friend one night and watched 6 do it - all men, big cars). Sat there fuming.

I’d love to confront them but wouldn’t dare. I wish they’d situate them further away so that p+cs get the space they need but swinging dicks don’t think they’re their own personal VIP space right by the doors.

I find it fascinating reading all the people who say "don't waste your energy" or "i wouldn't care so much"

Who said I care so much?!

I started a thread out of curiosity. It's not a burning issue to be put up there with climate change or Gaza etc.

I think it's indicative however of a growing problem in society, and I wanted to share that. I realise however that quite a lot of people on this thread want to use them and are happy to find any justification to do so, so clearly IABU and that's fine.

It’s very inconsiderate, and not something I have ever done, but I whether the size of the car is relevant.

Many car parks were designed when cars were smaller. People may simply have been unable to squeeze their car into the normal spaces so go for the ones with extra space.

Tbh id put it up higher than gaza

They are lazy fuckers op. I have no probs with the elderly using them though or blue badge holders when their spaces are full.

I think it’s more telling that that was your response to someone who is disabled trying to park safely for them

I’m also disabled but and have a blue badge, but nice try 👍

I am legally entitled under the equality act 2010.

in point of fact, I have a BB now but it took ages to come. Following a life changing accident.

in the interim, as advised by Tesco staff (it’s my closest supermarket) I used the P&C spaces. They took a note of my car reg and that of my daughter in a book behind the counter at customer services.

if they hadn’t done that, I couldn’t have gone out at all until the BB came as I can’t get out of the car in a normal space.

I apologise for using shorthand I thought people were capable of understanding.

My late father had a blue badge and I used parent and child spaces on occasions as it was easier for him given his limited sight.