Do you use parent & child spaces when you don’t have a child?

[incognito1991]

I’ve just got back from my local retail park, which is where my nearest supermarket is and getting increasingly wound up. My 2 year old DD was asleep so I sat in the car for 10 minutes until she woke and we could go to the shop. Within those 10 minutes I saw 3 different cars parking in a parent and child bay and it was only them, no child, not pregnant, just selfish. No matter where I go I struggle to get a parent and child space because they’re all taken up by idiots with no children, I even see people with older children use these spaces, I think they should specify it’s for babies and toddlers not your 10 year old. I really struggle getting my DD in and out of the car in a normal bay as I can’t open the door wide enough, can barely squeeze her in aswell as leaning in to strap her in. If you park in one of these spaces I’d love to hear your reasons please.

Shopping centre near us fines for this...quite hefty too

Urgh I remember some young women bitching about me using one with a toddler when they just had babies. It’s like top trumps or something.

I'm with you on this.

I think the general rule of thumb should be to only park in p and C if you have a child in a car seat who needs help doing up their seatbelt, so probably up to 5-6 years of age, although I know children vary.

I don't park in P and C if I just have my 10 year old with me. Until recently I parked in them with my 6 year old, but she can now do up her belt herself, so now I only use them if I have one of 6 year olds friends in the car too, as some of them still seem to struggle so I might need to help them and need space to lean in to strap them in.

You drop her off at the door and then go and park in a normal space!

Legally you are allowed to do this with a blue badge displayed though!!

I don’t park in the spaces because I don’t need them. I used to if there was space when I had little children but it shouldn’t be the end of the world if they’re full. I don’t understand why people say they can’t park if the p&c spaces are full. What do they do in car parks that don’t have them at all or do they just go places with p&c spaces?

Rude.

He is.....I just prefer to be caution after losing a child already

Sainsbury’s allows parents with children up to 12 to park in them, so yes I do park in them with DD aged 10 if one is available. They’re not all super close to the store but do have a path to the stores which is useful whether you have a kid or not. If I’m alone I park near the path (but not in a P & C space).

I have a hidden disability so I do sometimes

I genuinely don’t think disabled spaces are abused in the same way from my experience because there’s policing and fines associated with the misuse of these spaces.

And it’s ok to be annoyed about spaces you need because you have young children being taken up by those without - it doesn’t take anything away from the frustration you must feel when a disabled space is taken by an able bodied person!

If P&C spaces were located furthest from the store entrance the problem would be solved.

My mum used one the other day because my dad doesn’t have a blue badge (no idea why not but they appealed and it was refused). He has a brain tumour and lung cancer and his breathing was bad but he wanted to get out the house so went to the supermarket cafe while mum shopped for some bits. She was worried they’d be shouted at but decided to just do it. Usually very rule abiding so I was surprised but I thing it’s fair. I remember considering it when heavily pregnant but didn’t because I’d have been an anxious mess.

Because being a parent is a choice. Being disabled isn't.

Well if its nearer ti the shop i will use the P&C rather than disabled for my son hes 16 and severly autistic no sense of danger , cognitlvly around 2 or3.

I’ve never used one with no kids, I’ve used them occasionally until kids were 7&9 which is pushing it, but haven’t used for a couple of years and now both are out of car seats I doubt I’ll use again. Happy to ask where the child is if they have none with them and are using them.

But most supermarkets say an age and I’ve only ever seen 10 or 12 so your opinion doesn’t really matter and shaming someone for using a space for their 9yo is rude.

Because supermarkets etc are not legally required to provide them. They are a courtesy.

I have used one once, it was late at night, pissraining and the car park was quiet.

Many years ago, probably about 30 years a friend of mine said the P and C places should be far from the door, ideally with a covered walkway and covered trolleys withseats.

Because having a child is not remotley the same as being disabled.

This thread just goes to prove what self-entitled dicks people are these days. The shops provide these for a certain person with a specific need, but “I’m going to use it anyway because I judge that I have a need too, and it’s not enforceable”.

I want the OAP discount in my local chippy because it isn’t legally enforceable and my budget is tight too… I judge that I have a need as well- why can’t I have it?

No I wouldn't but I also didn't rely on them when my kids were little. you say you have one 2-year old and struggle to get out, how? how big is your car?

I would park further away where it's not so busy, get the pram out, get the child in the pram. I used to open the door and stand so that the door couldn't hit the other car and DS plus DS climbed out. Not difficult.

I just don’t understand why all these people who have difficulty getting in and out of cars are bothering to go to a supermarket at all. Supermarket shopping is grotty and time consuming even without the hassle of finding a suitable parking spot. I have shopped online for years.
It is different if you are going somewhere you need to,

Most old parks need to be redesigned.

The newer ones seem to have just that little bit more space. P&C spaces nearest to a covered walkway but not near rest to the shops.

At our local supetmarket, the carpark is shared with a soft play. The supermarket was there first,the P&C spaces are nearer its entrance. There is a pathway between the entrances. The whole car park has the same rules.

The p&c spaces are never as busy as the spaces nearest the Soft Play. A mere 50m extra walk...

Whenever i see them being used by people who don’t have kids in my local supermarket its always older people or workmen in vans! My kids are grown up but i think its completely wrong and selfish for anyone other than people with babies or small children to use them.