Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

parking in parent parking with a 5yr old?

110 replies

littlemoominmamma · 10/11/2009 12:15

hello,

Title says it all really... is she getting a bit too old? Or should i continue just because it feels soo much safer. What age is too old?

OP posts:

BuckRogers · 10/11/2009 13:03

If it's on the street, that's different but not in a supermarket car park.

BuckRogers · 10/11/2009 13:05

Magso, any parent with a child with additional needs should use them for as long as they need IMO. Even after that child reaches 12.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 10/11/2009 13:06

It hadn't occurred to me to park in them since DS was 2, maybe 3. I've never looked at the sign about the age and assumed it was for when you have a baby or toddler.

Personally I think by the time they are at school they really should be capable of getting out of a normal space in normal circumstances. Up to 12 seems completely ridiculous, most of the children at DD's school walk to school and back in Year 5 and the idea of them needing a wide supermarket parking space is ridiculous.

borderslass · 10/11/2009 13:08

magso thats only quite a recent change I think they did it when making the car seat compulsory until 12 or certain height, couldn't do it with my son who is asd used to just frog march him if he started on one of his tissys

blueshoes · 10/11/2009 13:08

Parking attendant??

The supermarket carpark is not a public carpark so it cannot be your man from the council. The supermarket cannot legally fine anyone for anything unless at the very least it puts up signs to say that parking in the P&T spaces without a T attracts a fine - would like to see the supermarket carpark that does this.

There is zero chance (nada) of 'getting done' at my Sainsbury carpark.

twolittlekings · 10/11/2009 13:10

It's the same as parking in a disabled slot and not being disabled. The car park is not run by the supermarket but by Euro parking and regardless of whether you think it is illegal or not they can and will fine people. All I am saying is be careful.

Anyway, I do have a sense of humor and am slighly responding tongue in cheek but I do think that if you have an older child that's capable of taking instruction or you don't have kids with you, or you are with DH / partner / friend and your kids then you should leave those spaces for people that really need them. Sadly in this day and age so many people don't think like that - call me old fashioned but it's a case of thinging of others not just yourself.

paisleyleaf · 10/11/2009 13:12

Ours is a sign with a buggy. Which seems fair enough - use them for as long as your child needs a buggy.
Although I can count on one hand the number of times I've actually used one. They're a bit of a premium at my local store.

blueshoes · 10/11/2009 13:12

Were there signs, 2littlekings? Even clampers cannot get away with their cowboy tactics without signs, much less Europarking.

If not, I would say your friend was well and truly conned!

foxinsocks · 10/11/2009 13:16

lol korma

those spaces are so ridiculous (P and C) - they are mainly used by van men where we are

I love these threads. They are starting to need a topic of their own lol.

Original poster

littlemoominmamma · 10/11/2009 13:22

Having put my question to the mumsnet jury it would seem that the overwhelming verdict was that I am completely and utterly unreasonable which i humbly accept.

In light of your decision i will no longer park in parent and child parking but will instead try to find a space next to the pathway that leads to the store. Another milestone in my little ones lives! Hoorah!

May I now join you in castagating anyone who comes on here and admits to this heainous act....

OP posts:

June2009 · 10/11/2009 13:22

I remember when I was pregnant wishing for these spaces to include "pregnant women"...

ChunkyMonkeysMum · 10/11/2009 13:23

My DS1 is 6 and has ASD & I don't use the parent & child/baby/toddler spaces if I'm out and about just with him as he doesn't use a pushchair or car seat, just a booster seat, so we really don't need one of these spaces. I haven't used them since he was about 3.

I do have a 14 month old DS2 and will always try to get one of these spaces when I'm out with him or with them both, but more often than not we can never get one!!!

I personally don't think they should be used by people who are not getting children in and out of car seats or pushchairs. If your child is able to get in and out of a car & walk by themselves, it is unreasonable to use these spaces.

southeastastra · 10/11/2009 13:25

our tesco says for 5 and under. i used to use it when my son was little as he did have the potential to rush off and people weren't very aware when they were looking for a parking space. also if you have a baby they're pretty easy to keep safe, don't exactly wander off do they?

all in all though i do think car parks are designed by morons nowadays

borderslass · 10/11/2009 13:28

one of the biggest problem is cars have got bigger but the spaces haven't in most car parks

VengefulSinner · 10/11/2009 13:33

My local Sainbury's has changed the signs to have a large notice on each P&C bay saying that if you do not have a child with you then you may get a fine of £50.

Have not yet seen it enforced and everytime I go I still see plenty of people (single men or couples who look over 50/55ish) parked in one while a mother with a babyseat drives round in circles looking for a P&C space.

I was one that complained about people parking in these spaces - I guess enough of us must have done to get the fine signs up but now I don't qualify as DS is 5!

paisleyleaf · 10/11/2009 13:39

"May I now join you in castagating anyone who comes on here and admits to this heainous act...."

sadlynoNOTthatPeachy · 10/11/2009 13:44

'There is zero chance (nada) of 'getting done' at my Sainsbury carpark.'

notat mine sadly

I parked in the rain thinking I was in P&T- thesig with a buggy faced us but therewas a disability logo on the space itself so I returned to an official warning of a fine and they would record my number to check if I did it again

The irony of course being that I had two asd kids with me

I even took Dh to the space and he said he thought it was signed as P&T as well, it rather shook me up as I would be the last person to take a disabled space from someone

sadlynoNOTthatPeachy · 10/11/2009 13:47

DisagreeChunkyMonkeysMum.....some of us have two kids with ASd to hang on to, more than doubles the risk IMO. You can't lock the doors, get a trolley etc whilst holding onto both.

Luckily I have a baby as well, but unless they give in and give me a blue badge (is that hell freezing voer I see there....) I will be continuing to use P&T until ds's are safe.

EyeballsintheSky · 10/11/2009 13:48

Consider yourself accepted into the MN bosom littlemoomin

jobhuntersrus · 10/11/2009 13:59

Youngest is 3 and I will try and get a p&t space if i can. They are not always that close to the store just wider. I have a 3 door car so need to open the door wide to be able to reach into the back to unclip ds. It's habit too, just automatically drive to that section of the car park.

Original poster

littlemoominmamma · 10/11/2009 14:01

Thankyou soo much eyeball.... I shall enjoy your bosom

My next thread may be how long should you enforce holdy hands - I think my 14yr old is getting embarrassed x

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 10/11/2009 14:08

Asda and Sainsbury's round here fine people if they park in the P&C spaces. Can people's 2 year olds really do up their own harnesses? DS is 3.4 and I still have to put him in and out of his carseat. His goes up to 6 years old so I will be using them until then.

Undercovamutha · 10/11/2009 14:15

IMO you don't need a parent and child parking space once your child is in a booster seat. Before then, either with Baby Seat, or next seat up, I think it can be difficult to lift them in. My DD struggled to climb into her seat on her own until we recently got a booster (she is now 3.4).
My main gripe is that all the child-friendly parking is near the store. Why not have some at the other end of the carpark (where noone else wants to park), next to a few baby/child seat trolleys. Then there would be less people parking in them just cos they are 'handy', and parents could get their kids straight out of the car, into the trolleys and off.

iateallthecreameggsyummy · 10/11/2009 14:18

Interesting this thread to me as Ive had my baby parking permit for some time now from tescos baby club and often dont know if i should park in the parent parking area being pregnant but I do need extra room getting in and out, as i end up with cramp lifting my leg into the car! Gosh doesnt bode well for the next 10 weeks hey!

Also id likely hit other peoples cars getting in and out of mine as door needs to be wide open

twolittlekings · 10/11/2009 14:21

Undercovamutha i think that's a really good idea - if I can't get a parent & child slot I always try to park near a trolley park so I can grab one easily and more importantly at the end of the shop when I have loaded up the car I don't have to trudge miles back to put the trolley away and leave my kids unattended in the car.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread