Oh God don't get me started on this, it's one of my pet hates, and many of you appear to agree with me.
I find it vital to park in parent & child spaces as others must also find, so I can lean in properly and get my toddler in and out of the car properly strapped. The "ordinary" spaces in many carparks just aren't wide enough to allow you to do this, let alone if some inconsiderate git parks 2 inches from the door ....
... I also found them invaluable when heavily pregnant, with severe pelvic pain which meant I couldn't walk far.
Our local Tesco's is populated by very selfish & ignorant shoppers who feel it is their "right" to use spaces intended for people who need a bit of space, i.e. parents with young children, and the disabled. I've got so fed up of that I once entered into long running correspondence with Tesco's so-called bloody Customer Service department, where I suggested how the problem of selfish drivers might be addressed.
Needless to say, Tesco's were very reluctant to "get involved", saying only that spaces were "regularly monitored" .... by people with blindfolds on it would appear. I've never seen anyone doing any "monitoring", much less remonstrating with someone who shouldn't be there. I suggested that the "monitor" should be armed with a supply of large fluorescent stickers, which could be slapped on the car's paintwork saying "I am a lazy, ignorant, selfish git" or words to that effect .... i.e. "name and shame" them ! The sticker wouldn't be the sort that could damage the car, but it might deter them from doing it again. I also suggested that maybe clamps could be used.
TBH, my little "campaign" was somewhat tongue in cheek, but I was, and still am, serious in my hatred of people who do this, and it makes my blood boil that the carpark's owners do so little about enforcing it ..... yet have this crowing attitude in all their literature about "baby clubs" and the like about the facilities they (sometimes don't) provide.
BTW, if I'm on my own, I never use those spaces. Yet the number of people who have no shame about it seems incredible to me .... parent & child spaces appearing to be "fair game" even more than disabled spaces. I have tried remonstrating on occasion myself but just got mouthfuls of abuse. I've lost count of the number of times I've been told that "I'm only going to be a minute" .... like that makes any difference at all FFS. I've also pointed out to a no. of people that they've "forgotten something". When asked what, I tell them it's the young children which would entitle them to use the space and then get told "ha ha very funny you stupid bitch, f* off and get a life".
So what can you do when faced with the likes of that ?!