When are your kids too old for you to use the Parent parking spaces at supermarket (if they have no additional needs)?

[Janefx40]

Just wondering really. My DD is 6 (I also have a younger boy but he wasn’t there). For context the spaces at our local are limited…there is usually one available but often only one and sometimes they are full.

Obviously if kids have neurodiversity, physical needs or any other specific reason to be closer to the shop then that’s different.

For kids with no additional needs and are reasonably good at not running off (still 6 so can happen nevertheless), would you park in the parent and child?

Once they got past the stage of needing to be strapped into a car seat. They're great things to have when you've got a baby and a toddler - no need to use one when you have older children without additional needs.

It’s not just about the parking space size, it’s also usually on a safer place on the carpark and has a walk way attached or is closer to the shops so you don’t have to cross the carpark with a small child.

Why are you strangely proud of this?

get better at parking

It’s whenever the sign says. Some say under 5, some say under 10, some under 12. I would park in a parent and child space with my 9 year old if there were a few available. I wouldn’t if only one was available in case someone with young children came along. Realistically you don’t need them past the age of about 6 and your child can do their own seatbelt.

Cars used to be a lot smaller so there was more space around the car in a normal car park space. Also when I was little we had neither car seats nor seat belts. Plus we did our shopping in the town centre on foot.

They should put the p and c spaces right along the back of the car park with a safe, wide path round the edge to the entrance. There should be a large trolley bay in front of the p and c spaces as well as outside the entrance for people who need to strap their child into the trolley.
Only the blue badge spaces should be next to the entrance.

I’d say the limit is whether the child can get themselves in and out of the car.

Otherwise the extra space around the car is needed.

It does annoy me they’re so close to the store as it encourages others to use them who don’t need them. I’d be quite happy with the spaces further away, next to a trolley bay.

Thanks everyone. I’d not actually thought about the “doing own seat belt” thing but makes sense as you don’t have to lean in…

So summarising what most people have said the key points are - check if there is a given age limit. Do you need extra space around the car to navigate straps and car seats? Are the spaces in a safer location (so shorter walk and less need to navigate other cars)? Are there plenty of spaces or should we prioritise them for those most in need ie with several kids of babies?

And have faith that those people using them without an obvious reason may have another reason…

And have faith that those people using them without an obvious reason may have another reason…

That reason might be selfishness - like the PP

12 is crazy

Id say 5/6

Shops probably use 12 as that's the legal age you don't need a car seat regardless of height.

It’s not officially anything. Owners of private car parks can impose whatever rules they like (provided they aren’t discriminating). So if one car park owner decides to say 12, another can say 5.

Once they were out of car seats. Whilst still using a booster - we used P&C.

Can see that might not work if you have an unusually tall 5 year old.

If the problem is that cars are bigger nowadays, why do adults manage and not 12 year olds? Sure it’s easier, but necessary? Not imo

12 is high school age. I stopped using them a lot earlier than that.

I stopped once I was able to safely navigate across the car park with them - about 5? There aren't that many parent and child spaces at my local supermarket so I felt selfish not leaving them for someone with a baby or toddler. I will always remember parking there one time and being yelled at by some woman saying "These spaces are for people with kids you know". She did stop yelling when I opened up the back door and took the baby out of her car seat.

28

My youngest is 45. I suppose I really should think about stopping soon 😀

I stopped when mine were old enough to not need the extra space, so out of pushchairs, able to get in the car and not need to have a hand held to stop them running off. Can’t remember how old they were. 5 or 6? It is a nice to have rather than a need though isn’t it, I wasn’t ever upset if all the bays were taken.

When they don’t need help to get in and out of the car or to do up their straps/seatbelt anymore. So I guess around 6
My youngest is 10 and I haven’t parked in them for a few years, I would feel embarrassed as she is taller than me now!

Shopping for your child when they’re not there is not on and is an abuse of the space by any stretch of the imagination.

For me, I’d say that when a non-disabled child can walk the extra distance from a parent and child space then that’s the time to stop. If I had to estimate an age, I’d say around 6. Some regular spaces are right by the parent and child spaces anyway so it’s a few feet further at the most.

*edited to make more specific

I stopped using them when I didn't have to wrangle kids into car seats anymore - that's what I always thought the extra space was for. I also don't get the running off bit, surely you don't want kids running off wherever they are in the car park? Being nearer the shop was useful when they were smaller but not needed since the youngest was about 4 or 5.

When they are out of car/booster seats, can do their own seatbelts and can be trusted not to bash the doors and walk in front of reversing cars etc. I think it’s very individual.

It’s the space. Otherwise they wouldn’t be marked with wider spaces.

i wish they were at the back, by a trolley bay with child seats, so people would leave them alone and you can transport the kids safely over.

it really makes my life difficult to not have space either side to load/unload my kids safely. Bad enough to get out of the house with littles as is.

i really don’t know what a ‘good reason’ to use them is. They are for kids in car and booster seats. If you don’t have a child in a booster seat or car seat- you don’t need them.

when my children are able to clip in their own booster seat without me holding the door wide open, I won’t be using them- I’ll move to regular spaces and leave them for parents wrestling with car seats.

not that it will make a massive difference- as we can see from this thread and my anecdotal experience, middle aged people solo and parents with teens will still continue to use them.

Once they are old enough to not be in a pram.

Parents with prams are the ones who need the spaces the most.