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?

Its not that people can't cope, it's just that it's very hard in normal spaces, especially if you have a baby car seat to get in and out. Child spaces benefit everyone, I wouldn't want to park in a space next to someone trying to get a travel system out or with young kids who might fling the door open into my car.

I've not rtft but at Meadowhall shopping centre (near Sheffield), the age limit is 5 & even then you need to register with customer services & obtain a permit.

So many people, with legitimate reason to park there, have been fined.

I have 4 and 8 year olds. P&C spaces are really limited at my local supermarket *and always used by people nipping in to get their Maccy D's... noone seems to care.

My just turning 4 year old is still in a seat I have to buckle her into, so it's easier to get her in/out with the extra space. Also, if I have both kids with me, it is SO much easier to park in the P&C spaces.

I generally don't bother if I just have my 8 year old with me!

I wouldn’t over think it too much. Where I live the majority of child spaces are always taken by young men without children driving expensive cars who are clearly so busy they need to park right outside the shop. No doubt before they then drive off to use the gym disabled parking and jump on the treadmill to get their step count up….
So I think if someone has a child with them of any age they are a heck of a lot more entitled than that to use it.
If an area clearly has signs and people follow them, then great! But don’t stress if you use a child space with your child!

Age limit on the signs is good enough for me. My 8yo is autistic so I don't feel bad about using them but once she's 11 or 12, I won't use them in order to avoid confrontation.

Go by signage, all ones I have come across are 12 and under!

They are for people with young children, young enough to use a pushchair, but I see people parking in them all the time with teenage children because they’re selfish and they don’t care if someone with a pushchair has to have their child in the road as they can’t fit them along side the car 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s sort of similar with disabled spaces they were designed for people in wheelchairs but obviously anyone with a disability badge can park in them, whether walking is difficult for them or not, even if that inconveniences a wheelchair user. People are just awful 🤷🏻‍♀️

Grandma here with grandchildren aged 6 and 10. I still use the spaces if available as, at that age, they still fling open the doors and Im fearful of them hitting the car parked next to us

I'm 40 my mum still parks in the space.

I figure about 6

For me it was when I didn’t have to help buckle them into the seat, so probably about 6. Neurodiversity / physical aside and I appreciate you never know, but I remember trying to park with no available spaces and parents getting out with way older kids requiring no help and them wandering off. You need the wider spaces to be able to open the door fully to get the baby seat out or help with the buckle.

If there’s an end space in the car park where I can get my son out comfortably I park there as am quite happy to walk to the shop, however if there’s not I will use a parent and child space as need to fully open my back door to get him out. He’s 4 and I’ve always done this, however if my mom is with us (she struggles to walk far but is having issues getting a blue badge as her condition is apparently not permanent, yet she’s had it 3 years) I will park in one.

Officially it's up to 12yrs, my DS is 8 and we park in them if they are free and just use a normal space if they aren't I'd never bother to wait for one. But tbh the amount of people who park in them with teenagers or without children full stop is astonishing.

All supermarkets need to rethink their car parking spaces as many cars today are a lot bigger than when the size of the spaces was determined.

I drive to a newish) Lidl that has made all the spaces of their new car park much wider, at least 3ft wider.

Don't people use child locks for their Primary age children now? Stops them flinging open doors randomly.

I think if they are still in a car seat and need to be strapped in your all good, teenage children.....no lol

If you don’t need a pram, don’t use it. assuming the space is there to help with opening and closing prams or very young children

Very selfish of you. Unless your 17 year old can’t walk or has a pram then you’ve no need to park their. Your child is pretty much an adult. However I think you know you’re being selfish.

I’d say probably not necessary past age 6 as most children should be safe enough to walk in a car park. Although if you’ve got a few children then I can see why you might still use them.

Some places near me state under 5, some state 12 and under.

So really depends on the car parks rules!

When they can strap themselves in.

As long as my youngest is in a harness strap and I have to have the door wide open to manoeuvre her and the straps, I’ll be utilising the extra space. She’s pretty small for her age so no idea when I’ll feel comfortable enough for her to switch to a normal seatbelt.

I won’t be using parent and child spaces after that though, feels inconsiderate to use something I don’t need that can be a massive help to others. It doesn’t bother me hugely when others with older kids use them, even older kids are more likely to swing their doors open without thinking etc and cause damage. It is pure bullshit when people park in the parent and child space to then leave the child in the car (usually with another adult) though. If the kid isn’t getting out then you don’t need the space.

Technically, it is under the age of 12 and still using a child car seat (according to the sign at our supermarket).

Because ND is just one of many reasons why. It's not the only one 🙄

Physical disability in my child's case, not significant enough for a blue badge but enough that she is school age and often uses a buggy, struggles to walk distance, often needs to be carried etc.

TBF, in some places she'd probably be given a blue badge, and maybe I should give it a shot. We usually use p&c spaces, or if out with both parents, she gets dropped off with a parent.

At the Trafford centre M&S, the parent and child spaces are right next to the entrance doors. They’re usually rammed with expensive cars with no child seats in the back.

A few weeks ago, the entrance doors were closed for a couple of weeks as they were installing a revolving door. The new, temporary entrance to M&S was round the corner.

Well, wouldn’t you know it, all of a sudden the parent and child spaces freed up! We had no bother parking there.

The original entrance opened up again recently and yep… you guessed it… it’s very hard to find a space now. I had to wait for a space today and finally got one thanks to a couple who left - no child in sight!

I can't say I used them past 3 tbh

Youngest is 8 now and I'd never think for a second that using one was necessary

I think if there’s lots of parent spaces it would be ok but if there are only a few, someone will probably need it more. Like needing to get two or more small children out.