parking spaces - mum and child

[3rdbump]

I always try to avoid shopping when its busy.
So i go on a tuesday morning, well anyway this morning aldi was heaving!
There are approx 6 spaces for mother and baby close to the door then another 6 spaces even closer to the door for disabled.
So being 36 weeks pregnant, suffering with SPD and having my 2 year old with me i drove round to our usual spot at mother and baby spaces. The car i was following clearly had no children and there where other spaces available but at the back of the car park (about 10) and there where 4 disabled free places.
This older couple drove straight into the mother and baby spot! (the only one available) so i drove round again as wanted to be sure they never had kids and then stopped alongside them in my car, watched them get out - with NO kids.
Wound the window down and told them that these spaces where reserved for people with small children and then went on to say about being heavily pregnant, unable to walk far and having my 2yr old blah blah blah......they replied with "we cant walk far either - we are disabled* so i politely pointed to the FOUR unoccupied disabled places and told them to park there (they where litrally right outside the bloody supermarket doors!!) they huffed and puffed and got back in their car and drove off. They didnt have a disabled badge and parked over the other side of the car park - certainly didnt have any difficulty stomping around the supermarket huffing and puffing!!

Am not normally assertive like that but am in so much pain with walking it was either that or sit in the car and wait until a space came up!

But, parent and baby spaces aren't there because the driver can't walk far, they're there because sometimes you need more space to be able to get the baby/carrier out of the car, so it doesn't matter if the OP went on to strut, stomp or moonwalk around the shop.

The parent and baby spaces aren't law like the disabled spaces, indeed, but there are plenty of rules in society we all follow which aren't legally enforceable. The owner of the car park has chosen to allocate a portion of their property to parents with babies - surely that creates an obligation to respect the rule?

Exactly.
It's the small proportion that ruin it for others.

Lettice, so what about somebody like my Dad who needs to open the door the full way in order to swing his legs round and sit fully perpendicular to the car before using the door to move up into a standing position, supported. He NEEDS the door fully open. He isn't, atm, entitled to a blue badge.

The 'rule' I respect is that of greatest need. Hopefully, those spaces can be left free for parents as originally intended but if somebody else also needs that extra space, particularly if that need also extends to being nearer to the store, the parent and child space should be used by other people too.

My local store very sensibly has parent and child spaces right at the back of the car park and some larger spaces nearer the store, just a short way from the disabled spaces, which most people leave for those who need them.

I think the 'needing extra space' thing to get children in and out of cars is bollocks personally.

Park at the back of the car park with a space either side/on the baby's side? Parents have managed for years without issue.

Those spaces are only there to make shops more attractive to parents. Anyone can use them

There is nothing in the OP that makes her reaction to an elderly couple in any way reasonable.

(I am expecting DC3 with two pre schoolers I am well aware of the practicalities of shopping with bump and children)

I have used the parent and child space last week. I don't have a baby yet, but I'm heavily pregnant and suffer with spd. I cannot get into or out of the car without fully opening the door.
I do however have an excellent arrangement with our next door neighbour. He is disabled and needs extra space. I currently need extra space. We park next to each other, one facing forwards and the other backwards, as much to the side of our allocated spots next to our block. That way, we can both open the door as wide as we like and not hit each others car!

I took my disabled mother to ikea once and was told by staff to park in the mother and child spaces as no disabled spaces were free. As soon as we pulled in we were met with an abusive mother shouting at us for parking there (there were more mother and child spaces, we didn't take the last one). I explained my mum was disabled (though the sticks and lack of mobility kind of give it away!) and was told tough, she should stay at home! It was horrid. My mum is now so bad she cannot leave her home which together with her illness has caused major depression to the point of 2 suicide attempts. I see this kind of thoughtlessness often with mothers as they seem to want the best for themselves and child with little thought for others, my SIL is a prime example!, ive asked my friends to keep an eye on me and give me a slap if I turn into one of these! (Am expecting our first )

I have a bit of sympathy for the elderly couple. My neighbour has 2 artificial knees but is fairly mobile once she gets going. She was told she no longer qualifies for a blue badge.

However, she has to open the door very wide to get in or out of her car. Her local supermarket has told her it's ok to use the parent and child spaces.

They are a marketing gimmick, nothing more. Don't be a dick about it. Reproducing doesn't put you above anyone else who needs a bit of extra assistance, and roaring at old people in public is just twattish. End of story.

@MummyPiggy87

If they were struggling so much to walk, then like the OP already said.. How is it they are okay to strut around the shop?? Anyone who is that bad can do home delivery as another option. If your relative was unable to walk far then drop them off and go and find a space. The point is, whether people like it or not it's a parent and toddler/baby space not a I can't walk far so I'll park here space, if that was the case everyone would be parking there. Having a baby in the backseat of a three door car means I had to open the door wide to my baby out, so I NEED the space.

Exactly you need the extra space to get the baby out the car seat if nothing else!