Parent and child spaces... when heavily pregnant

[LittleLionMansMummy]

Am I justified in using them at our local Tesco even when ds1 is not with me? Currently 39+1 and for the first time very uncomfortable and finding it difficult to walk far since baby dropped. Normally I am able to park relatively close anyway without resorting to parent/ child but the car park is having extensive work so there's a high demand for the closer spaces now since a third of the car park is closed. I'm not really sure what the parent/ child etiquette is, but have been using the spaces recently because I'm obviously heavily pregnant.

Out of interest when is the acceptable age to stop using P&C spaces?? When they're out of stage 1 seats, stage 2, or can belt themselves in?

I wonder this too! I can hear people now - "my 16yo dd is my child, I'm entitled to park here!"

I'm the size of a pregnant lady without being pregnant

Presumably squishy fat rather than solid baby. There is a huge difference.

Try shoving a cushion through a smaller-than-cushion-sized gap. Now try it with a watermelon.

As I said, Physics. Your belly is compressible. A baby in the womb is not.

Oh god we are all a bit precious here aren't we?

Back in the real world people just crack on with life.

Agree with soup. I could barely walk when pregnant.

And being over weight is very different to being pregnant.

Agree with soup. I could barely walk when pregnant. Ok, so you could barely walk, was the just from the car to the supermarket door? Then suddenly you were fine to wander round the shop? I would suspect not, in which case I don't see how parking a few meters closer would have any impact whatsoever.

Oh god we are all a bit precious here aren't we?

No, but some people are showing their ignorance and lack of empathy.

Ok, so you could barely walk, was the just from the car to the supermarket door? Then suddenly you were fine to wander round the shop? I would suspect not, in which case I don't see how parking a few meters closer would have any impact whatsoever.

I assume you have the same attitude towards blue badge holders. After all, of they can walk round the shop why do they need special parking near the door?

No, but some people are showing their ignorance and lack of empathy.. And this is exactly what I meant about being precious. Why do I need to have empathy? it's pregnancy fgs

Meadows - does having small children with you mean you're less able to walk distances? Or are you just being a GF?

Use the P&C parking OP. I did in my last pregnancy - I had polyhydramnios and unless I could open the door fully, I couldn't get out of the car.

I assume you have the same attitude towards blue badge holders. After all, of they can walk round the shop why do they need special parking near the door? please don't make assumptions like that. There is literally no need to bring disability in to this. I was talking about the use of P&C spaces ONLY.

Meadows - does having small children with you mean you're less able to walk distances? Or are you just being a GF? I have no idea what GF means in that context?

And the conversation wasn't about small children, it was about pregnant women

Probably best to just ignore Meadows - she's clearly a tedious GF so there's no point in engaging.

OP, if you are struggling in the regular space of course you should use the P&C ones - after all, most people using those spots has been in your position and will know how it feels!

What is a GF?

Being pregnant really messes with your spatial awareness - I kept trying to turn sideways to get through narrow gaps! Toilet cubicles were the worst - especially getting out again. I had no mobility issues apart from narrow gaps but had several situations where I had to wait to get back in my car and far more where I had to get DH to get the car out - so I would only use a P&C space if alone. Equally I wouldn't judge because having had the bowling ball in pelvis for a while and managing to waddle I could totally see why people would not be able to cope!

Out of interest when is the acceptable age to stop using P&C spaces??

The signs at my local Tesco say if your child is under 5yrs. The signs at my local Sainsbury's say if your child is under 12yrs.

Although personally I feel an upper limit of 12yrs is far more generous than necessary for the majority of children.

And incidentally, having been both the size of a pregnant woman without being pregnant, and pregnant, I can confirm that it's definitely easier to squeeze a non pregnant tummy through a small gap.

It means goady fucker.

You said it was about walking distances. So if that's why you're using P&C spaces with small children, I presume that means it's harder for someone with small children to walk distances.

I don't see any problems with it. On more than one occasion when I was pregnant I had to climb through the back passenger door because someone had parked so close me I couldn't get in. With a big belly and rubbish flexibility it was difficult to say the least.

My issue is with people whose children are no longer in a car seat and are perfectly capable of getting out the car unassisted.

Even worse are he people who don't have kids at all, aren't pregnant and don't have a blue badge and are just plain lazy bastards

I was wondering the same thing. I'm pregnant with ds2 and towards the end my first pregnancy someone parked so close to my car I was literally too fat to squeeze into my own car! I had SPD so couldn't get vis the passenger side as i couldn't get my leg over the gear stick, if you know what i mean.
I had to wait ages for him to come back, and when he did he was mortified!
I wouldn't object to a clearly pregnant woman using those spaces, but I'm not sure I'd be brave enough without ds1 with me.

it means goady fucker

Thanks. I never in a million years would have worked that out based on having a different opinion.

So if that's why you're using P&C spaces with small children. I'm NOT using them

Why do you care if the OP is using them then?