Did you use parent and child parking spaces?

**bubbasweet** · 23-04-2012, 12:37pm

I'm finding I have to park quite carefully these days to make sure I've got enough room to get back in the car, so I either end up parking a mile from where I need to be, or on the end of a row. I'm in no fit state to have to climb over a gear lever or in via the boot

It occured to me whilst I was at Sainsbos this morning that it might just be easier to use P&C spaces, but I don't know what the protocol is. I joined the Tescos parent club thing, and apparently they're going to send me a badge for the P&C spaces, however I get the rage when I go to Tesco so I can't see me using it much

**parkejm** · 23-04-2012, 12:41pm

I had a quick chat with Sainsburys customer services and asked permission to use the P&C bays and they were fine with it. When I shopped there without Oscar I would just have to let them know at the CS desk when I arrived and they told the security/car park blokies to let me park there. No-one ever challenged me, and I only parked there if there were really no others for me to park in so in reality it only 2 or 3 times.

**claireh** · 23-04-2012, 12:45pm

In pregnancy I didn't have any significant mobility problems at all so walking from the other side of the car park wasn't an issue.

If you are in lots of pain I would have a word with the store. Tbh I don't see anyone challenging you. You will be visible pregnant and if someone did challenge you all you would have to do is explain why you have parked there.

Technically you do have a child with you.

**lisnic** · 23-04-2012, 01:01pm

I never did with ds but I have 4x4 now too so find if someone parks close it is very difficult to get in and out as it is!luckily with dd I had ds so no issue

**Bluebabe75** · 23-04-2012, 01:05pm

I did second time round but only if I had M with me. First time it wouldn't even have occurred to me, although tbh I was 36 weeks by the time I passed my test so didn't drive much

I didn't have any mobility issues though.

**RealGoneKid** · 23-04-2012, 01:39pm

When I was pg with DD the Tesco rules were that you could use the p & c spaces after a certain point in your pregnancy. I did use them both times because I had severe SPD and couldn't walk.

**suemarie** · 23-04-2012, 01:49pm

I used the expectant mums car parking spaces @ my local Asda & normal spaces as Tesco's

**Faith** · 23-04-2012, 02:05pm

I doubt many people would complain about heavily pregnant ladies using P+C places (that's when you have a big enough bump for it to get in the way of two cars, not when you're 6 weeks!) I have two children that can get out by themselves now, so while a P+C place is often handy, I'd be fine about giving it up for someone who actually needed the room, child in a car seat, pregnant, disabled etc.

TBH I see so many people with no children parking in P+C spaces, or adults with teenagers, that I think a pregnant person is more than justified.

The reason there are P+C places is to give more room to get in and out of cars. Not just because it's closer, which is what many people seem to think.

**Peridot** · 23-04-2012, 02:22pm

Originally Posted by Faith

The reason there are P+C places is to give more room to get in and out of cars. Not just because it's closer, which is what many people seem to think.

Theyre also usually strategically placed so that your children can safely walk to the store via zebra crossing or no need to use the road for eg which isnt an issue for a pregnant person.

**Cerise** · 24-04-2012, 11:25am

Originally Posted by Peridot

Theyre also usually strategically placed so that your children can safely walk to the store via zebra crossing or no need to use the road for eg which isnt an issue for a pregnant person.

I thought that width was the main factor for opening doors etc. So I wouldn't object to a heavily pregnant woman parking there if there were no other spaces wide enough for her to park and get out of her car. I once had to wait 20 mins for someone to come back to a carpark in York because I couldn't open my car door enough to get in.

After all, you have to help your children cross the road safely in the rest of the world!

**Peridot** · 24-04-2012, 12:51pm

Originally Posted by Cerise

After all, you have to help your children cross the road safely in the rest of the world!

Yes but generally not whilst trying to lug around a ridiculously heavy trolley plus the seats in trolleys are only suitable for children up to 15kg.
i can totally understand why a pg person would want to park in these spaces but most places I go to usually have 5 of them and they're always full.. I can't see why some one that is pg with no kids thinks they have more right to be in these spaces.
i think I'm extra aware of the need to walk to my car without crossing a road because of Thomas. I think the biggest problem is that there isn't enough of these spaces. It didn't occur to me to use them and I also had a mahoosive baby at just under 10 pounds and 42 weeks of pregnancy... I just parked on a corner space or hibernated

**Peridot** · 23-04-2012, 02:19pm

I think the problem is there are hardly any p&c spaces at most shops where as there are LOADS of disabled ones.
have to be honest and say I think I'd rather a pg person use the disabled ones as I find it hard being pg and having children and most of the time there never being a p&c space... Its just difficult for them getting in and out without knocking another door etc. And Oscar still finds it hard to climb up to his seat...there are times they've had to climb out of the boot as an only way to get out.
if its a mobility issue then I think disabled spaces are more apropriate when it is possible to ask some one on customer services for permission.
i think I would be annoyed if a pregnant person with no children parked in the last available space - sorry.

**scrobble** · 23-04-2012, 02:35pm

I did - it never occurred to me that I'd be able to, even though I was huge with M and Z - until the trolley man saw me struggling to fit back in my car after someone parked really close to me and told me it was fine to use them!

**littlerose12345** · 23-04-2012, 02:43pm

I'm worrying about this in advance of me getting bigger as our staff carpark is very tight! I think I'll be parking in the visitor section, which is closer to the building and much wider spaces

I received the Tesco pack and badge in the post the other day!

**scrobble** · 23-04-2012, 03:10pm

I always used to try and park on end spaces if I couldn't get a P&C space or somewhere didn't have one. The worst culprits were my local hospital - the spaces are incredibly narrow even with a standard-sized car, so our huge 7-seater 'bus' was a nightmare! Luckily I always had Mr S on hand for appointments so knew he could get the car parked/unparked if I was unable to!

**donna-j** · 23-04-2012, 03:27pm

I did because I was seriously massive. 10lb12 baby and polyhydramnios.

**Tekkencat** · 23-04-2012, 06:55pm

occasionally - i wasnt particularly faffed tbh (and if im really honest I would much prefer they were allocated to disability parking - i never understood why i needed special treatment because i had a child?)

**jellybean** · 23-04-2012, 07:45pm

I didn't drive when I was pregnant. But next time I am then I will use them or disabled. I go to morrisons and they never check on who parks where, plus if all the p&c spaces are full they have about 20 disabled spaces with only about 4 or 5 ever being used. Tbh, I know a lot of the staff there as I used to work there and have about 4 family members working there, so even if they did check I think they would be ok with it.

**violet wallop** · 23-04-2012, 09:22pm

Originally Posted by jellybean

I didn't drive when I was pregnant. But next time I am then I will use them or disabled. I go to morrisons and they never check on who parks where, plus if all the p&c spaces are full they have about 20 disabled spaces with only about 4 or 5 ever being used. Tbh, I know a lot of the staff there as I used to work there and have about 4 family members working there, so even if they did check I think they would be ok with it.

I don't think it's ever acceptable to use a space intended for people with disabilities, regardless of how few people are using them at that precise moment.

Bubbasweet, definitely start online shopping. It's so much easier than dragging a baby or your pregnant self around the store.

**jellybean** · 24-04-2012, 07:51pm

Originally Posted by violet wallop

I don't think it's ever acceptable to use a space intended for people with disabilities, regardless of how few people are using them at that precise moment.

Bubbasweet, definitely start online shopping. It's so much easier than dragging a baby or your pregnant self around the store.

Meant I would use disabled if I had spd/sdp.