Mother and Baby Spaces in Car Parks ?

[SKATERBUN]

Is it acceptable or allowable to park in these spaces if you are pregnant and do not have any other children?
Its not just the space is nearer to the door, but I sometimes find I need an extra wide space to get out of the car, especially when someone has parked next to me over their line
My partner said you have a baby and you are a mother so regardless of whether she been born its ok, but I dont think some may see it that way...

 

[tannembaum]

Just to let you know the last thread like this got a bit heated and I think it was locked in the end :s

I dont drive so dont really have an opinion....sorry I can't be more help!

 

[bunnyhop]

Ohhh there was a heated debate about this the other week, should be a page back or so x

 

[BethK]

There's a very heated thread on this somewhere, think it got locked though.

I personally would park in these as i see mothers with newborns parking in the pregnant spaces so if they don't mind parking in those then i don't see why they should mind me parking in the mother and baby spots.

 

[junemummy]

i think you have a good point. i thought these were for space just as much as being close. so if you need more room when preg surely it should count. they would soon moan if you bashed there doors or something because you couldnt get out. i have the same prob we have a celica so it being low doesnt help either. i think mother and baby spaces sound a good idea

 

[KayCee114]

Just to warn you, there was a thread on this a couple of weeks back and it turned into a huge argument between pregnant ladies and ladies with babies already, and the thread ended up getting locked.

If you search I'm sure you will find it.

I have been using the spaces recently due to the same reasons as you and I don't see a problem with it. I have also told the customer services of the shops when I have gone in that I have parked in the space and they have all said no problem at all.

Maybe just let the shop know and then nothing can be said to you.

Xxx

 

[555ann555]

I've used them on occasion, I can't get out in normal spaces if someone parks too close

I heard Tesco baby club can give you a wee sign for their car parks which says something like "permission to used the mother & baby space" even if you're not actually a mum yet.

 

[SKATERBUN]

Just to warn you, there was a thread on this a couple of weeks back and it turned into a huge argument between pregnant ladies and ladies with babies already, and the thread ended up getting locked.

If you search I'm sure you will find it.

I have been using the spaces recently due to the same reasons as you and I don't see a problem with it. I have also told the customer services of the shops when I have gone in that I have parked in the space and they have all said no problem at all.

Maybe just let the shop know and then nothing can be said to you.

Xxx

HAHA I cannot believe that some people argue about this sort of thing. how ridiculous. who determines who should park in these spaces? Its not like you have a disabled sign to display. So what people are effectively saying is that I would have to wait 12 weeks and physicially have my baby in my arms before I can park here. Sorry but thats absurd. I dont want to argue with anyone on here about this subject but if it was brought up face to face in reality I would challenge this. in fact I have heard that you can get a badge to wear on underground trains to let people know you are pregnant and hopefully they would give up their seat for you.
You would think that a note from your doctor would be enough proof that you are pregnant and need an extra wide space, but then I guess so would those who were maybe a little large anyway would also claim they need a larger space so see where the argument would arise.
mother and baby spaces are a bit of a grey area so i can see why there has been previous debate, for now I'll leave this one and go and look for the other thread you mention
Brave on you too park in one if these spaces then, glad you havent encountered a problem so far ! xx

 

[SKATERBUN]

I've used them on occasion, I can't get out in normal spaces if someone parks too close

I heard Tesco baby club can give you a wee sign for their car parks which says something like "permission to used the mother & baby space" even if you're not actually a mum yet.

A sign, now that sounds like a good idea! Thanks for this, when a carpark is full to the brim with no adequate spaces, needs must.

 

[muddles]

I personally wouldn't use them, and probably wont when I have had little one either, unless it is raining. I drive round car parks until I find a space on the end of a row (so I can have drivers door with nothing next to it) and that has done me fine all the way through. Also i am hoping that by walking a little bit further to the shops it will encourage the baby to move down towards the exit. When it was snowing I got my H to drop me off/pick me up from the door.

 

[Mrs A]

If i go to tesco i use the sticker so yes it allows you to, other than that i just find a space that doesnt have cars parked either side

 

[555ann555]

I did hear about one mum to be who printed up her own sign for the driver side passenger window of her car which read something like: "I'm heavily pregnant, so please leave me enough room to get back into my car!"

That might work if you want to pick a space where there is noone parked next to you when you get out of the car. I've had issues getting back into my car even when I've picked a quiet bit of the car park because the person who parked next to me didn't leave me room. And that is even though I have a "mum to be" sign in the back window of my car!

 

[bunnyg82]

I was wondering what on earth people do when their bump is so big. I have started to struggle a little bit already - I can't imagine how difficult it is to get in and out of the spaces when you've got a big bump. Part of the reason for these spaces is not just to get close to the store, but to give you extra room - so it does actually make sense for pregnant ladies (or ladies "with child" as they say), to use these spaces!! I have already received the badge from tesco so I guess I can say at least there I have a "pass" haha! x

 

[SKATERBUN]

I was wondering what on earth people do when their bump is so big. I have started to struggle a little bit already - I can't imagine how difficult it is to get in and out of the spaces when you've got a big bump. Part of the reason for these spaces is not just to get close to the store, but to give you extra room - so it does actually make sense for pregnant ladies (or ladies "with child" as they say), to use these spaces!! I have already received the badge from tesco so I guess I can say at least there I have a "pass" haha! x

So tescos are good for some things
Thanks for this I will go and get a badge too when I feel Im too big to squeeze out of a normal space, it would help if people with these huge cars didnt park right over their line whilst im in the store. x

 

[bungle]

Sorry to poke my nose in but I'd be really surprised by anyone who challenged a heavily pregnant woman for using one of these spaces. I'd say go for it, if your in need of the extra room or need to be closer to the store I would have thought all stores would encourage u to use the spaces.

 

[KayCee114]

I thought about putting a sign in my drivers side window too, but the mentality of people round here would probably make them park even closer on purpose and then go and hide and watch me struggle! Lol

I have severe spd too so have to have the car door wide open to sit in first and then pull both legs in. I made my decision to park in the parent and child spaces after a certain shopping trip on my own where I decided to make myself walk further despite my spd, but so I could guarantee that I would have no issues getting back in my car so I parked at the far end of the carpark. There were no other cars there when I left the car. When I came back, there was one additional car in this area and it was parked right next to my drivers side!!! There was at least another 20 spaces free where they would have had no one next to them!!!

I really don't understand some peoples brains!!!

So that was enough for me. Not struggling any more!

If I go out with DH like at weekends then we park in a normal space as I know that he will be able to reverse the car out if someone parks too close, but when I'm on my own I'm not risking it!

Xxx

 

[emsiee]

I use them.
I dont see the problem with pregnant women using them at all.

 

[lynnikins]

we didnt own a car till i was heavily pregnat with ds1 and our tescos has a row of "extra wide" spaces in addtion to the parent and child and disabled parking so i would use those if alone or with dh would use normal ones,
Tescos Baby club does give you a sticker which allows you to use the spaces but you need to write in the birthdate of your child so you could use your due date but if baby is late then it will run out 2 wks early when they get to 3 yrs old

 

[Kayleigh Lou]

Just out of curiosity and i by no means want to cause offence.

But what would you do if the stores didn't have the mother and baby bays?

 

[NuKe]

I wouldn't have a problem if a pregnant lady took the last mother/baby space at tesco. I remember how hard it was to squeeze out of the car- my oh had to come round and help me!