Mums with Prams parking etiquette

I'm ok with people using them if they have children, either babies or toddlers. BUT.... it really f***s me off when people with NO children use them! I go straight past one supermarket and travel an extra 10 mins or so to go to one that has mother and child/expectant mother parks and also some really cool trollies with a shelf thing that the capsule sits on top of. But grrrrr when other people use them!! I was there the other day and it was peeing down with rain and sat for around 5 mins waiting for a park to come free while watching all the idiots use those parks when they shouldn't!!

I don't have a problem with parents of preschoolers using those parks, everyone in good conscience I guess.

I've got a carseat in my car - gift for baby from mum & dad but I wouldn't park in one of those spots - after all the baby that's to go on the seat is still in me. But I guess if I was desperate enough...

i think if you are heavily pregnant you should be able to use it, if you want to split hairs your still getting a baby out of the car and depending on how big you are and how far along you are at that stage it can be more difficult than having to physically get a baby out of the car.

We still use the baby parks for Abby now and then she's nearly two. Our countdown has a big walkway with disabled, baby and then four normal parks so I always try for the baby or normal parks as it is the only safe place to park and get a pram out, as there is no room between the other carparks to put a pram. She is also a big wriggler and I hate having to try and hold her and constantly watch out for cars.

I get really pissed of when I see people with no children getting out of cars and I have been known to tell a few people off. I usually make sure I go first thing in the morning during the week after taking the kids to school and then we have the pick of the parks and I usually go for a normal one. But that may change with christmas getting nearer. I 'm not sure when we will stop using them but probably soon as she is getting a bit older now.

I must admit I used the parent parks when I was preg with the twins even tho Maya's days of needing a pram are long over. It was more to do with how far I could actually cope with walking and my inability to restrain Maya if she ran near the road (has been known to happen) because I was so big.

Willie got real aggro with this young couple at Countdown parked in the Expectant Mum's parking when I was preg, he sat on his horn until they moved. They gave him a filthy as look but given that he is kind of big and tattooed and scary looking I guess they weren't game enough to say anything...

Oh and my sister will tell you a story about how I scratched the side of this dopey young girls car for cutting in front of a lady and her kids and parking in a Mum and Bub park and then getting smart when I asked her to move. It's all lies I tell you!

I hate to say it but even if i did have an umbrella stroller and a toddler i would still use it coz i would prefer that my children be in a safe place close to the said shops instead of having to trapse across the carpark with kids in tow. Who knows who could go roaring past and take them out? I have seen the morons that speed through those carparks.

JMHO tho.

Another thing that annoys me is cars that park half off and half on the foot path. I refuse to put myself and baby in danger by walking on the road around the car so my challenge is to try as hard as I can to get through the tight gap. I usually leave some rubber marks from the handle on the car. In Wellington the city council are ok if you park half on/half off the footpath but you have to leave enough room for prams. I don't care who sees me trying to push the pram through....I just hope they'll think twice next time they try and do it.

Hubby had been known back in the day to walk over the top of cars that were parked on the foot path. You will get a ticket in Auckland (well you used to) for doing it and his theory was, foot path is for feet, not for car wheels. Don't imagine anyone was impressed by it if they saw him though!

a personal bugbear of mine. I have been known to go CLEAN off at non baby people (not expectant mums, though) who park in these parks.

BUT I HATE WITH A PASSION ANYONE WHO PARKS IN A DISABLED CARPARK ILLEGALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My dad is in a wheel chair, and it literally ruins any shopping expidition you may need to go on when fu@#wits who aren't disabled park in these parks. The thing I don't think many people think about is the disabled people have to PAY for the mobility cards they use (as well as for parking) yes, thats right, PAY for the "privlege" of maybe getting a handicapped park if they are lucky.

Something about this rant you mums might sympathise with, though, you know how when you can park in a mums/babies car park, you do need the extra room to be getting in and out of your vehicle with baby, stroller etc. Same thing as with a handicapped park, except imagine you are getting a 45kg man who cannot support himself at all into a chair that you need to park beside the car, as he is just to heavy to carry round to the back of the car or from the footpath, etc.(and you are 7 1/2 months pregnant...)

No offence to anyone who was brave enought to admit to doing this, just wanted to RANT!

Good thread!!

I was under the impression that those car parks were for parents with preschoolers AND heavily pregnant women too??

I still use the spaces with Joey (if they are ever free) because I feel I have the right to.

I too HATE people parking in those disabled parks, I always get really annoyed when I see so many paople abusing those spots, especially the few times I have then seen someone with a disabled permit miss out on a park because of some stupid boy racer or something, grrrrr.