After a puzzled mum asked for advice on whether she was allowed to park in a parent and child spot at her local supermarket where the special bays are limited – experts confirm the rules
As any parent or carer is aware, getting children in and out of a vehicle safely can be no mean feat. Thanks to the limited space in most car parks, it’s tricky enough to get yourself out of your car without bashing the door against someone else’s paintwork, let alone another small human.
Infants need to be strapped into car seats, and babies require lifting in and out, so extra room is definitely a requirement.
Thankfully, many car parks, like those in supermarkets, have specially designated spaces with larger areas on each side of the white lines, but these are often few and far between.
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One confused mum who wanted to know the rules on age limits for the spaces took to Mumsnet to ask others if she should stop using them at her local supermarket. “I’m just wondering, really. My DD is six (I also have a younger boy, but he wasn’t there). For context, the spaces at our local are limited. There is usually one available, but often only one, and sometimes they are full,” she wrote.
She went on to enquire if other carers would use the spot if they were her: “Obviously, if kids have neurodiversity, physical needs or any other specific reason to be closer to the shop, then that’s different. For kids with no additional needs and who are reasonably good at not running off (still 6, so it can happen nevertheless), would you park in the parent and child?” she asked.
One parent replied and said they would, adding they believed the age limit of the child in an allocated bay was about 12: “Yes.. I’d park in parent and child until they reach the age limit on the signs. It’s usually around 12, isn’t it?” they wrote. “My eldest is a teen, but my youngest is a toddler, so I’ve got a while before I have to worry.”
Another said they hadn’t realised there even was a restriction on age: “I’ve never seen an age limit on the signs. Didn’t know it was 12!” While a third said they didn’t believe age restrictions could be applied in every instance: “I don’t think you can go by a specific age. Going by a specific age doesn’t take into account height differences (what if you’ve got a four-year-old as tall as a six-year-old) or the individual child’s personality,” they shared.
They added: “I know you’ve said about neurodivergent children, but that aside, some six-year-olds would be able to open the door without slamming it into another car, and some wouldn’t. If you’ve got a six-year-old that can open the car door without slamming it into the car next to it, can get themselves in and out of the car and can walk sensibly, then you probably don’t need a parent and child space. If you still need to help them with their seat belt or getting in, then you probably need one.”
One considerate parent revealed they had stopped when they thought their child no longer needed the extra room: “It’s officially 12,” they stated. But I stopped well before then. They didn’t need the extra space; it felt wrong to use it and make other lives harder. I’d prefer there to be spaces for the elderly and U5S rather than for healthy primary-aged children.”
However, there was one Mumsnet user who said they would always find a way to use the extra-large spaces because standard ones were too restrictive. Replying to the OP’s question of when your kids are too old to use the parent parking spaces, they answered: “Never. It says parent and child spaces, and following that rule, I am shopping with my child, or, at a stretch, shopping for my child (the youngest is now 17). Or I’m taking my DM to the shops and I’m the child!” they wrote defiantly before adding: “[sits back waiting for the deluge of abuse]. If they made modern parking spaces a reasonable size, I’d use them.”
The RAC has a dedicated page on its website on the topic of parent and child parking bays. It states that the spots are generally used in private car parks such as in supermarkets and are identifiable by the image of a parent and child on the floor or on a nearby sign. They are also usually near the front of the store making it safer for children crossing the busy car park.
It says that the bays are reserved for parents and guardians of children under 12 years old. If you are pregnant and unsure if you are allowed to use them, it says it’s best to check with the store manager. Although it is not against the law to park in one of these designated spaces without a child under 12, you could be given a Parking Charge Notice (PCN). If you spot anyone using them incorrectly, it advises talking to the store manager rather than approaching the driver yourself.