'Parents with prams' parking etiquette...

[Bathsheba]

Yes!!! That's what we do too for the same reason Becka.... wave down parents with a car full of kids if the carpark is "ferreting" (LOL good phrase!). Keep up the good work

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

I think the Parents With Prams should be labelled the same way as on trains: Reserved for people with special needs.... and have a sign with a pregnant woman, a wheelchair, a pram and a person on crutches. If a heavily pregnant women has her toddler with her and decides she can't manage taking a pram AND pushing a trolley at the same time then she should be able to use that Parenting spot regardless of whether she uses a pram. I think the terms should be broadened because a person on crutches probably should have precedence over a person with, say, a fit and healthy 4yo who can walk but is popped in a pram.

People using crutches, a walking frame or walking stick are entitled to an ACROD sticker and therefore to disabled parking bays. I was with exP who (despite the fact that I told him not to several times) parked in a disabled parking bay and a woman with a mentally disabled daughter came up and yelled at him because she in fact has an ACROD sticker and wanted to use the bay (and of course exP didn't as he's not disabled). So even having a family member with a non-physical disability entitles one to an ACROD sticker, I gather.

I think it's rude for people who don't have children to use the 'parents with prams' bays, but plenty do. Unfortunately, it's not enforceable and it's hard to tell who has a lil'un and who doesn't, since some people have baby capsules that they take out of the car to carry the bub in, as has already been said. I get very unhappy when I see sports cars with only two seats in parents with prams bays though And yes, I agree that "parents with young children" would be far more appropriate.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

"Parent and child" parking in the UK. No age on the child - so if I go shopping with my Mum, we're parent and child, we can use the space! LOL.

I use parent/toddler spots ONLY when with DS, pram or no pram. If I don't have DS, I do have the seat but don't need to open the door wide to get him out, so I don't use the spot. I did use a spot when heavily pregnant - I needed to open the car door to get out, no other spot would let me do that!

I would see "parents with prams" to be "parents with a child of such an age that a pram or baby carrier is generally needed to transport that child" (only a bit easier to say) - so if you have a 2-year-old then fine, use the spot. A 10-year-old then maybe not. 3-4, depends on the child really.

[Janie]

I don't get the whole 'you might not know that they have a kids because they use a capsule' thing. Any capsule I've ever seen, or used, has a base that is fixed in the car, that you clip the capsule into. So you can clearly see that while there may be no baby in the car at that time, there is a base for a capsule. Please enlighten me if there's another sort where you take the whole thing out! (Sorry, I know that's pedantic, but a few people have said it now, so I'm wondering.....)

[Indadhanu]

I don't get the whole 'you might not know that they have a kids because they use a capsule' thing. Any capsule I've ever seen, or used, has a base that is fixed in the car, that you clip the capsule into. So you can clearly see that while there may be no baby in the car at that time, there is a base for a capsule. Please enlighten me if there's another sort where you take the whole thing out! (Sorry, I know that's pedantic, but a few people have said it now, so I'm wondering.....)

Ooooo, can I second that... I always thought with a capsule the base was left in the car?

Oh, and thanks for all the replies. I'll continue to use the 'parents with prams' parking even if I'm not using a pram.

[satya]

I saw a woman park her car next to mine last night in the Parents with Prams section & stride off towards the shops. No child in sight. I so wanted to say something but didn't have the guts Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[Kailani]

Ahh I just got back from shopping at my local Westfield (Southland) and I had a peak at the parents with prams parking and guess what it said..."Parents with Prams Parking - Permit Must be Displayed". Ummmm PERMIT?!!? What permit?! Are they for real? Is there such thing as a parents with prams parking permit? lol...

[alioops]

Holly, Westfield have their own permits. Go to the customer sevice desk and ask for one. It is just a sticker that you stick on the back of your car (dont stick it on the outside if you regularly park in the weather) and they do give out fines because it is on the T&Cs on the entrance to the carpark.

[Feijoa Mum]

Wow I just always assumed it was a parents carpark, I didnt think you had to have a pram with you to use it. I can honestly say that I have never used the pram when going to the supermarket with Scout (unless of course I have walked there) and I have regularly used the parks when they are available. My local shopping centre is really good and has about 15 or so parks scattered throughout the carpark. I always put him in the trolley, now that he sits fine but in his capsule when he was little and I will continue to do this as well.

It reminds me of when I went to the hospital on a midwife visit and was only about 20 weeks. Lucky not to be showing yet, but parked in a reserved for expectant mothers parks. I was just short of been abused by a woman who was further along than me telling me that I should be ashamed of myself,and can I not read? that there are needy and deserving woman that need those parks.
She crept away with her tail between her legs when I showed her my appointment card but still tried to tell me it was for heavily pregnant woman.
It took alot of will power not to let her have it. I just put it down to her hormones.

[mr dad of many]

yes its okay to use , you have small children with you will be fine. i had a incident last week where a man pull into a car park spot that was used for parents with prams . i showed him the sign , he told me to p... off . i said sorry to bother him , he went i rang the parking officers , they came to where he was parked , centre managment put over their speakers he left his lights on , he came back to his car , parking officers ask him wheres his child and pram i havnet got one , nice on the spot fine . i have no problem doing that again .

[Lolli]

yes its okay to use , you have small children with you will be fine. i had a incident last week where a man pull into a car park spot that was used for parents with prams . i showed him the sign , he told me to p... off . i said sorry to bother him , he went i rang the parking officers , they came to where he was parked , centre managment put over their speakers he left his lights on , he came back to his car , parking officers ask him wheres his child and pram i havnet got one , nice on the spot fine . i have no problem doing that again .

that's fantastic!

[MantaRay]

I never used a capsule, so didn't realise there was a base. Sorry for the confusion.

I agree with LR - good on you Mr dad of many. That is priceless. I have been tempted to do that before and now I will next time. Christmas is the worst for people using those spots and it makes me mad.

[Beckibee]

yes its okay to use , you have small children with you will be fine. i had a incident last week where a man pull into a car park spot that was used for parents with prams . i showed him the sign , he told me to p... off . i said sorry to bother him , he went i rang the parking officers , they came to where he was parked , centre managment put over their speakers he left his lights on , he came back to his car , parking officers ask him wheres his child and pram i havnet got one , nice on the spot fine . i have no problem doing that again .

BWWWHHAHAAAAAAAHAHHA!!!

That's brilliant...I wonder if all Westfields do that. Our one at Parramatta is bad enough at NON-Christmas in my short experience, I can only imagine what it's going to be like this year. I with you there MantaRay...Christmas shopping time brings out all the charmers when it comes to trying to find a park.

[christy]

Lordy me, I've stopped people before and asked where their child was when they park there.... I've often had my children in the car cranky & wanting to get out while I search for a park. I need one close if I have Matilda as she has panic attacks and massive upsets in shops, so I need a quick escape.