Shopper refuses to respect a mom’s ‘Baby Loading Area’ car sticker, ‘I had no obligation.’ AITA?

Walked into Target, parked next to a car with a Baby Loading Area sticker, which you didn’t notice until after you already exited vehicle. The parking lot was full and the only spaces were at the tippy tip of the back lines of cars, so fuck it, you’re not moving your car. You went out for a minute and came back to find the owner of the car strapping kids into his seat, her car door leaning against yours. Then you got into it with her and said why did you use that sticker because she needs extra space to maneuver with her bad back and stroller. You answered that the sticker was not legally relevant, that you were parked correctly, and if she needed more space, she could have parked in the back of the parking lot herself. Then she got even more frustrated, and you held steadfast.

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This situation boils down to personal responsibility versus social courtesy. On one hand, parking lots are shared public spaces where everyone is expected to follow the same rules. Legally, a “Baby Loading” sticker holds no weight—it’s not equivalent to a handicap parking permit, which is officially recognized and regulated. If the mother required extra space due to mobility limitations, she would need a state-issued permit to use designated spaces with wider room. Without that, she has no actual right to demand special treatment.

However, from a social etiquette standpoint, there’s an argument to be made for accommodating parents with young children. Studies show that parking lot safety is a major concern for families, with children under five being at higher risk of parking lot accidents due to their unpredictability and limited visibility to drivers (National Safety Council). Some stores even designate “parent with child” parking near entrances, but those are courtesy-based, not enforceable by law. In this case, the mother assumed others would respect her sticker, but that expectation doesn’t align with the realities of a crowded parking lot.

Moreover, the idea that parents should get special parking privileges is controversial. Many argue that while parenting is challenging, it doesn’t entitle someone to claim extra space at the expense of others. After all, everyone in a busy lot has their own valid reasons for wanting a closer spot—whether it’s fatigue, injuries, or simply convenience. If the mother needed a guaranteed space, she could have parked near an open area herself, instead of assuming strangers would accommodate her unofficial request.

Reddit Comments:

And you were not an AH for parking in a regular spot and ignoring a not-official request. Sure, sliding to the back would have been nice, but it wasn’t required—especially considering the lot was full. While she is right to be frustrated with this Karen, at the end of the day it was her own choice to park in a crowded area without a legitimate right to a space. If she had special needs, it was her responsibility to park to meet them and not rely on strangers to change their behavior.

Could you have done that in a more diplomatic way? Maybe. However, at the end of our lives, a sticker is not a parking regulation.