Baby in a Jeep

[CurlyQ284]

DH took his doors off this morning and I think he plans to take the hard top off soon too. I know he is going to suggest going somewhere without thinking about DS so this is preemptive research.

Im thinking DS can not go in the jeep when the doors are off. I am iffy on putting my foot down about the top being off if he puts the doors back on. DH will put a bikini top on it which is just like a canvas sheet roof, no windows.

DS is 8 months old. Am I being paranoid about the no doors rule and WDYT about having doors on but the canvas bikini top?

I hate DHs Jeep. Not sure if its relevant but I hate this damn thing.

[Deleted]

I would not have my kid in a Jeep like that personally. Doors and/or top off would be a deal breaker.

I like the thought of stuff surrounding my kid in a car.

[roadstar]

Is it a two door or four door Wrangler?

[bornbaker]

I would say no with out doors. No doors = no baby IMO. The top wouldn't concern me too much if it were in a residential area. No way would I be letting the baby in the Jeep with no top at any speed over 45, and no super curvy road either!

H used to have a Jeep. I loved it - I was sad when we got rid of it, but we didn't use it for "Jeep things" and it deserved a good Jeep life.

[EmilieMadison]

The potential for your DS being hit by road debris (even tiny pebbles) is HUGE. This is a risk for any passenger, but at least an adult is choosing to take this risk themselves. I would definitely put my foot down on my kid riding in a vehicle with no roof/doors/etc.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't do it, especially on a highway or if they are driving far.

[CurlyQ284]

Jul 19, 2013 12:53:19 GMT -5 roadstar said:

Is it a two door or four door Wrangler?

Four door.

I'm pretty firm on the doors, I'm not sure if I've ever seen a baby in a convertible but I was leaning towards no for the top too. It just seems....scary I guess? I don't even really have a reason other than my brain going "NOOOOO!"

[Deleted]

Jul 19, 2013 12:55:33 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

Jul 19, 2013 12:53:19 GMT -5 roadstar said:

Is it a two door or four door Wrangler?

Four door.

I'm pretty firm on the doors, I'm not sure if I've ever seen a baby in a convertible but I was leaning towards no for the top too. It just seems....scary I guess? I don't even really have a reason other than my brain going "NOOOOO!"

Trust your gut, man.

So far (since the kids have been alive, I was wrong w a few things in utero), my gut is my best parenting feature.  Both Jake and I have said "It just doesn't feel right" and that's enough for the other person.  Done.

Your H needs to trust your gut, too.

[roadstar]

Jul 19, 2013 12:55:33 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

Jul 19, 2013 12:53:19 GMT -5 roadstar said:

Is it a two door or four door Wrangler?

Four door.

I'm pretty firm on the doors, I'm not sure if I've ever seen a baby in a convertible but I was leaning towards no for the top too. It just seems....scary I guess? I don't even really have a reason other than my brain going "NOOOOO!"

I'm a jeep girl but I wouldn't feel comfortable with a baby in the back seat with no doors.  A two door with be ok but not the four door.  My concern with no top would be the sun exposure.  It gets hot without a roof especially stopping at red lights or in slow moving traffic.   I would be ok with back doors on and the bikini top on.

[CurlyQ284]

OK thanks for confirming guys. My DH is pretty absent minded so I don't think he would even think about it before saying "OK, let's go get dinner!" I'll take DS in my car if he doesn't put it all back on.

[muffin0]

My brother would take the back windows off and leave the top on. Nephew loved it. They stopped taking the windows off when the kid started getting a tan. 

Now that he's older I'm pretty sure they keep the windows/top off more often but they make sure the sun isn't beating in on him and it's only for short trips.

[auntie]

Jul 19, 2013 12:51:08 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

DH took his doors off this morning and I think he plans to take the hard top off soon too. I know he is going to suggest going somewhere without thinking about DS so this is preemptive research.

Im thinking DS can not go in the jeep when the doors are off. I am iffy on putting my foot down about the top being off if he puts the doors back on. DH will put a bikini top on it which is just like a canvas sheet roof, no windows.

DS is 8 months old. Am I being paranoid about the no doors rule and WDYT about having doors on but the canvas bikini top?

I hate DHs Jeep. Not sure if its relevant but I hate this damn thing.

Assuming this is a relatively late model Jeep, the roll bar is what protects the occupants in a rollover accident. So long as your child is properly secured in a car seat. The bikini cover will keep him out of the sun, but doesn't offer protection against anything else.

The doors offer little in the way of side impact. On a 2 door model, the doors don't even extend to the area where the rear bench seat is located, so this wouldn't impact his safety. 

My concern with a convertible is debris getting in the child's eyes, but that is less likely rear-facing. 

FWIW, DS loved DH's Jeep when he was a baby. It was ridiculously inconvenient to install his car seat, but when we did he loved it. 

[softspot]

My husband keeps asking to do this too & I've yet to let him. He has a two door hard top though. I definitely said no to O riding without the top even with a bikini on & said I'd revisit to riding without doors (with hard top.)

I also haven't let him go on the highway even with the top on yet. It's so damn loud & shaky because of the bigger tires that I'd prefer O not be in it at all.

[snickers]

I would not be comfortable with that idea at all. Too risky for me.

[evynsmama]

All the concerns above plus it is damn windy in the back seat of a jeep and the wind usually comes over the windshield and blows back into the jeep meaning your rear facing child would be blasted by wind even at a moderate speed.

[midnightmare81]

I have no children but H is on his 4th Jeep. Never in a MILLION years would I have an 8 month old in the jeep without doors and a top, and I love the shit out of that thing!

[karmasabiotch]

I would never let it happen.

[karmasabiotch]

We have a hard top convertible and J is 5 and has yet to ride in it with the top down.

[revolution]

We have a 2 door jeep. We just recently started taking DS in it and he is 18 months. It is only 2 doors but we take the doors off sometimes. We take DS to get ice cream or for a quick trip somewhere. He freaking loves it, which surprised me a lot.