Infant in a convertable with the roof down

[SuperWomanX4]

My partner has just brought a converatble car, not at all pratical, expensive to run, ridiculous to insure as he hasn't even been driving a year! and the car itself is very expensive (cost the equivalent to a year of private education but that itself is another issue altogether).

I am not a big fan of this car for many reasons some of which I've gven away above but my main issue is that I requested he not have the roof down when our son is in the car as I did not feel it responsible and his safety would not be as high if the roof was up. My partner told me he will put our son in the car with the roof down if he wants as he can make judgments to our sons safety himself. This coming from someone who not only allowed his disqualified (drink driving) friend to drive him and our son around in a car that was uninsured but also when he got this new car with red leather interior, asked me for a sheet to put on the leather so that the car seat didn't damage it (providing no grip for the car seat whatsoever - and when i pointed out this small safety issue, he told me on this occassion too that he can make good judgment on our sons car safety).
I have searched the internet and cannot find any laws but have come across three good reasons

1. Most parents don't think to put sun cream on child before popping to the supermarket leaving child at risk

2.Child should also wear a hat if roof is down and due to wind these may fly off.

1. Infants and young childrens ears are likely be irritated due to the wind.

I have pointed these points out politely to my partner who is having none of it - can anybody provide any other facts or good points to help my case???!!!

DH takes DS out in his convertible, and for short journeys he will have the roof down.

I agree that your DP sounds like a bad driver and all the rest of it, but you sound like a bossy, control-freaky nightmare.

And yes, the carseat doesn't grip the seat - it is held in place with the seatbelt

mapoftheworld - DD used to love having the roof down. Before she could talk she would point to the roof and giigle like mad when it was down. Once she could speak she always asked for roof down.

YABU and overreacting. Today's ragtops are pretty much as safe as any other vehicle. WRT putting something under the seat to protect the leather, there's no reason why this should compromise the car seat's safety. This is a common measure taken by a lot of owners of leather-seated cars.

Allowing a disqualified driver to drive your son around is another matter entirely, as is entertaining the idea of remaining friends with a convicted drink driver imho.

Thanks for all your comments - it really is a divided one.
I did not buy or help my partner buy the car (it was from his inheritance).
Who ever said I do have a problem with the car is somewhat right - he keeps wanting to drive my car now as his eats fuel and is less fun when it's raining! Also I wanted him to get the Audi but he got the BMW!
Someone made a good point of the items being thrown out of the car only a few months ago my son decided to post his baseball cap out of the small opening in the window on a hot day!!!
My son is 2.
I brought a special grip mat designed for car seats on leather - stops those little dents in the leather and provides good grip and support to car seat which before was slipping a little.
Can i just say - my dad who is in the car ndustry had already told me that with the new cars the roll bars etc would make this car safe in the event of it rolling hence no legal reasons against it. I am looking for other safety issues that should be considered when putting a child in a convertable.
I think is obvious to all that I do not trust the judgment of my partner (I have only given you 2 examples but I could go on and on and on.....) he doesn't think sometimes and is well know for his phrases..'oh yeah' when you point out the obvious and 'deal with it' the rest of the time.
I he's having a midlife crisis at 29 i'm worried about when he hits 40!

god loads of you have/had convertables,dreams of one

lots of good advice about the subject,sounds ok with precautions mentioned

slightly of thread but what i really Hate are them little pods attached to bikes,the ones with the flimsy covers with two small kids in,makes me shudder when i see one on the road,fine in the park but they must be the most dangerous things i have ever seen on the road,no protection for the body,

sorry ot

vall why would you break a friendship with a drink driver

sorry if read wrong

Alibabaandthe40nappies - Babe is that you posing as a mum?!
Bossy - I wish i could be with him - he does not listen so i do not tell anymore - i mereily suggest on occassion when he's approachable!
control freak - things would be too easy - if I were a control freak i would just hide his car keys - problem solved as he can't take our son out in the car if he can't get in it, better still i could just tie him up in the house, he doesn't have a job so no-one would miss him!
Which leads nicely on to nightmare - if i'm not in his already I'm sure I will be one day

OP are you suggesting I am your DP posing as a mumsnetter?

YABU - I have had my convertible since before DS was born and used it all the time until DD was born when I had to swap cars with DH during the day. Both chilren loved it and snooze quite happily - they are sat far too low in the seats for any windchill issues and the airbag is switched off.

However YADNBU to mistrust someone who would let a drink driver drive their child around - I'm sorry but he sounds like a complete ar*e who wouldn't listen to your concerns anyway.

My DD used to love going in my convertable - until someone threw a lit cigarette out of the car in front and it blew onto her lap. Would never use one now for a pre-verbal child.

Theywillgrowup, you didn't read it wrong. I'd do so because of Kenny. He was my cousin, a sober, back seat passenger in a car driven by a sober driver. The bastard coming the other way was drunk.

That bastard walked away with a few scratches and bruises. Kenny was on a life support machine for a week, but there was nothing doctors could do and my Aunt and Uncle had to give their permission for the machine to be switched off.

Kenny was just 17 years old.

Alibabaandthe40nappies - You did sound a little like him to be fair he wouldn't know this exists, doesn't use forums to share or learn!
Besides he's now asleep next to me so I know your not.
Really got thinking about tying him up now... figured toilet could be an issue so would need to either tie him up in the bathroom or would need to buy a cafiter - anyone know how to fit one???!!!

I mean colostomy bag thingy! [hgrin]

RambleOn - that is awful never thought of that - I cringe to think of it.
I know I can't protect my son from everything and believe it or not i don't wrap my son up in cotton wool - I believe he should play in the dirt and build a good immune system. When he is on the bouncy castle and a bigger kid picks on him I don't get involved I let him deal with out or he'll come to me if he feels he needs too. But there are some things that I like to think about get a full picture on before I am comfortable with them and this car thing is one of those things. Thanks to all that have commented - I now feel reassured that the car itself is safe,but precautions should be taken such as sun cream etc. As for the driver

CerealOffender - if any person peedo or not leaped off a bridge into my partners car on to his leather interior i'm sure my partner will give him a worse ending than I can imagine - his leather interior!!!!!!!

vall,how awful,very sad can understand your view

My Mum has a convertable and we went out in it with the top down but with me very much i the back worrying about bricks falling off bridges, fag ends, birds dying and falling on my pfb;s head etc....

Luckily DD HATED it and screamed and screamed so my Mum has said never again (we stopped by the roadside and put the lid back on.)

Think you;'re right to be concerned - go out with them and sit in back with them?

mumblecrumble - thats a good suggestion - i will sit in the back at the same height as him and see what it's like, then maybe even get my partner to do the same. If it isnt windy and isn't got give him problems with his already achy of late ears guess it's just a case of being confident my partner is using sun cream and that he will put the lid n if my son doesn't like it.

Okay as enough people have reassured you that there is nothing wrong with convertibles - I will advise you that people get very jealous and do idiotic things:

We've had KFC, rotten eggs and drinks thrown into our car, sometimes off road bridges, others when the car has been parked up.

You may wish to point this out to your DP if his weakness is for protecting his interior rather than his son.

Your partner sounds like a selfish arse.

And there may not be any proof that convertibles are less safe than normal cars, but I wouldn't be comfortable with it either.