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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want DS travelling in sports car?

40 replies

ladyfordington · 23/07/2014 17:55

Ok, this is my first AIBU and I'm willing to accept that I may be unreasonable and a bit precious, so here goes...

My SIL and BIL have asked if they can have our 5 year old DS for a sleepover at their house. SIL has offered to collect him and bring him home in her car (using a booster seat) but she drives a two seater convertible car and I don't really want him travelling in it. (They live about 30-40 minutes away). DH says I'm being precious and he has no problem with it and that he would be just as safe in her car as he would in ours.

My rule has always been that our DC sit in the back of my car, never the front but DH also thinks this is over the top, so perhaps I'm just overly cautious?

For the record, I'm perfectly happy for DS to have the sleepover with SIL and BIL and am proposing that I drop him off and collect him the next day at their convenience.

So - AIBU?

OP posts:
hillyhilly · 23/07/2014 17:57

yabu, he'll love it. let go a little.

IfYouCouldSeeMeNow · 23/07/2014 17:58

My sports car is far safer than anything else I've ever driven.

Let him go, he'll love it.

phantomnamechanger · 23/07/2014 17:59

YANBU, I wouldn't have let mine at that age

WallyBantersJunkBox · 23/07/2014 17:59

Is it the airbag thing that's worrying you?

Sirzy · 23/07/2014 17:59

Surely it's how it is driven not the type of car which matters?

Hulababy · 23/07/2014 18:01

Which aspect worries you?

Him being in the front or the open top?

Google the car for the safety information - if it's a new car it's likely to be very safe tbh

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 23/07/2014 18:02

YABU. I think the quality of the driving has a far bigger impact on safety than the car.

PurplePidjin · 23/07/2014 18:03

I won't let my 20mo go in my Dad's sports car because it's a 1952 one with no seatbelts. I got rid of my 1970 Beetle (daily driver) because I didn't feel it was safe for a baby on today's busier roads if we were hit by something modern with all the side impact protection etc.

A modern car (driven by someone you trust to drive carefully) that just happens to have a rag top? 5 yo heaven and I'd let him, with no problems - SIL allowed us to take her ds on short journeys at a similar age when we had classics.

YANBU to be concerned though :)

Nomama · 23/07/2014 18:03

YABU!

The sports car has different safety aspects (roll bars, doors, sills etc) and is just as safe as your car.

If they have the option of turning off the passenger air bag they could consider it - swings and roundabouts on the benefits and not many cars have the option.

AdoraBell · 23/07/2014 18:04

Most sports cars are safe, as long as driven safely, so if he fits properly with a booster seat then it should be fine. You'll have trouble getting the Grin off his face when he comes home.

Is your SIL a safe driver? Is that what you are concerned about?

Original poster
ladyfordington · 23/07/2014 18:05

Sorry, to clarify, its more the fact that he will be sat 'in the front' IYKWIM, not that its a sports car. (As its a 2 seater, so of course no option to sit in the back). And I have no issue with SIL's driving ability, she is a more experienced driver than I am.

Yes, it the airbag thing and probably just the fact that I've always thought DC are safer in the back of a car so have therefore never put them in the front.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 23/07/2014 18:07

In a two seater chances are the seat can go back even further than in a four seater, meaning air bag is less of an issue.
Also often the seat belts are lower than in other cars so again the belts are less of an issue in a car with back seats.
He may also be sat lower in the car so not as exposed and you would imagine normally.

Check the safety stats for the car. They'll be online.

What car is it?

blueberryboybait · 23/07/2014 18:07

As long as the seat is as far back as it will go and he is firmly strapped into an appropriate high back booster seat then it shouldn't be an issue.

WallyBantersJunkBox · 23/07/2014 18:13

Depending on the model you can disable the airbag. Ask them to check if their can can do this?

fishybits · 23/07/2014 18:13

YABU

DH's car is a 2 seater, he bought a car seat specifically for that type of car and DD has loved going in it since she old enough to forward face.

It's about the driving and a turned off airbag not the type of car.

Pangaea · 23/07/2014 18:14

Yabu. The car will be fine.

fishybits · 23/07/2014 18:17

Just to add, if the airbag can't be turned off then probably not such a good idea. DH's car doesn't have air bags and we got rid of my two seater because we couldn't turn off the air bag.

Pantah630 · 23/07/2014 18:17

Should be able to, and should, disable the airbag. He'll love it and if you have no problems with her driving him, then let him go.

ThatWasNice · 23/07/2014 18:21

YABU I think it's ok.

specialsubject · 23/07/2014 18:22

oh, if only we didn't have to have sodding airbags...

if you can turn it off, it is fine. The biggest risk in any car is the driver. Ideally all cars should have a big spike on the steering wheel, that would actually greatly increase safety because everyone would drive much more carefully!

MostWicked · 23/07/2014 18:22

You are being daft and over protective.
Relax and let him go and have some fun.

Sabrinnnnnnnna · 23/07/2014 18:32

I can understand your worry - I've always been obsessed with car seats/safety.

It would depend on how far she had to drive, whether you could switch the airbag off, type of car seat he has etc. We do have a car seat that can go in the front with a airbag - they say to push the seat back as far as possible - which would be ideal I think.

I would probably let him go - life really is too short to stop a 5 year old boy doing something fun like this. Everything you do has a risk attached.

LastTango · 23/07/2014 18:35

My son sat in the front long before we had any of these 'guidelines'........and he is now 30. Stop worrying OP.

LongTimeLurking · 23/07/2014 18:38

Unless SIL drives like a nutter I think YABU.

fledermaus · 23/07/2014 18:39

Funny the different things that seem a Big Deal to different people - this isn't one that would have even occurred to me!