I often read that kids are safest in the back seat. This makes obvious sense In a typical car. The door or side structure provides some protection. There are now head curtain airbags in many back seats. Kids in the back seat cannot be harmed by the front passenger airbag. My JK 2 door soft top is my daily driver. I drive my 9 year old to school every day and he rides in it often. While the JK sits higher than a lot of cars, there is no structure on the side to protect him. In fact, I try to have the top down as much as possible (not that it would provide much protection). I sometimes wonder if he would be safer in the passenger seat with the seat pushed all the way back. That would place him as far away from the airbag as possible. I believe the 2012 has a weight sensor that controls the force of the airbag. On the other hand, with the seat all the way back the seatbelt may not ride against his chest, leaving a gap. I typically leave the doors on so they provide some protection (I do not have the front side airbags). Wonder if anyone has given some thought about this.

 

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Not sure how the seats are set up in 2 doors but what if you put him the center rear seat? On the 4 door it still has the shoulder strap. I would only do that if yours also has that shoulder strap.

 

The 2 door only has 2 rear seatbelts and is certified a 4 passenger vehicle.

 

I have a 2dr 2010, my daughter rides in the front with me and she is now 12yrs. Remember this front driver side airbag blast zone is 10 inches, this means do not sit within 10 inches of the steering wheel or you are going to get hit very hard and the bags deploy at 210mph. "OUCH". Front passenger side airbags blast zone is 5 inches why because every body sits farther away from the dash in that seat so you do not want to sit within 5 inches and again they deploy at 210mph. Daughter is big enough for the seat belt to fit properly and she sits far back out of the blast zone and if there is a sensor then that will decide if the bag will deploy or not. I know this because I am a volunteer firefighter.