If you are on the look for the best rotating car seat for your little one, we have reviewed the 5 best rotating car seats for you.
As a parent, the safety and comfort of my child while in the car is of utmost importance. But what about my convenience and ease of use?
That’s when I discovered rotating car seats and thought that’s what I need. Honestly, rotating or “Swivel” car seats are what every parent or grandparent needs.
The ability to spin the car seat to load or unload your little ones is just back-saving.
And just to let you know rotating car seats are as safe as any other car seat on the market (As long as they are installed correctly).
Now let’s check out the very best rotating car seats.
Comparison Chart: best rotating car seat picks!
- Smooth rotation
- Convenient price
- Long-lasting
- Heavy
- Bulky
- Smart safety sensor
- High-quality
- 12 recline positions
- Expensive
- Converts to HBB
- Simple Installation
- Compact
- The swivel feature is only for rear-facing
- Heavy
- Easy to install
- Extended rear-facing
- Cool materials
- Bulky
- Spins only 180 degrees
- Very affordable
- Comfortable
- Clear instruction labels
- Easy to misuse
- Short-lived
- Tricky installation
- Feels sturdy and safe
- High-end quality
- Very comfortable
- Low weight limit (40 lbs only)
- Tricky installation
5 best rotating car seats reviewed
Evenflo Gold Revolve: Best OVERALL rotating car seat
Dimensions: 21 x 19.8 x 25.9 inches
Weight & Height limits: Rear-facing (4-40 lb), forward-facing (22-65 lb), booster (40-120)
Weight: 29.6 pounds
Being one of the best-reviewed rotating car seats, the Evenflo Gold Revolve 360 can accommodate your child from rear-facing up to booster stage.
With only under $400 (for the basic option), you will get a car seat that not only rotates 360, and lasts longer but is also super easy to install and use.
With the Gold Revolve’s LockStrong bar and Tether360 system, we were able to get a quick, safe, and solid install of this car seat in multiple vehicles.
Safety-wise, the Gold Revelove is made of a steel frame which explains the heavyweight. It also features side impact protection.
Plus, with the quick clean cover, you don’t have to worry about the car ride mess.
Keep In Mind: The Evenflo Gold Revolve 360 has another upgraded model to consider, the Revolve Extend with Sensorasafe which goes up to 50 pounds for rear-facing instead of the 40 pounds and is equipped with Sensorsafe that sends you real-time safety notifications of the car seat.
Pros
Smooth 360 rotation
Convenient price
Long-lasting
Cons
Heavy
Bulky for small cars
Cyber Siren S: Best SMART rotating car seat
Dimensions: D30 x W19x H24
Weight & Height limits: Rear-facing (4-50 lb), forward-facing (22-65 lb)
Weight: 30.4 lb
The Cybex Sirona S is equipped with an intelligent feature called “SensorSafe” that lets you know when your baby unclips the buckle, gets too hot or cold, or if he/she is been in the car seat for too long.
The smooth 360 rotation allows you to easily switch from rear-facing to forward-facing without reinstalling while the additional leg load and EasyLock bar ensure a secure install.
With the Sirona S, you can rear-face until 50 pounds and there are also 12 headrest positions to pick the one that provides the utmost comfort to your little one.
The reason why the Serona didn’t make our best overall spot, is because of the price point. But, if you can pay more than $500 for a rotating car seat, go for the Sirona instead.
Pros
Smart safety sensor
High-quality
12 recline positions
Cons
Expensive
Graco Turn2Me: The Best USER-FRIENDLY Rotating Car Seat
Dimensions: D20.8 x W19.1 x H24.4
Hight & weight limits: rear-facing (4-40 lb), forward-facing (22-65 lb) Booster ( 40-100 lb)
Weight: 30 lb
When it’s rear-facing, the Graco Turn2Me can rotate to face you so you can easily get your baby in and out of the car and forward face him when it’s feeding time.
However, when the child is forward-facing, you cannot use the swivel feature as it’s only for rear-facing.
And just like the Evenflo Gold Revolve, the Turn2Me converts to a high back booster when your baby is older.
We love that the Turn2Me 3in-1 comes with all of Graco’s amazing features including the SnugLock system, and the push-button InRight LATCH for simple installation.
Pros
Converts to HBB
Simple Installation
Compact
Cons
The swivel feature is only for rear-facing
Heavy
Baby Jogger City Turn: Best BREATHABLE Rotating Car Seat
Dimensions: D21.8 x W19 x H23.5
Hight & weight limits: Rear-facing (4-50 lb), forward-facing (22-65 lb)
Weight: 28 lb
The Baby Jogger City Turn, like the Graco Turn2Me, does not have a rotating feature when facing forward.
However, unlike the Graco model, the City Turn provides a higher weight limit for rear-facing (50 lbs).
Hopefully, your toddler will manage to climb into the car seat alone by the time he/she reaches the forward-facing stage.
The main advantage of this rotating car seat is the use of COOLMAX material to help to wick away moisture and promote breathability, which keeps the baby dry and cool.
Installation for the City Turn is pretty easy. There is a built-in lock-off in the base that allows you to get a secure installation.
Plus, the quality of the fabric and the 10-position headrest, make the Baby Jogger City Turn a cozy ride for newborns and older kids as well.
Pros
Super easy to install
Extended rear-facing
Breathable and cool materials
Cons
Bulky, with a big turning radius
Only spins 180 degrees
Nuna REVV: Best PREMIUM Rotating Car Seat
Dimensions: D22.5” x W18.5” x H29.5“
Hight & weight limits: Rear-facing (4-40 lb), forward-facing (30-40 lb)
Weight: 27.7 lb
Retails at $650, the Nuna Revv is a high-end rotating car seat with so many advanced safety and comfort features for your baby and toddler.
The effortless 360 rotation makes loading and unloading the baby so much easier. You can also switch between rear-facing and forward-facing at any time.
The Revv is certified flame-retardant-free and uses Merino wool for the infant insert which is odor-resistant and breathable.
While the Nuna Revv rotating car seat is expensive compared to previous options, it may be worth the price if you value a good-looking seat with luxurious materials.
We hoped that the Revv would have a higher weight limit that exceed the current limit of 40 lbs.
Pros
Feels sturdy and safe
High-end quality
Very comfortable
Cons
Low weight limit (40 lbs only)
Tricky installation
Safety 1st Turn & Go 360 DLX : Best BUDGET rotating car seat
Dimensions: 19″D x 22″W x 23″H
Weight & Height limits: Rear-facing (5-40 lb), forward-facing (22-65 lb), booster (40-100)
Weight: 37.7 pounds
If you are looking for a rotating car seat that’s budget friendly and has all the 360 quirks you need, look no further than the Safety first Turn & Go.
The Safety 1st 360 is designed to use for all the 3 car seat stages of your child, rear-facing (5–40 lbs), forward-facing (22–65 lbs), and booster stage (40-100 lbs).
However, this may not be possible for all children due to the seat’s low harness heights. From our experience, the Safety 1st Turn and Go can be pretty short-lived for both forward-facing and Booster stages.
One more thing to note about the Safety 1st Turn and Go is the connection cord between the seat and the base. Which means you can’t really separate the two.
The car seat offers clear installation instructions and the base is equipped with a tension-sensitive indicators that turn to green when the base is safely installed.
The rotation feature of the seat is smooth and simple. It also reclines pretty well for rear-facing mode and comfortable enough for a newborn.
Honestly, for its price point, the Safety 1st is an incredible value for an all in one convertible car seat that rotates 360.
One drawback of the seat to pay attention to is its ease of misuse. So, if you decide to buy this seat, make sure that you are well-informed about its proper installation and safe usage.
Pros
Very affordable
Comfortable
Clear instruction labels
Cons
Easy to misuse
Short-lived
Tricky installation
Rotating Car Seats Buying Guide
Why should I buy a rotating car seat?
You should consider buying a rotating car seat if you:
You suffer from back pain or mobility issues: Having a rotating car seat means you can spin the seat to face you when loading and unloading your child. No more twisting and awkward bending to buckle or unbuckle your baby.
You care about car seat safety: Yes, a rotating car seat can help you keep your baby safe. How? A car seat is only safe when installed and used correctly. A rotating car seat offers you the convenience and the flexibility to make sure your baby is buckled properly hence safe.
Have a car with enough space: Rotating car seats are great but they are also huge and bulky. If you own a small car, a rotating car seat may not be the best for you. Before you decide on a swivel car seat, compare its size with your car space and see if it will leave enough legroom for the driver/passenger or not.
Able to afford a pricy car seat: Rotating car seats come with so much convenience and useful features but they are not cheap. Weigh your options and decide.
How do I choose a rotating car seat?
To choose the right rotating car seat, you should consider a few things:
Do you want a 360 or 180-rotating car seat? Swivel car seats come in two different modes. Some can rotate 360 and some cannot. We have both options on our reviewed rotating seats and you can pick one option depending on what you need.
Must be easy to use: The purpose of the rotation feature is to make your life easier. If it’s difficult to use, it defeats the purpose entirely. So, make sure the car seat has a simple mechanism that allows you to swivel it with minimal effort.
Does not separate from the base: Unlike infant carriers, rotating car seats don’t separate from the base. So, if you are looking for a car seat to use as a carrier outside the car, this is not what you need. A rotating car seat stays attached to its base as it’s only used for the swivel feature.
It’s not lightweight: Again, rotating car seats are not made to be carried around. They have heavy. Most of them weigh more than 30 pounds.
It is easy to clean? Cleaning a car seat mess is one of the most annoying things that parents have to deal with on a daily basis. Making sure you choose a rotating car seat that’s cover-removable & machine washable is crucial. I do not recommend spot-clean only car seats.
Rotating & Swivel Car Seats FAQs
Are rotating car seats as safe?
Yes, rotating car seats can be safe when installed and used correctly. Like any other car seat on the market, swivel car seats are designed to follow all safety standards required by law.
Why buy a rotating car seat?
Rotating car seats offer extra convenience and accessibility, especially for parents and caregivers with mobility issues. A swivel car seat makes it easier to place a child into the seat and secure them properly.
What’s the disadvantage of rotating car seats?
While rotating car seats provide great help to busy parents, they are more expensive, bulkier, and have limited compatibility with certain vehicles. They also come with limited rear-facing limits compared to conventional convertible seats.