5 Best Rotating Car Seats That Make Parenting Easier

Getting a baby in and out of a car seat shouldn’t be too much work or exerting. But that’s exactly what the task becomes if you have one of those traditional car seats that obviously lack a rotating feature. Things get even worse if you have mobility impairment or back issues. The same goes for if you’re are short and drive a minivan. Getting your baby out of a car seat that’s high up there can be quite the chore.

Also read: Best narrow booster car seats. And here’s a list of 30 car seat models that turn 360 degrees. Every tired mom or dad will find an option with the revolving feature on that long list.

One beautiful thing about the best rotating car seats is that they completely eliminate the need to awkwardly bend over to load or unload your baby. And if your little one is chunky, the best rotating convertible car seat can be a game changer.

Examples of car convertible car seats that turn 360 degrees including the Cybex Sirona S, the Evenflo Revolve Gold Extend, Nuna Revv, Graco Turn 2Me 360, Maxi Cosi Emme, Safety 1st Turn and Go 360 DLX, and Baby Jogger City Turn.

Also read: Best car seats for small cars

With this recent-ish car seat technology, you get to rotate or swivel the car seat all the way to the door. This gives you leverage while saving your back. Aside from that, the rotational feature makes cleaning the car seat that much easier. 

But which are the best rotating car seats with a convertible design? You’ll know the answer in a short while, but here’s an important update.

Update #1: Meet the Evenflo Gold Revolve360 Rotational All-in-1 Convertible Car Seat 

The Original Evenflo Revolve 360 car seat has become super challenging to find these days. But you can always buy the Evenflo Revolve360 Extend All-in-One Rotational Car Seat. This car seat is similar to the original model in terms of weight and specs including booster seat mode, cupholders, adjustable headrests, ease of use, and more. However, it’s marketed as an option that offers more extended rear-facing seating, up to 50 pounds, fully 10 pounds higher than the original version.

The height limit is also stated as higher at 49″ vs 40” for the original model. I guess these upgrades must be the reason why it cost $50 more than its predecessor.

Overall, it’s a good car seat that works as expected. Many swivel car seats including this one may feel a little wobbly, which can be concerning. I can’t say any of my recommendations is the safest car seat out there. But I assure you that each option is certified to various car seat safety standards formulated and enforced by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For complete peace of mind, check out each car seat’s safety ratings.

By the way, Safe Ride 4 for Kids maintains a list of car seat laws by state. The resource was last updated in 2022. Simply click on your state and you’ll instally access the car seat rules applicable to your state.

This means they have all the requisite safety features of a modern child restraint. *It’s strongly recommended to install this car seat with the seat belt since seat belts aren’t limited by weight limits.

Importantly, it rotates 360 degrees and can be installed either forward-facing or rear-facing. But some parents have said that the extended rear-facing claim isn’t exactly accurate, and that the seat fits similar to the original version.

Also, Evenflo doesn’t seem to have addressed the short crotch buckle strap problem that the older model had. If your kiddo has chunky thighs, the Evenflo 360 Extend may not be super comfy for them.

And if you intend to use this car seat with with other car seats installed on either side, that probably won’t work very well. Because this seat is bulky, particularly in the rear-facing mode.

This car seat (and its predecessor) would suit a first-time parent best. And for me and many other parents, the Evenflo Revolve 360 is one of the best rotating convertible car seats out there, if not the best.

Update #2: A Growing List of Car Seats That Turn 360 Degrees

A lot has changed since this post’s first publish date. At that time, rotating car seats were few and far between, but that’s not the case anymore. I’ve put together a list of 34 car seats that rotate, a gamer changer for ever-tired parents and caregivers.

Best Rotating Car Seat for Easier Parenting: Evenflo 360 Gold

***The image in the box below is of the Extend, a newer version of the Evenflo Revolve Gold. To be clear, they’re similar in pretty much all respects (specs) and functionality.

The Evenflo Gold 360 Rotating Convertible Car Seat came out on top. Not only is the design pleasant to look at, but it’s also pretty functional. The spin is nice and smooth, and you don’t need both hands to rotate it.

Here’s a comprehensive review of the Evenflo 360 Gold.

You can detach the seat shell from the base, which is rarely the case with swivel car seats. But what’s the point of it being detachable when the seat itself is still too heavy? And it’s not like you can use it with a stroller or as a portable carrier.

Installing via the seat belt (strongly recommended) is reasonably easy because the belt path is pretty wide. Installing via lower anchors is also pretty simple, but it’s best to use the seatbelt since LATCH has weight limits rear-facing and forward-facing. That’s why the manufacturer recommends using the seatbelt.

It’s comfy, too, and the seat pad is machine-washable so you can focus on actual parenting and not cleaning dirty car seats.

The most admirable thing about the Evenflo Gold 360 is that it supports extended rear-facing (up to 40 pounds). Forward-facing weight and height limits are decent too at 65 pounds and 49″ respectively.

Another GREAT thing about this pick is that the top tether NEVER gets in the way of the seat shell rear-facing or forward-facing.

In some seats such as the Cybex Sirona S, you have to undo the tether and then reattach it every time you rotate the car seat. Not so with the Evenflo. Its base installs ONLY one way, which means using the tether forward-facing or rear-facing is similar.

Additional features: 2 cup holders, anti-rebound bar that boosts safety while also functioning as a carry handle, plus it converts to a booster seat allowing you to carry your kid for until 120 pounds or 57″.

Its headrest grows with kids, and the harness adjusts great. This is the ONLY car seat you’ll ever need. And did I say that this car seat’s lifespan is fully 10 years?

What isn’t to like about the Evenflo 360? It’s not cheap, but it’s significantly cheaper than much of the competition. And it’s heavy, but then rotating seats are heavy and bulky. Plus, it’s not FAA-approved, but you’re not looking for the best travel seat.

Best Swivel Car Seat Buying Guide

A convertible car seat that swivels can make your parenting life a whole lot easier. It’s a rear-facing car seat and a forward-facing car seat at the same time. Some options like the Revolve 360 Gold can be used as infant car seats, forward-facing car seats, and booster car seats. For the most part, you’re getting really good value for your money.

So, how do you decide that car seat XYZ is the best car seat with a swivel design? The buying guide below handholds you through the process and equips you with the information and knowledge you need to pick something you and your baby will love.

Do You Have Back Issues?

For anyone with a weak back, a rotating convertible car seat can make a BIG difference. Since you no longer have to bend over when putting baby in or out of the car, your back will thank for your kindness.The same goes for older caregivers who may have physical limitations: they’ll love this seat type.

How Much Space Do You Have?

Swivel seats take up tons of space at the back of a car. If you have a really small car, the odds are your kiddo is the only passenger you’ll be able to sit on the backseat.

Since this seat rotates fully from front to back and the other way around, that can be a big problem if you have a sedan or sporty car with limited space at the back.

But if you drive a massive SUV or some other large-sized vehicle, you shouldn’t have a problem.

Rotating Car Seats Are Super Big and Bulky

One big disadvantage of this car seat type is that they’re almost always bulkier than standard car seats. They come with a massive, heavy base fitted with parts that make turning possible. For this reason, they’re not easy to carry.

If you’re looking for a seat that’s easy to get in and out of a car, choose something else because a swivel seat would be a big disappointment. And if you’re a small-car owner and can see yourself needing to install and uninstall from time to time, pick something else.

Want to Be Able to Lift Baby Off Without Waking Them Up?

You’re out of luck with even the best swivel convertible car seat. The design of these products is such that the base isn’t detachable. This not only makes them big and bulky, but it also means you can’t simply lift the top part of the seat and transfer a sleeping baby to the house or into a car seat-compatible stroller.

You’ll have to carry baby in your hands or use a baby carrier. If you decide to go with this type, I suggest that you always keep a reliable baby carrier on hand for when you need to haul baby out of the car.

Related: Best Baby Carriers

Do You Want to Carry Baby Rear Facing for Up to 4 Years?

If there’s one huge benefit to love about car seats that rotate all the way, this is it. With the best options, you can keep your little one rear facing until age 4. Child safety experts have told us over and over that carrying young kids rear facing provides more protection to delicate heads, spines, and soft necks compared to the forward-facing position.

*If you plan on keeping the seat rear facing for that long, make sure it offers a decent maximum rear-facing weight limit. It so happens that these kinds of seats aren’t as generous as conventional convertible car seats as far as rear-facing weight limits.

Product Weight: These Things Weigh a Ton!

If you’re in the lightweight camp and never buy heavy or bulky things, swivel vehicle seats aren’t for you. These guys are Buick-heavy. Some car seats weight as little as 7 pounds, but they’re rarely a swivel seat.

The best options out there weigh well over 25 pounds. For example, the Evenflo Revolve 360, my #1 pick, weighs 29.6 pounds. If you believe being too heavy might be a problem, buy something else.

Swivel Seat’s Weight Limits

Be sure to learn the seat’s actual rear-facing and forward-facing weight limits (and height limits if provided) before buying. There’s more than a handful of exorbitantly priced rotating car seats that offer an insanely low weight limit rear facing. Fortunately for you, my list of recommended rotational car seats includes options with decent weight limits rear facing.

How Much Rotation Do You Want?

Even though swivel convertible car seats rotate, they don’t do so in exactly the same way. Some options rotate 180˚ while others rotate 360˚.

But, what is the difference between 180˚ and 360˚ car seats? A seat with a stated rotation of 180˚ is installed facing in one direction, either forward facing or rear-facing. But you’re able to get baby in and out of this car seat. And if a seat rotates 360˚, you can install it facing either direction, but you’ll be able to rotate the seat from the forward-facing mode to the rear-facing mode and use it in that mode.

How Long Will You Use the Swivel Seat?

Some options expire after 6 years while others can remain safely useful for up to 10-12 years. If two choices have similar specs and features and are similarly priced but one offers more years of use, definitely choose the one with a longer expiration date. Yes, car seats have an expiration date. And here’s what to do with old and expired car seats.

Do You Want a Rotating Car Seat That’s Travel System-compatible?

In most cases, rotating car seats aren’t compatible with travel systems. Consider that the base of a swivel car seats stays attached to the seat itself, and you’ll see why these guys don’t work with travel systems.

Just in case you haven’t learned this yet, a travel system is basically a full-size stroller that works as a stroller some of the time and as a car seat the rest of the time. It has two parts: a stroller frame and a car seat.

The car seat clicks into the stroller frame to make a stroller. Also, you can detach the car seat and install it into a compatible base that stays on the backseat of the car.

I’m not aware of any swivel car seat that’s compatible with a travel system. If you know of any, please share the info in the comments section so I can update this post.

How I Picked the Best Rotating Car Seats

It turns out that car seats that swivel are some of the most expensive car seats sold anywhere. The best options can easily set you back $500 or even more. I set out to find the best picks for the money to help parents get the most bang out of their buck.

I looked at dozens of viable options and eventually narrowed down to those that had certain features that parents consider super important. I formulated a 6-pronged criteria that finally delivered a list of 5 contenders that were worth the money. Below is the selection methodology I used:

Consideration #1: Extended Rear-facing

My recommendation with the shortest rear-facing duration offers a maximum weight capacity of 35 pounds, which isn’t bad at all. And the winners in this respect had a maximum weight limit rear facing of 50 pounds.

Height-wise, I found the most generous options allowed kids to ride rear facing until they grew to 49″ while the meanest option (which not surprisingly offered the shortest rear facing) accommodated little passengers until they reached 40″ in height.

Consideration #2: Extended Forward-facing

Every parent wants a car seat also provides extended forward-facing protection. The best options were deemed to be those that had not only extended rear-facing but also extended forward-facing.

If an option protected kids forward facing from 40-65 pounds or 40″ to 49″, I considered it a worthy bet. And the higher the limit the better, but like I said, this aspect wasn’t the most important selection factor.

Consideration #3: High-back Booster Weight Limit

I didn’t rate this factor to be super important in a rotating car seat, but a car seat that could be used as a booster seat down the road clearly offered more. With all other factors being equal, I judged this to be the best deal. Only one option on my list allowed parents to secure their little ones using the vehicle’s safety belt, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that this emerged as the winning bet.

Consideration #4: Presence of an Anti-rebound Bar, a Load Leg, or Tether

The other consideration I factored into my selection of the best rotating car seat is presence of an anti-rebound bar. In the past, American car seats didn’t prioritize the anti-rebound bar much at all, but Canada and a bunch of other countries did.

But it seems that a growing number of parents in the United States want their car seats to have the anti-rebound bar. By the way, this extra safety feature plays a crucial role during a frontal crash. Here’s the physics of how an anti-rebound bar helps:

According to Car Seats for the Littles, a volunteer organization, when a car crash happens the car seat (whether a rear-facing ONLY seat or a rear-facing convertible seat) starts moving towards the impact point, in this case towards the front.

Soon afterward, the car seat begins to travel back into the backseat —to rebound. And this is where the anti-rebound bar or a similar device such as a load leg comes into play.

The bar catches the car seats as it travels toward the backseat, getting it to stop sooner than would be the case if there weren’t such a restraining device.

And studies show that having a load leg or anti-rebound bar/a correctly positioned carry handle reduces crash impacts. Physics lesson over!

During the selection process, I considered rotating car seats that had an anti-rebound bar, a load leg, or a tether to be safer and therefore worthier choices than those without.

*While having an anti-rebound bar is a good thing, this safety feature can eat up lots of space front to back.

If you have a compact car such as a Mini Cooper S or other small car, good luck fitting a hefty rotating convertible car seat on the small backseat. Luckily for you, I already created a useful resource about the best car seats for compact cars and SUVs. None of them swivel though.

Consideration #5: Swivel Car Seat Price

I disqualified the cheapest options I found — not that they were many — because they seemed to have many user-reported problems that I considered rather serious. While I didn’t necessarily think that pricier was better, it turned out that the top-rated rotating rear-facing and convertible car seats weren’t cheap. That said, I stayed away from anything that set parents back $600+.

Consideration #6: Car Seat Longevity

I believe this criteria should be a critical consideration when selecting any car seat, particularly a rotating one since these options are pretty pricey. Car seats of all kinds typically stay useful for 6-12 years from the date of manufacture.

I rated options with an extremely long lifespan as being more attractive than those with a maximum longevity of 6 years. My best pick offers fully 10 years of service to kids and their loving parents.

My research yielded a nice little list of 5 contenders, and I hope the effort I made will save you time while also making sure you get a product you and your baby will love using.

5 Good Swivel Car Seats You Can Get Now

Here’s the list:

1. Evenflo Gold Revolve 360 Rotating Car Seat
2. Cybex Sirona S Swivel Car Seat
3. Baby Jogger City Turn Rotating Car Seat
4. Nuna Revv Rotating Car Seat
5. Orbit Baby G Swivel Car Seat

These rotating car seat reviews shine a spotlight on the most salient features of the products. If there’s a BIG pro about any of them, I’ll tell you about it.

And if any of the recommendations has a flaw that might make using challenging or less convenient, that too you’ll know.

Now, let’s dive in!

1.Evenflo Gold Revolve 360: Best Overall

Before I dive into the actual review of the Evenflo Gold Revolve 360 All-in-One Rotating Convertible Car Seat, below is a…

A Quick Look At the Specs and Features:

Lifespan: 10 years

Rear-facing weight limits: 4-40 lbs

Height limits rear-facing: 17″-40″

Forward-facing weight limits: 22-65 lbs

Forward Facing Height Limits: 28″-49″

High-backed booster mode weight limits:40-120 lbs

High-backed booster height limits:44″-57″

Anti-rebound bar? Car seat has anti-rebound design

Padding: High-quality, plush, and washable

Cup holders? YES, 2

Weight: 29.6 pounds

Swivel Feature & Ease of Use: Smooth spin, 360˚, and a green indicator for when the seat is ready for use

Price: Check At Amazon

I bet you’ll love this convertible car seat that turns 360 degrees. Hear me out, and I’ll tell you why I think the Evenflo Gold 360 is the greatest choice on the car seat market today.

One thing makes the Evenflo 360 different than many of the other recommendations on my list: it serves as a booster seat if needed. None of the other picks do this ever, and this shot up the Evenflo 360 a full head above the competition. Your baby gets to enjoy 3 modes of use: Rear-face mode, forward-facing mode, and booster mode.

Find every question you have about the Evenflo 360 answered here.

But what does this car seat’s high-backed booster height and weight limits look like? The booster mode allows you to carry your child until they are 44″-57“. The height limit of the high-backed booster mode is 40-120 pounds, or until the child’s age is 10 years. Evidently, your kiddo gets to use the Evenflo Gold 360 until they’re old enough to use an adult seat belt.

But why is this car seat’s functioning as a high-backed booster seat important? According to JOHNS HOPKINS All Children’s Hospital, the vast majority of kids are ready to start using the adult vehicle safety belt from age 8 through 12.

This fact along with decent rear-facing and forward-facing weight and height limits plus a 10-year lifespan make this rotating car seat an option that grows with your child from. They can use from infant-hood until the I’m-ready-for-the-adult-seat-belt stage. If you like saving money by doing more with less, nothing comes close to the Evenflo Gold 360.

BTW, the rear facing weight limits are 4-40 pounds. The upper weight limit roughly coincides with a height limit of 17″-40″ versus 35 pounds for many other options out there. Admittedly, though, 40 pounds isn’t the best it gets.

For example, the CYBEX Sirona S and the Baby Jogger City Turn have a maximum weight limit of 50 pounds rear facing. You’d get a 10-pound longer lifespan rear-facing if you chose either of these alternatives to the Evenflo Gold 360, but they cost $100-$200 more.

Besides, neither alternative offers the booster mode. And the Baby Jogger City Turn lacks the anti-rebound bar.

To be clear, a weight limit of 4-40 pounds rear-facing is still a decent range. Don’t agree? Consider that most kids don’t start riding forward-facing until 40 pounds according to Health Line. Having a lower max weight limit rear-facing doesn’t make the Evenflo Gold lame at all.

As for riding forward-facing, the Evenflo Gold 360 offers these limits: 22-65 pounds, or about 28″-49″which is pretty standard for convertible car seats.

Here’s what’s outstanding about the Evenflo Gold: it allows for really generous harness fit adjustments. None of its competitors has a maximum harness height of 19″. It’s the best option if you have a taller-than-average kid.

Oddly, the most expensive pick on my list, the Nuna Revv, has a substantially lower weight limit forward facing: 40 pounds. That’s ridiculously low for a rotating convertible car seat that costs $600ish! Not to mention that the height limit forward-facing is 43″ versus 49″ or thereabout for everyone else.

Rotational performance: I gave the Evenflo Gold 360 a simple rotational test with a baby strapped in. And it performed exceptionally.

As you might already imagine, it rotates a full 360 degrees and it spins like a dream. It revolved as well or even slightly better than the CYBEX Sirona S. And the CYBEX Sirona S itself gives tired parents a smooth, effortless spin. But the Nuna Revv is the master of the spin IMHO.

This spinning ability makes putting baby in and out of this convertible car seat a breeze.

Extra features: 2 cupholders and a detailed installation manual that OMITS one crucial piece of information. Read the pros and cons of the Evenflo 360 to learn what they forgot to include in the manual. They even include a registration card for this car seat which you can fill out for a limited lifetime warranty.

You may also register the Evenflo Gold 360 on the manufacturer’s website here.

Plus, your baby gets to seat on an extra-plush-padded car seat that keeps the ride nice and comfy each time. And a color-coded recline indicator on the side of the seat lets you know when you’ve clicked the seat into place after rotating it. Finally, the seat’s deeply padded headrest pulls out to accommodate your child’s growing size.

Ease of use: I wish I could say this seat offers ease of installation. But learned that installing this rotating convertible car seat can be pretty challenging.

Evenflo seems to have forgotten to include in the instructions manual the fact that you have to recline the Evenflo Gold 360 fully before installing it on the provided base. BTW, the instructions booklet comes tucked somewhere in the back of the seat.

Super important: Failure to read and follow the installation instructions for the Evenflo Revolve 360 is a bad idea that leads to frustration. Your car seat will likely get stuck. Good news! We previously wrote an article on how get a stuck Evenflo Revolve 360 car seat unstuck. The fix described in that post actually works. See comments written by parents who faced the issue in the comments box.

On the whole, this is the best swivel convertible car seat for the money you can get now. It’s been flying off the shelves, literally. And finding it on Amazon now is pretty much mission impossible. Here’s a full review of the Evenflo 360 Gold if you’re interested.

2. CYBEX Sirona S: Best Rotating Car Seat for Small Car

A Quick Look At the Specs and Features:

Lifespan: 7 years

Reclines? YES

Rear-facing weight limits: 4-50 lbs

Height limit rear-facing: 49″

Forward-facing weight limits: 22-65 lbs

Forward Facing Height Limit: 49″

High-backed booster mode weight limits: N/A

High-backed booster height limits:N/A

Anti-rebound bar? No, it features a load leg that adjusts all the way to the floor to secure the car seat. Read below to learn a little flaw this feature has.

Padding: Decent-quality & washable

Cup holders? YES, 1

Weight: 30.4 pounds

Swivel Feature & Ease of Use: Effortless 360˚ spin

Price: Check At Amazon

The CYBEX Sirona S is another contender for the title Best Revolving Car Seat. But how good is it? Let’s see. One admirable thing about this swivel car seat is its exceptionally high weight limit rear-facing of 50 pounds and 49″ height-wise. This is 10 pounds or 9″ greater than the max limit rear-facing for the top pick, the Evenflo 360.

Here’s a detailed review of the Cybex Sirona S if you’re interested.

As for the forward-facing limits, the numbers are exactly the same as they are for the Evenflo: 22-65 pounds. The same goes for the height limit forward-facing: 49″ for the Evenflo and 49″ for the CYBEX.

Even though the CYBEX offers a higher weight and height limits rear-facing, I wonder why the numbers stay the same forward-facing. I’m not saying this could be a problem, though.

Does the Cybex Sirona S fit taller kids? It fits most kids fine through preschool, but with a maximum harness height limit of 16.5″, it may not be the best fit for taller kids, the Evenflo 360 Gold is (19″).

It weighs in at 30.4 pounds, which places it in a slightly heavier and bulkier place compared to the Evenflo. But being too heavy shouldn’t be a concern for any parent who won’t be moving it frequently. While it’s slightly heavier, the Sirona S occupies less space in the backseat.

While the Cybex Sirona S is a little bulky and heavy, it’s somewhat more compact than many. The experts at Car Seat for the Littles measured it front-to-back, and the number was 29″ with the seat at fully reclined position.

Most other car seats they’d tested measured 32″ front-to-back, making the Cybex Sirona S a good bet for parents with smaller vehicles. I’d even say it’s the best rotating car seat for smaller cars/vehicles.

Speaking of installing the CYBEX Sirona S, some owners seemed to have trouble getting it to sit nice and tight. A mom I’m friends with owns this car seat, and all she had at first were problems.

She and her hubby followed the instructions to a tee — at least that’s what they said — but the CYBEX Sirona S still seemed to wiggle side to side.

After reading around, she learned that owners of this rotating convertible car seat seemed to get lucky if they installed it via the seat belt rather than the LATCH system. They watched a few how-to-install the CYBEX Sirona S Car Seat videos and finally figured out how to do it correctly.

Here’s another thought: I learned that CYBEX actually allows the users of the Sirona S to put a rolled towel or small blanket underneath the seat near its back to get a proper recline angle.

You’re not allowed to use any other object (outside of what Cybex recommends) to manipulate recline angle during the install. Additionally, you’re supposed to put the recline-manipulating object when the car seat is in its most reclined position.

Here’s the thing: installing the CYBEX Sirona S in the rear-facing position isn’t a cinch. At least, it wasn’t for a bunch of users whose reviews I read.

Also,the Sirona S features a load leg, which works similar to an anti-rebound bar. It reduces movement of the car seat during an accident, potentially minimizing injury risk. But the load leg could be better designed.

Unless you have a flat backseat, the load leg has trouble installing at 90˚. If your backseat slopes backwards, which is what most do, adjusting the load can be tricky.

If you adjust the load leg so it goes down straight, it lifts the seat up. And if you adjust it so the seat comes back down, the load leg’s left dangling, completely useless. A load leg isn’t a requirement for car seats in the US though. But I’m sure this useless feature contributes to the $400+ price point.

Rotation performance: Spinning the CYBEX Sirona S is effortless, but somewhat not as easy as it is with the Evenflo 360. With the Evenflo, you just rotate the thing and it obeys.

But with the Cybex Sirona S, you have to adjust the recline each time you want to swivel the seat. This seems to be a widespread complaint, and while it’s not a deal breaker, it can be a tad annoying. Besides that, the CYBEX actually costs about $50-$100 more than the Evenflo depending on where you buy.

Extras: 2 cupholders, but they could be better quality. Then there’s the chest clip sensor/SensorSafe that alerts you via phone or car receiver when it’s too hot inside the car or when the chest clip isn’t secure. It also alerts you if you ever leave baby in the car and even lets you know the location of the vehicle.

However, some users especially those in Florida-hot climates reported getting multiple false alerts, which was annoying.

As for the padding, it’s thick and comfortable enough. What’s more, the headrest is adjustable, and so is the no-rethread 5-point harness. BTW, all Cybex car seats come equipped with SensorSafe.

Lots of parents say the CYBEX Sirona S works great for them, which is why it’s on my list. But I’m not persuaded it’s the best bang for the buck/ The Evenflo 360 it is.

3.Baby Jogger City Turn: Best Semi-rotating Car Seat

Here’s a detailed review of the Baby Jogger City Turn

A Quick Look At the Specs and Features:

Lifespan: 10 years

Reclines? YES, 5 positions

Rear-facing weight limits: 4-50 lbs

Height limit rear-facing: 49″

Forward-facing weight limits: 22-65 lbs

Forward Facing Height Limit: 49″

High-backed booster mode weight limits: N/A

High-backed booster height limits: N/A

Anti-rebound bar? NO

Padding: Great quality & easy to wipe

Cup holders? YES, 1

Weight: 28 pounds

Swivel Feature & Ease of Use: Spins good, 180˚

Price: Check At Amazon

The Baby Jogger City Turn Rotating Car Seat sits among the pricier options of its kind, and it looks like $500+ bucks.

Weighing in at 28 pounds, this isn’t exactly a lightweight swivel car seat, but it’s one of the lightest options of its kind I’m aware of. If you don’t have much space on the backseat (You own a 2-door 2001 Jeep TJ, right?), this seat will likely take up all of the available space rear-facing. It’s certainly not Diono-narrow.

You’ll appreciate the RAPID-LOCK feature designed to prevent seatbelt routing mistakes as well as the push-button LATCH system. And then there’s the cup holder so you can keep dry and wet messes to a minimum. Then there’s the cup holder so you can keep dry and wet messes to a minimum.

The fabric looks nice and high-quality. It also feels soft, and it wipes nice and easy. Many who’ve used this car seat say it doesn’t fade or wrinkle as fast as many others often do. Plus, it breathes quite well due to its laudable moisture wicking ability. This plus the fact that it’s not too narrow make it the perfect seat for those really long car rides.

What’s more, it’s gray in color. And gray is a neutral color that works well with different kinds of car interiors.

One thing owners of this swivel car seat love about it is its super high weight and height limit rear-facing. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, transporting tykes in the rear-facing position is the safest way to carry them.

That’s why the AAP recommends that caregivers prolong this phase for as long as possible. Few car seats of any kind support safe rear-facing for this long, which makes this Baby Jogger seat a highly desirable option.

Forward-facing: even though this car seat doesn’t lend itself to use as a booster, its forward-facing weight limit is as high as it ever gets. With the exception of the priciest pick, the Nuna Revv with a forward-facing limit of 25-40 pounds, the Baby Jogger City Turn and every other option on the list has a substantially higher limit of 65 pounds.

So what happens when your kid hits 65 pounds? At that point, they’ll be ready to switch to a booster seat. And…you’ll have to get a booster seat for them since this option doesn’t evolve into a booster seat.

Well, a booster seat isn’t expensive or anything, but you’ll still need to spend money on it. At that point, you’ll start wondering why on earth you didn’t get the Evenflo Gold Revolve 360 from the get-go.

Here’s one more thing I don’t like about this choice: It lacks an anti-rebound bar. This isn’t like something a car seat absolutely needs, but there’s evidence that having it boosts the overall protective ability of a car seat. At a price point of $500-ish, I really expected this seat to have this extra safety feature.

But that’s not all: this car seat swivels 180˚. Well, this isn’t much of a bad thing, except that it makes cleaning the car seat that much harder. I wouldn’t expect anyone to shun this swivel baby car seat based singly on this fact though. Getting baby in and out is a piece of cake, and the seat swivels to an appreciable degree — what more do you want?

The headrest adjusts to accommodate different baby back heights, which is good rather than exceptional. Also, the shoulder straps adjust. However, the crotch buckle doesn’t adjust at all, which isn’t a good thing. But to be fair, pretty much all rotating car seats out there don’t adjust much if at all at the crotch.

Colors: Don’t like gray? Get something else. But why would anyone dislike gray? Gray hides dirt rather well (please clean the car seat every time your playful LO vomits or spills stuff on it). Plus gray works well with most car interiors. Still, having options makes it feel like we have control, right?

4. Nuna Revv Convertible Car Seat: (the Premium Pick, Child Might Outgrow It)

A Quick Look At the Specs and Features:

Lifespan: 10 years

Reclines? YES, 5 positions

Rear-facing weight limits: 5-40 lbs

Height limit rear-facing: 43″

Forward-facing weight limits: 25-40 lbs

Forward Facing Height Limit: 43″

High-backed booster mode weight limits: N/A

High-backed booster height limits: N/A

Anti-rebound bar? YES

Padding: Great quality & easy to wipe

Cup holders? YES, 2

Weight: 32.7 pounds

Swivel Feature & Ease of Use: Spins good, 360˚

Price: Check At Nuna

Nuna makes good car seats, products that parents have loved since forever. Not only do this brand’s seats look nice, but they’re nicely padded for comfort, and they fit really well. And it’s no different with the sinfully pricey 360˚rotating Nuna Revv Car Seat.

It looks awesome as do all Nuna car seats. The fabric looks and feels plush, and cleaning it isn’t hard at all. It’s designed to offer tons of side impact protection thanks to the Aeroflex side impact protection system. And the EPP crash energy dampening foam boosts its protective ability.

Finally, its steel-reinforced core makes for a heavy-duty rotating car seat that lasts an entire decade. 10 years — this is how long this car seat lasts.  But will it be the only car seat your kiddo will ever need? Not really. I explain why below.

Note that the Nuna Revv isn’t FAA-approved. But IMHO, this shouldn’t be an issue because you really don’t want to be lugging this ultra-heavy car seat through busy airports. The label on this car seat says “

Weighing in at 33 pounds, the Nuna Revv is the heftiest rotating car seat I know of. I didn’t expect it to be lightweight or anything, but it’s heavier and bulkier than any of the other options. If you see yourself switching cars frequently, this is probably not the swivel car seat for you.

Installing this car seat with the lower anchors isn’t any harder than it gets with most car seats. But I can’t say the same when it comes to installing the Nuna Revv via the vehicle’s seatbelt.

One thing that makes installing the Nuna Revv challenging is that its design forces you to get ONLY one section of the vehicle’s seatbelt to pass through its one-belt path and True Tension Door. The only part of the seat belt that goes through is the lap section.

It’s rare for convertible car seats to use ONLY a part of the seatbelt when installing. If interested to learn how to correctly install the Nuna Revv, this resource (created by someone who’s installed many different car seats) is super helpful.

When I looked at this item’s price tag on the manufacturer’s website and mentally weighed it against the stated weight and height limits, I couldn’t believe it. While this is the priciest choice of all 5 recommendations, it offers the shortest height limits and lowest weight limits rear-facing and forward-facing.

Its rear-facing height limits maxes out at 43″, which is 3″ higher than that of my best pick the Evenflo Gold Revolve 360 at 40″.

In comparison, the Baby Jogger City Turn, Orbit Baby G5, and Cybex Sirona S have a max rear-facing height limit of 49″, and all three options are cheaper than the Nuna Revv.

Interestingly though, the Orbit Baby G5 has a rear-facing weight limit of 15-35 pounds vs. 5-40 pounds for our cute candidate.

As for height and weight limits forward-facing, it is 43″ and 40 pounds respectively. A limit of 40 pounds forward-facing is ridiculously low as is a height limit of 43″. This is what I dislike most about the Nuna Revv.

You’ll likely need another forward-facing car seat!

But it gets even worse: the highest harness shoulder height you get with the Nuna Revv is a measly 14″. This shocked me more than anything else. Because it means your kiddo likely will outgrow this car seat forward-facing. And you’ll definitely have to buy a second convertible car seat down the road! Seriously, Nuna? Here’s a detailed review of the Nuna Revv 360 Swivel Car Seat

Many kids become mature enough to sit forward-facing at 40 pounds. This essentially means that this car seat offers pretty much zero load capacity forward-facing. This is the principal reason this product didn’t make the top slot on my rankings.

Extras: 2 deep enough dish washer-safe cup holders for drinks and snacks. You also get a removable infant support insert. Then there’s the height-adjustable head support, BUT it doesn’t grow past 43″, which could be a bummer for many parents.

Also, there’s the no-rethread harness and integrated magnetic buckle holders that help keep the straps out of the way when buckling in baby. What’s more, there’s a plush cover for the adjustable crotch buckle, but make sure to slide it into place especially when moving the seat as it tends to not stay on.

5. Orbit Baby G5: Best Rotating Car Seat for Infants, Most Versatile

Here’s a comprehensive review of the Orbit Baby G5 Infant Car Seat if you’re interested to read.

A Quick Look At the Specs and Features:

Lifespan: Not provided

Reclines? YES, 3 positions

Rear-facing weight limits: 4-30 lbs

Height limit rear-facing: 19″-32″

Forward Facing Weight Limit: Only rear-faces

Anti-rebound bar? NO

Seat cover: Nice quality

Cup holders? NO

Weight: 13.8 pounds

Swivel Feature & Ease of Use: Spins nicely, 360˚

Price: Check At Orbit

I’ve not interacted with a travel system that rotates 360˚ or even 180˚, but the Orbit Baby G5 does. This infant car seat works well for the littlest babies up to 30 pounds or 32″.

Most rotating car seats don’t work with strollers, but the Orbit Baby G5 does. It is stroller frame-ready, and you can stroll with baby rear-facing or world-facing depending on the level of maturity, age, and height.

The rear-facing weight limit stands between 4 and 30 pounds, but the height limit doesn’t extend beyond 32″. This is essentially an infant car seat, which means you’ll have to invest in a toddler car seat down the road.

You can detach it from the base, carry it with the ergonomically designed carry handle or side handles and pop it onto any Orbit baby stroller including the O2 Jogger Stroller. What’s more, its base is compatible with G5, G3, and G2 Infant Car Seats.

This is the only rotating car seat that comes with extra bases for easy use between vehicles. It’s also the ONLY swivel car seat that works with strollers to create a travel system.

It’s a beautiful car seat, plus it has a sturdy aircraft-grade aluminum frame, which explains its being lightweight (13.8 pounds without base). When you add the base, the weight increases substantially (comes to 47 pounds). Let that base stay in the car. You can’t install the infant car seat via the base on a plane anyways.

The quality of the seat cover speaks for itself. Your tiny tot sinks into matchless softness thanks to the Merino wool-soft infant insert. The manufacturer recommends that the insert be used for babies from 4-11 pounds.

The deep-cradle design of this car seat positions baby in a way that promotes maximum comfort and side impact protection while the provided insert ensures a proper harness fit for the smallest of babies.

And yes, it’s a 5-point harness that adjusts nicely. The soft-touch fabric feels nice and soft, and it looks like a million bucks. Plus, the seat cover is machine-washable for hassle-free care.

Installation is easy to figure out. And it clicks into all compatible stroller frames nice and easy. It’s lightweight, and carrying it between vehicles or between car and stroller is easy.

Note: if you want the infant seat + stroller, be ready to spring $1,000+ for it!

It’s lightweight, which makes it plane travel-friendly. And to be clear, this rotating travel system is certified for use in aircraft. But when installing it on a plane, you must detach it from the base and install it via the plane’s seatbelt.

An adjustable canopy/sunshade makes sure your little one stays cool when strolling through sunny weather. Well, there’s no peekaboo window on the sunshade, but that’s not a problem since you can rotate the infant car seat and transport baby rear-facing.

One more thing: you can convert the stroller side of this product to a double stroller by using the separately sold Helix + Attachment.

Swivel Car Seats FAQs

What is a Rotating Car Seat?

A rotating car seat, also known as a swivel car seat, is essentially a normal convertible car seat that rotates from rear-facing to forward facing when you press a button. But you can stop the rotation at any point between these two extremes, like when the seat gets baby facing the door.

A rotating seat spins on its base, making life a whole lot easier for parents because they don’t need to bend backwards literally to get baby in and out of the car seat.

These seats are a pretty recent idea, and not many seats out there today have this feature. Nearly every great swivel car seat I’ve seen seems to cost a small fortune though. But if money isn’t much of a problem for you and your family, I suggest that you give this amazing car seat tech a chance. It’s a real lifesaver.

This type of car seat boasts features similar to those you’d normally find on a regular convertible car seat. Whether you’re looking for an everyday-use car seat for your LO or a lightweight convertible car seat for frequent plane trips, there’s a rotating option that makes your life that much easier.

Do I Need a Swivel Car Seat Really?

You don’t ABSOLUTELY need a swivel car seat. However, if you have a bad back and bending over a car seat at an awkward angle would hurt your back, this car seat design can make your life a whole lot happier.

What if you don’t have a weak back but still value convenience? That’s another reason to get a convertible swivel car seat. Whether you have a good or weak back, being able to pick baby out of a car seat and put them back in whenever needed feels much better than bending over.

When Do I Need a Rotating Car Seat?

There’s at least 3 situations when a rotating car seat makes sense: When you have a really heavy child, when you have a bad back, when your baby is in the “tantrum” stage and you want to be able to strap them in easily, and when convenience trumps saving money.

Is a Rotating Car Seat Worth It?

It depends. If you value convenience, if your back isn’t strong and healthy, if your kiddo under the age 3 and quite fussy (which makes strapping them in a tad challenging), then a swivel car seat would be worth it. But if money is a little tight and you can survive without the added benefits this item provides, the get a regular seat and save your money. In the end, you’re the only person who can decide whether a rotating car seat is worth it.

Pros and Cons of a Rotating Car Seat?

What’s the point of a rotating car seat?

Here are the…

Advantages of Rotating Car Seats

• Getting kids into and out of cars gets remarkably easier with a rotating convertible car seat.

Rotating car seats make getting kids in and out of vehicles easier compared to traditional convertible car seats. This aspect becomes extremely useful if the person who’ll drive your kiddo has any kind of physical limitations; for example, an older person.

• These seats work really well for caregivers with a bad back.

Swivel seats eliminate needing to hunch over the car seat to lift baby off the seat or put them in. For this reason, they’re the perfect solution for moms, dads, and grandparents with a bad back.

• The rotating car seat install is a one-and-done deal.

Installing a traditional convertible car seat isn’t hard at all, but you have to do it at least twice. You have to install the seat rear facing, and when the child outgrows the rear facing position, you have to uninstall it and re-install it forward facing. This isn’t too much of a bummer, but it’s still more work compared to a swivel car seat which you install once and you’re done.

However, if the swivel car seat relies on the LATCH system to attach onto the car, this car seat ceases to be a once-and-done install. In this case, you first install the car seat rear facing using LATCH.

But when your little one hits a certain stated height or weight limit, the car seat’s instructions may have you reinstall the seat using the seatbelt. ALWAYS make sure to consult the instructions manual of the seat model for specific guidance on what to do and when to do it.

• Rotating convertible car seats tend to be used in the rear facing (and safer) position for longer.

Here’s the third and super important benefit of a swivel seat: it encourages parents and other caregivers to transport the child rear facing for longer, assuming that the seat has a high weight limit rear facing, which sadly many don’t.

The rear facing sitting position has long been known to be safer than the forward-facing position. As a parent, you want to let baby ride rear facing for as long as possible, and a swivel car seat helps you do that with greater ease.

Cons of Swivel Car Seats

• Generally, rotating infant car seats and their toddler-focused counterparts are pricier compared to regular convertible car seats.

Swivel car seats aren’t the cheapest options on the market. For the most part, these options tend to cost more than do traditional convertible car seats. Some of the better ones cost well over $600, but one can still find budget rotating choices that do the job reasonably well.

• They tend to have a lower weight limit rear facing

While some rotating car seats have a high upper weight limit rear facing, many have a slightly lower limit compared to regular convertible car seats. For many parents, an expensive convertible car seat that rotates but has a low rear-facing weight limit feels like a bad deal. It feels like a ripoff in some cases.

• Rotating Car Seats Need Lots of Room Around Them
  

One thing you need to know about these seats is that by design they need tons of space to use as instructed. You need to have enough room behind the seat and on the right and left of the seat to allow for smooth turning whenever needed. And therein lies the problem.

If you own a small car, chances are you won’t be able to carry any other passenger at the back. Because this kind of seat gobbles up space.

Related: Best Infant and Toddler Car Seats for Small Cars

And if you have to haul 3 kids around by setting up a 3-accross configuration, I’m sorry; because that just won’t happen. There wouldn’t be any way to swivel the seat either clockwise or counterclockwise.

One more thing: swivel seats tend to be bulky, and many are large front to back. If you have a space-starved sedan or sports car, I don’t see you fitting a car seat that large and sitting comfortably on the driver’s seat, especially if you have long legs.

• They have a fixed base, making it difficult to carry baby out of the car without waking them up.

Many convertible car seats let you remove the top part where babies sit quickly and easily and without disturbing sleeping babies. You can’t do the same with this design unfortunately. Use a baby carrier maybe?

Are Swivel Car Seats Safe?

Yes, if they’re made in the US, Canada, and any other country that prioritizes child safety. If you’re in the US and Canada, you can be 100 percent certain that the seat you’re buying has passed all of the required safety tests/crash tests.

With few exceptions, US car seats (whether they rotate or not) are safety-certified and are completely safe for use in cars and planes. Here’s a list of car seats that US airlines don’t allow on planes because they don’t pass the inversion test that qualifies car seats for use on aircraft.

BTW, Canada subjects car seats to more stringent standards compared to the US, but ALL US car seats are safe, including swivel car seats.

Does Maxi Cosi Have a Rotating Car Seat?

Yes. In fact, Maxi Cosi have an entire line of rotating car seats designed to make the lives of busy parents easier. Each member of the company’s 360 Family comes with a one-hand operated car seat that sits on the FamilyFix 360 Base. This one-handed swivel system serves kids from age 1 to 4. Check out Maxi Cosi’s newish line of rotating car seats here.

Which is the Best Rotating Car Seat in Canada?

The Evenflo Revolve 360 is best rotating car seat one can buy in Canada. Compared to the US, the Canadian car seat market offers way fewer swivel options, but the Evenflo 360 makes a HUGE difference for parents, which is why scores of them love it.