Best Rotating Car Seat: Honest Mom Review

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We did the research and found the best rotating car seats for babies and toddlers. Here’s what you should know.

Why choose a rotating car seat?

We all know buckling babies and toddlers into the car seat can be a chore. You twist, you turn. If you drive a sedan, you’re tighter on space and find your head pushing into the seat as you make sure your rear-facing child is buckled in safely.

A rotating car seat makes getting your baby or toddler into their car seat so much easier on YOUR body. You can swivel the seat to face you as you stand outside the car and buckle your child. It’s easier and adds so much convenience.

Rotating car seats really do make the bucking process so much smoother. Did I mention it saves your back?!

Are rotating car seats safe?

The quick answer is yes! Rotating car seats are safe.

Every car seat sold in the United States must pass stringent safety testing before making it onto the market. As long as you buy a new car seat directly from the manufacturer or a reputable retailer, you can rest assured it’s passed all the required safety tests.

One important note: Car seats must be installed correctly in order to guarantee safety. It’s critical to read each car seat’s specific installation instructions to make sure your car seat is installed safely and securely.

What is the safest rotating car seat?

Every single car seat, including rotating car seats, is crash-tested. If it’s sold new in the United States, it meets safety requirements set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Best Rotating Car Seat We Own & Love

Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 Rotating Car Seat

I decided to invest and buy this rotating car seat when I had Penelope and I haven’t ever regretted it! The Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 car seat makes it so easy to put little ones into the car seat and take them out. No more twisting and bending over when bucking your child in!

We love that you only need one hand to rotate from a rear-facing position. Just squeeze the level and push to swivel the car seat toward or away from you! This car seat also has good longevity as it’s a 3-in-1 seat. This means it can be used rear-facing, forward-facing, and as a high-back booster.

This car seat is easy to install and has a no-rethread safety harness. The price point is a little steep, though comparable with many other seats of its kind ($399). You can usually snag it on sale on Amazon during Prime Days or other big sales.

What We Love About The Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 Car Seat:

• It grows with your child – can accommodate children 4-100 lbs
• It’s a 3-in-1 seat – can be used rear-facing, forward-facing, and as a booster
• No rethread harness
• Graco ProtectPlus Engineered design – helps protect your child during frontal, side, rear, and even rollover crashes

Best Slim Rotating Car Seat

Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim Car Seat

The Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim is touted as one of the best rotating car seats with a slim profile by car seat safety technicians and reviewers. The width is under 17 inches which allows you to fit 3 across in certain vehicles. That is a real win!

This car seat rotates 360 degrees! You can use this car seat rear-facing until 50 lbs. This car seat can accommodate children up to 65 lbs. when forward facing.

The seat cover is removable to make cleaning up messes a breeze. This car seat’s price point is slightly higher at $419, but there are lots of things to love!

What We Love About the EvenFlo Revolve 360 Slim:

• It rotates 360 degrees – easy in and out for little ones
• Extended rear-facing – keep your child rear-facing for longer, up to 50 lbs.
• Easy install
• Choose from multiple colorways to suit your preferences

Best 360 Rotating Car Seat

Graco EasyTurn 360 2-in-1 Car Seat

The Graco EasyTurn 360 is similar to the Graco Turn2Me BUT it rotates 360 degrees. This means you can rotate your child from a rear-facing and forward-facing position. Had I known about this before, I would have invested in this seat to have the ability to rotate the seat longer!

This car seat is a 2-in1 system. It can be used rear-facing and forward facing up to 65 lbs. It comes with removable head and body inserts to keep even the smallest passengers comfortable.

The seat has a slim design and can be installed quickly and easily. Always remember a safe car seat is the one that’s properly installed! It’s Graco ProtectPlus Engineered which means it’s had rigorous safety tests so you can have more peace of mind.

What We Love About The Graco EasyTurn 360:

• It rotates 360 degrees – rotate it from rear-facing or forward-facing positions
• It’s slim – saves space in the car
• No rethread harness
• The price point – it’s under $350!

Best Affordable Rotating Car Seat

Joie Chili Spin 360 2-in-1 Rotating Car Seat

The Joie (pronounced: joy) Chili Spin is the best affordable rotating car seat coming in just under $300. Better yet, it rotates 360 degrees in both rear-facing and forward-facing positions.

This car seat offers convenience for parents, and safety for your little ones. It has a no-rethread 5-point harness, and comfortable padding and materials for your child. The car seat material is machine washable, too. We all know how that comes in handy with messes.

Many users say this car seat is easy to install. It makes getting children in and out simple and easy. One thing to note – it’s heavy. This isn’t a car seat you want to pass back and forth to grandparents for daycare/school drop-off, etc.!

What We Love About the Joie Chili Spin 360:

• The price point – under $300!
• It rotates 360 degrees – easy in and out for little ones
• Multiple recline positions
• Easy to install

Best All-in-One Rotating Car Seat (Without Chemicals!)

Cybex Callisto G 360 Rotating Car Seat

The Cybex Callisto G 360 can last from birth through the elementary school years. It can go from rear-facing, to forward-facing, to a booster seat for maximum usage.

This car seat can be used rear-facing from 4-40 lbs., forward facing from 26.5-65 lbs., and as a belt-positioning booster from 40-120 lbs. While you can use this car seat for a long time, you cannot keep your child in a rear-facing position for an extended period of time due to the 40 lb. weight limit.

You can feel good about putting your child into this car seat. It’s Greenguard certified and made with flame-retardant, chemical-free materials.

The Cybex Callisto also comes with added safety features. It has an anti-rebound base with secure tether, added side impact protection, and SafeLock technology. The Callisto is made with a steel frame.

What We Love About the Cybex Callisto G 360:

• It’s all-in-one – use it through elementary school as a booster!
• Greenguard Gold Certified – chemical-free materials
• Multiple recline positions, 360 degree rotation
• Enhanced safety features

Best Lightweight Rotating Car Seat for Infants

Maxi-Cosi Peri 180 Rotating Infant Car Seat

The Peri 180 Infant Rotating Car Seat is made by Maxi-Cosi. Unlike the other rotating car seats mentioned in this post, this car seat is only for infants up to 30 lbs. However, this is the best lightweight rotating seat as it weighs just 8 lbs. As moms, we all know lugging a car seat to and from the car is a chore. The Peri is the lightest rotating car seat available on the market.

This rotating car seat offers the ultimate convenience for parents. No more twisting and turning to ensure your infant is safe in their seat! I love the added safety features like TensionFix technology. This tension indicator shows parents if their seatbelt tension is adequate to ensure a safe ride.

An adaptable car seat, the Peri 180 has 5 recline positions. It’s also made without wool or added flame retardants to keep your baby safe.

All in all, this is a great rotating car seat for rear-facing babies!

What We Love About the MaxiCosi Peri 180:

• It’s lightweight – just 8 lbs.!
• Reclines & rotation – easily get your baby in and out of the car seat
• TensionFix technology for peace of mind
• No added flame-retardant chemicals

Final Notes

Rotating car seats really are game changers. We have loved ours for making getting in and out of the car easier. As always, choose the car seat that works best for your family, vehicle, and budget.

And remember, the safest car seat is the one that’s properly installed!

Looking for more?

Find all our must-haves for traveling with babies and toddlers – whether by car or by plane, we’ve got you covered!