The Best Rotating Car Seats of 2025
These innovative car seats spin to make getting your little one in and out of the car a whole lot easier.
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As baby gear innovations go, the rotating car seat is a big one. These convertible car seats swivel at the base, a fun feature that serves an impressive purpose: making it easier to get your baby or toddler in and out of the car.
As a Child Passenger Safety Technician (a CPST, a specially trained car seat educator), I did my own real-world testing on rotating car seats, spoke to car seat safety experts and reviewed feedback from thousands of Babylist parents. We recommend the Evenflo Revolve360 Extend All-In-One Rotational Convertible Car Seat as the best rotating car seat for most families.
This all-in-one seat works from your baby’s first days, so you can skip the infant car seat if you’d like, well through elementary school, offering great value. It rotates 360 degrees in both rear- and forward-facing modes and you’ll only need to install it once. It also has high rear-facing height and weight limits, which means your little one can be rear-facing longer than in many other rotating car seats—the safest way for babies and young children to ride, according to safety experts.
And for a few more seats to shop, we chose three additional options, including a more affordable pick and a slim car seat if you're looking to save space in your back seat.
Why Trust Babylist?
Babylist is the expert in baby; we know baby gear inside and out. We talk with parents face-to-face in our showroom and on our user panels and hear from thousands annually via our Best Baby Products online survey. We know what items millions of expecting parents are adding to their baby registries.
Firsthand professional and personal experience. As a CPST, I'm trained in car seat installation, usage and safety, staying up to date on car seat education through continuing education classes, seminars and CPST education groups. I'm also Babylist's gear editor; I've been writing about baby gear at Babylist since 2019 and have been the gear editor since 2021. I've tested and reviewed almost every rotating car seat on the market. And I'm a mom of two boys, ages three and ten—so I have over a decade of hands-on car seat experience with my two sons and have used several rotating seats with my younger child.
Expert POV. While researching this guide, I spoke to Joe Colella, Director of Child Passenger Safety at the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, a leading industry voice on quality and safety for baby and children’s products and 2020 Child Passenger Safety Hall of Fame Inductee, and Dr. Alisa Baer, a pediatrician and the co-founder of The Car Seat Lady. I spoke with two fellow CPSTs: Samantha Taylor, founder of Mama Knows Car Seats and Rebekah Kimminau, founder of The Baby Gear Consultant. I also reviewed the latest safety data and recommendations from professional organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and leading voices in child car seat safety such as Safe Kids Worldwide and Car Seats for the Littles.
Rotating car seat data. I regularly analyze which baby products our users are adding to their baby registries the most (and which ones they aren’t) and what our team of Merchandising experts—our buyers who are responsible for ensuring the Babylist Shop is stocked with the best and newest gear—is excited about. Studying this kind of data helped us choose which rotating car seats to narrow in on and which ones to recommend to new and expecting parents.
Feedback and reviews. I reviewed comments and feedback from Babylist’s annual product survey of thousands of parents, read customer reviews from hundreds of Babylist users and spoke to parents on our staff about their real-life product experiences.
How We Judged
Best Rotating Car Seat Overall
Evenflo Revolve360 Extend All-in-One Rotational Convertible Car Seat - Revere
From $259.99Pros
- High rear-facing height and weight limits
- Rotates a full 360 degrees in both rear-facing and forward-facing modes
- Anti-rebound bar
Cons
- Long seat front-to-back
- Newborns and smaller babies may not fit well
- Straps twist easily
Evenflo has been a leader in the rotating car seat space for the last few years, with five different models of swiveling car seats available at the time of this article’s publication. The Revolve360 Extend is my favorite of the bunch and our top pick for a revolving seat overall, bringing together the ease of a rotating car seat with a high rear-facing weight and height limit—the perfect combination.
As its name implies, the Revolve360 Extend turns 360 degrees on its base to make getting your baby or toddler in and out of the car exceptionally easy. The rotation feature works seamlessly—the buttons are easy to access (there’s one on either side of the seat), and I’ve never had the seat get stuck while spinning it.
Before owning a rotating seat, I could understand the premise but didn’t quite grasp how life-changing it would be. I can’t emphasize enough just how easy this seat makes getting my (constantly squirming, often wriggling, sometimes screaming) two-year-old into and out of my car every day. I love this because it makes my daily life easier (big win), but also because it makes rear-facing—the safest position for him to ride right now—easier. And since it’s easier, I’m likely to do it longer. (The “Extend” portion of the seat’s name refers to its extended rear-facing capabilities, which go up to 50 pounds and 48 inches.) And Babylist parents agree. "[This seat is] so easy to install and use," wrote one parent in our favorite baby products survey. "As baby has gotten bigger, I don’t feel like I’m wrenching my back and arms to put him in the rear-facing position and then strap him in. I can easily place him in the seat, strap him in, and then rotate him to the rear-facing position."
The all-in-one design is another feature to love about this seat. It’s built for 10 years of use in three different modes: rear-facing, forward-facing and as a high-back booster seat. And you’ll only need to install it once if you use the seatbelt installation method, which isn’t the case with all rotating car seats. (Some rotating seats require that you uninstall and reinstall the seat when you’re making the switch from rear- to forward-facing.)
CPST Kimminau notes the Revolve360 Extend is one of her favorite rotating car seats, praising it for the “high rear-facing limit” and the “smooth rotation feature and no-rethread harness for easy adjusting as your child grows.” I also love the added safety of the anti-rebound bar and the six recline options. Be aware that it’s a taller seat front-to-back, something to be mindful of if you own a smaller vehicle, and it’s on the wider side. (For a slimmer option, check out the Evenflo Revolve360 Slim, reviewed below.)
Additional Specs
Child Guidelines: Rear-facing: 4-50 lbs, up to 48”; forward-facing: 22-120 lbs, up to 57”
Weight: 29.6 lbs
Also Great
Chicco Fit360 ClearTex Rotating Convertible Car Seat - Black
From $399.99Pros
- 360-degree rotation
- Can purchase additional bases
- Thoughtful features like magnetic chest clip, buckle holders and vented back panel
Cons
- Seat is slightly deep, making loading/unloading more difficult
- No booster mode
The Fit360 is one of the newer car seats on our best-of list and the first rotating seat from Chicco—and it was well worth the wait. This seat stands out for its smart, thoughtful safety and convenience features and how easy it is both to install and use correctly.
The first thing we noticed when testing out this seat was the simplicity of install. “The instructions were clearer than others,” our tester Laura said. “We’ve installed a Graco Contender 65 Convertible Car Seat, Nuna Rava and a few other rental car seats on vacation, and this one was by far the most intuitive, with logical steps and identification.” She also praised the seat for its compact front-to-back size. “My husband is 6’7” and we struggled to find a car seat that would fit behind his seat. The recline feature is very helpful and likely will make this seat work for all car types,” she said.
The buttons to turn the seat are easy to access and the rotation is smooth. Like most parents who use a rotating car seat for the first time, our tester was both impressed and surprised. “The rotating feature is a game changer for child entry and exit,” she said. “Not only is it easier on the caregiver, my two-year-old daughter also has fun getting in and out of the car seat now, which is something we’ve been struggling with lately.”
The features throughout the seat are both parent- and kid-forward. The easy-to-see indicators turn green when the seat is secured in the correct position and a vented seat back circulates air to prevent overheating. The magnetic chest clip makes buckling and unbuckling less of a chore than with other car seats, and there’s a flex-forward crotch buckle (a buckle that’s more rigid than most and snaps back into place) so you’ll never have to dig around for it every time you use the seat. And the Fit360 is one of only a few rotating seats on the market that offer additional bases for sale so you can switch the seat between cars instead of buying a completely new seat for every vehicle. (Just know the seat itself is pretty heavy, though, if you’re switching between cars.) Safety-wise, the standout features (in addition to ease of install) include a steel-reinforced frame, a deep shell and energy-absorbing foam around the head and torso area.
Some parents complain that the magnetic chest clip doesn't hold up well after extended use. It's also a large, bulky seat overall.
Additional Specs
Child Guidelines: Rear-facing: 4-40 lbs, up to 49”; forward-facing: 25-65 lbs, up to 49”
Weight: 33.8 lbs
Best Affordable Rotating Car Seat
Pros
- Affordable
- Spins 360° for easy in and out
- Fast, easy install
Cons
- 2 different installations for rear- and forward-facing
- Bulky harness pads
If you don’t catch a sale, many rotating car seats will cost upwards of about $400. The Chili Spin from Joie (a newcomer to the US market but a mainstay across the pond) comes in at under $300 but with the features and functionality of a much pricier seat.
The Chili Spin is an impressive seat, but even more so when you consider the price point. Installation takes under a minute (I’ve done it at least ten times now and it’s always fast) and is really secure thanks to the lock-off panel. The rotation activators are large and easy to reach. It’s fairly compact front-to-back, with good recline options, so it fits well in most vehicles. And there’s an anti-rebound bar built into the base and side-impact protection.
The one downside of this seat is that you'll need to uninstall and reinstall it when you make the switch from rear- to forward-facing. Since installation is quick and easy, it’s not a big deal, but it is something to note so you don’t forget about it when the time comes. I also found the shoulder pads on the harness to be stiff and oversized. The good news is they’re optional once your baby hits 22 pounds and must be removed when you’re using the seat with a child who’s between 40 and 65 pounds.
Additional Specs
Child Guidelines: Rear-facing: 4–40 lbs, up to 49”; forward-facing: 30-65 lbs, up to 49”
Product Weight: 26.6 lbs
Best Slim Fit Rotating Car Seat
Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim 2 in 1 Convertible Rotating Car Seat - Salem Black
From $319.00Pros
- Fits 3-across in most cars
- Rotates 360 degrees
- High rear-facing weight limit (50 lbs)
Cons
- Can’t be used as a booster
- May not be comfortable for larger/wider kids
The swivel function is what makes rotating car seats stand out, but it’s also why they take up more room in a back seat than many traditional convertibles. (Rotating seats are wide, plus you have to ensure enough clearance in the middle to allow the seat to turn.) The Evenflo Revolve360 Slim is your best shot at making a rotating car seat work if you own a smaller vehicle, need to fit three car seats across or just want a little more room in your back seat.
The Revolve360 was designed with space saving in mind, shaving off about three inches of width as compared to the Extend, our top pick on this list. This slimmed-down seat measures 16.7 inches across and creates a smaller footprint without sacrificing seating space or safety. I’ve used both seats (the Slim is currently installed in our caregiver’s car), and I’m consistently impressed at just how compact it is. While you couldn’t use three Slims across the back seat of an average-sized vehicle (they might fit space-wise, but you’d lose the swivel function and defeat the purpose of a rotating seat), you’d likely be able to fit a non-rotating car seat in the middle seat and a slim on either side if you need a three-across configuration.
Like the OG Revolve, the Slim 2-in-1 rotates 360 degrees in all modes and works as both a rear- and forward-facing seat. You’ll only need to install it once, and installation is just as quick and easy as it is with all of the other rotating seats in Evenflo’s lineup. There are also the same thoughtful features like the machine washable cover, several recline options and extended rear-facing capabilities. (Both seats have 48-inch height maximums for rear-facing, but the Extend has a 50-pound weight limit as compared to the Slim’s 40-pound max.) Keep in mind that the Slim works only as a rear- or forward-facing convertible, while the Extend ultimately transitions to a high-back/belt-positioning booster as your child grows.
Additional Specs
Child Guidelines: Rear-facing: 4-50 lbs, 17-48”; forward-facing: 22-65 lbs, 28-49”
Weight: 28.2 lbs
What Is a Rotating Car Seat?
Rotating car seats, also called swivel car seats, are convertible car seats that spin on the base from rear-facing to forward-facing with the touch of a button.
A rotating car seat has many of the same features you’d find in a traditional convertible seat, such as the ability to rear- or forward-face, a five-point harness, variable recline positions, a LATCH system and more, with the addition of a swiveling seat.
When to buy a rotating car seat
Assuming your baby meets the rotating car seat’s weight minimum (which most full-term infants and even some preemies will), it’s possible to use a convertible car seat from day one. However, convertible seats aren’t as portable or as light as infant car seats, and they can’t be used with a stroller. Most parents choose to start with an infant car seat and switch to a convertible car seat once their little one has reached the infant car seat’s height or weight maximum, usually around one year of age.
Rotating Car Seat Pros and Cons
If you’ve ever tried to wrangle a screaming, squirming child into a rear-facing car seat, you’ll understand pretty quickly why a rotating car seat is such a genius idea. But like most products, there are also some downsides to these types of seats. Here’s how to think through if a rotating seat is right for you.
Rotating car seat pros
Ease and convenience. There’s no doubt: it’s easier to get your child into and out of the car with a rotating car seat than if you’re using a traditional convertible. A rotating seat can be especially helpful if you have a physical limitation or if a grandparent or older caregiver will be driving your child. “Parents and caregivers with certain physical disabilities might be able to take a child independently in a car using one of these seats but would be unable to do so with a non-rotating car seat,” says Dr. Baer.
Safety. “According to the AAP and the NHTSA, it's safest for infants and toddlers to ride rear-facing in a car seat for as long as possible,” says Colella. Rotating car seats make it easier to rear-face your child, and when something is easier, you’re more likely to do it. A growing body of research supports rear-facing as the safest way for babies and young children to ride. It can also be a good option for parents with multiple kids in car seats who need access to their vehicle’s third row. “In vehicles with captain’s chairs in the second row, rear-facing convertible seats typically block access to the center aisle and thus block third-row access, which often prompts parents to turn kids forward-facing too soon in order to preserve that access,” explains Dr. Baer. “A rotating seat may allow for access to the center aisle and thereby encourage a parent to keep the child in the second row rear-facing longer.”
One and done install. If you’re using a traditional convertible car seat, you’ll need to install it once for rear-facing and then again when it’s time to forward-face. With all of the rotating car seats on our list (and the majority on the market), install it once and you’re good to go. (The only caveat is if you’re using your vehicle’s LATCH to install your seat. In that case, you may need to reinstall the seat using your vehicle’s seat belt once your child hits a certain weight. Be sure to read your seat’s instruction manual carefully to learn the specifics of your car seat.)
Rotating car seat cons
Size. The swivel feature—what makes rotating car seats great—is also what makes them take up more room in your back seat. You may not be able to place a rotating car seat directly next to another car seat (or another passenger) in some vehicles or achieve a three-across configuration if you have three car seat-aged children. And some rotating car seats are very large from front to back so are not ideal for sedans or smaller vehicles.
Price. Rotating car seats are more expensive than many convertible car seats.
Low rear-facing weight limit. Although rotating car seats make rear-facing easier, many have a lower rear-facing weight limit than traditional convertible car seats. That means your child will max out of their swiveling car seat’s rear-facing limits sooner than they would with many other seats (though not sooner than in an infant seat—even the best infant car seats have a lower rear-facing weight limit than rotating car seats).
To see all the differences (and similarities) between rotating, convertible and even all-in-one car seats—plus our recommended picks in each category—check out our Ultimate Car Seat Guide.
Rotating Car Seats and Safety
As the needs of specific children and families differ, the basic rules to consider before buying any car seat are that it 1) fits your child; 2) fits your vehicle; and 3) will be used consistently and correctly, says Colella. And while rotating car seats are new to the US, they’re not new globally “While the current selection has boomed over the last few years, they’ve actually been around for decades, especially in Europe,” explains Taylor, because of differences in European car seat safety regulations. But are rotating car seats safe?
Because all car seats sold in the US must pass the same safety standards, we know that rotating car seats meet the same safety criteria as all other types of car seats sold in this country. Dr. Baer recommends keeping these points in mind when evaluating a rotating car seat:
Pay attention to the seat’s construction. Some rotating car seats are made from two separate pieces, a base and a shell. There is potential for these pieces to separate in the event of a crash, and although this is not supposed to happen, the possibility is always there.
Construction matters. Like infant seats, rotating car seats connect the shell to the base using different mechanisms. Some, like metal-to-metal connections, for example, are more secure than others, such as plastic-to-plastic.
Consider human error. Look for a rotating car seat that minimizes the chances of human error as much as possible. Things like an easy-to-read indicator that shows when the seat is locked into position or a feature that helps you know the seat is properly connected to the base can help maximize your chances of using the seat correctly.
“Rotating car seats are absolutely safe when used correctly,” echoes Taylor. “Like all car seats, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.” Her biggest takeaway is to always be sure the seat is in a locked position when the vehicle is in motion. “That rule stands whether the car seat is occupied or unoccupied,” she says. She recommends habitually turning the car seat to a locked position whenever you remove baby from the seat. Follow these other rotating car seat safety tips:
Two-piece rotating car seats (base + shell) must always be used together, never on their own.
Never ride with a child facing sideways in a rotating car seat. Always be sure the seat is locked into either a rear- or forward-facing position.
Max out your seat’s rear-facing height or weight limits before turning your child forward-facing.
