10 of the best swivel and 360° car seats tried and tested by parents

To help you decide which swivel car seat is best for you, we’ve extensively reviewed hundreds of car seats, tested by real parents with their families, and quizzed more than 550 parents about the seats they’ve used over the years.

We know your child’s safety is paramount when it comes to choosing a rotating car seat. So in addition we’ve spoken to experts from the organisations RAC and Child Seat Safety about safety advice, and taken into account safety testing carried out by ADAC, one of the leading testers of car seats in Europe.

Best swivel car seats at a glance

• Best swivel seat for use with travel systems: Cybex Cloud T i-Size and Base T, £429.90 at Natural Baby Shower
• Best budget buy swivel seat: Ickle Bubba Radial 360, £149 £129 at Ickle Bubba (Save £20 or 13%)
• Best swivel seat for easy reclining action: Joie i-Spin 360, £250 £200 at Boots (Save £50 or 20%)
• Best for additional safety testing: Joie i-Spin Safe, £314 at John Lewis
• Best swivel seat for a slide-out base: Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 Pro and FamilyFix 360 Pro Base, £479.90 at Kiddies Kingdom
• Best swivel seat for easy use with a toddler: Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 Pro and FamilyFix 360 Pro Base, £519.90 at Natural Baby Shower
• Best swivel seat for long lifespan: Silver Cross Motion All Size 360, £395 £279 at Samuel Johnston (Save £116 or 29%)
• Best budget i-Size swivel car seat: Graco Turn2Me i-Size R129, £180 £127 at Amazon (Save £53 or 29%)
• Best swivel seat for a slimline fit: Cozy n Safe Morgan, £229.99 £159.99 at Kiddies Kingdom (save £70 or 30%)
• Best swivel seat for sturdiness: Britax Römer DualFix M i-Size, £375 £159 at Samuel Johnston (Save £216 or 58%)

If you want more information about key features of rotating car seats, what to look for when buying a rotating car seat and more, you'll find all the answers at the bottom of our roundup.

• Jump to why should I buy a rotating car seat?
• Jump to what age are swivel car seats best for?
• Jump to what to look for when choosing a swivel car seat
• Jump to are rotating car seats worth the money?
• Jump to are 360 car seats safe?

Here's our pick of the best rotating car seats for 2025

1. Cybex Cloud T i-Size and Base T, £429.90

— Best rotating car seat for use with travel systems

Suitable for: 0-24 months/45-87cm/up to 13kg | Rear facing until: 87cm (around 24 months) | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129 | Rotation: 180° | Weight: 4.5kg | MFM Review rating: 4.7

Pros:

• Lie-flat setting
• Can be removed from base to use as part of travel system
• Good ADAC score
• Breathable fabrics
• Transferable base

Cons:

• Expensive
• Shorter life span than some seats

Cybex is a reliable name for car seats and the latest version of the brand's popular Cloud seat is a stylish infant carrier which has a lie-flat setting so little ones can snooze in comfort.

Unlike many other spin options, the seat can be removed from the swivel base and fixed to a compatible pushchair such as the Cybex Priam or Cybex Balios S Lux and used as part of a travel system. When used outside of the car, the Cloud T can recline to a nearly fully-flat position. The clever design creates a flattened back and extended leg rest, to provide the most comfortable position for your baby. "Baby appears safely cocooned within the deep seat which feels very reassuring," said parent tester Ellie, who tested the car seat with her 5 month old.

However, when used with the ISOFIX Base, this newest version can also be placed in a reclined position while in the car, giving parents even more peace of mind (see why guidance suggests children shouldn't sit in a car seat for more than 2 hours at a time).

Like all rotating options, we love how this 180-degree swivel saves your back when you carry babies and toddlers in and out of the car – our parent tester feedback confirmed it made this “a breeze”. Tester Ellie added, "releasing the seat from the base is easy to do with an easy to access release on the base - making it possible to remove baby from the car without waking him. The carrier is lighter than others I have used which made it much more user friendly."

The Cloud T also has enhanced side-impact protection, with a good overall ADAC rating of 1.7 (with ADAC, the lower the number the better), including a very good score of 1.3 for safety. There are also UPF50+ filters in the integrated sun canopy and washable covers. Plus, breathable fabrics and all-round air ventilation to help your child feel comfortable whatever the temperature. You can also upgrade to the Plus fabric version, which includes 3D mesh inserts that improve breathability by up to six times.

This is an infant car seat, designed to be used in a rear-facing position only (hence the 180°, not 360°, rotation). Whilst this means you can use it on a pushchair chassis, it won't last you as long as some of the seats on our list. It's not a budget seat, but our testers felt the high quality and useful features make this one good value for money. "Although expensive, I can see why the Cloud T comes in at the higher end of the price range as it’s functionality makes it more than just a car seat. It not only ticks the boxes for safety, but also comfort for baby and ease for parents - priceless?," said MFM reviewer Jessica, who tested the seat with her four-month-old daughter (pictured)

When weighing up the costs, it's also worth knowing that when your baby outgrows the seat, you can continue to use the Base T with the next stage Sirona T i-Size seat.

Read our full MadeForMums Cybex Cloud T car seat review

Available from: Samuel Johnston, Natural Baby Shower and Mamas&Papas

2. Ickle Bubba Radial 360, £149

Best budget buy rotating car seat

Suitable for: 0 months-7 years/up to 25kg | Rear facing until: 13kg or around 15 months | i-Size: No | Safety standard: R44 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 11kg | MFM Review rating: 4.6

Pros:

• Good value
• Machine washable covers
• Spins 360 degrees
• Well-padded
• Comfortable
• Sturdy
• 38° recline
• ISOfix and seat belt compatible

Cons:

• Bulky
• Not i-Size

If you’re looking for a rotating seat that will last the distance – up to an impressive age 7 — at a reasonable price, this could be the one for you. The Ickle Bubba Radial 360 has a very competitive price tag while offering a long life, and plenty of enticing features for parents – such as a headrest and harness height you can adjust with one hand.

MFM reviewer Nicola, used the seat with her 3-month-old son Louis, for short day-to-day journeys and longer road trips. She was a particular fan of the easy rotation movement: "The rotation is completely smooth, so much so, moving the chair did not wake Louis when he was sleeping. I used the 360-degree feature for every journey to put Louis into the car and take him out.”

The ultra-comfy seat is well-padded and our reviewer also felt it was very robust. The seat reclines by 38 degrees for extra comfort when napping, and has a supportive, padded headrest. Nicola also commented on how easy the straps were to loosen and tighten, using a vertical adjuster.

As you’d expect for such a long-lasting seat, it’s quite bulky, and not one you can easily carry around or move between cars. Our reviewer felt the size could affect the front passenger’s leg room, saying: "because it’s quite chunky it would probably be better suited to parents with bigger cars.”

Read our full MadeForMums Ickle Bubba Radial 360 car seat review

Available from: Ickle Bubba, Boots and Amazon

3. Joie i-Spin 360, £250

Best swivel car seat for easy reclining action

Suitable for: 0 months-around 4 years/40-105cm/up to 19kg | Rear facing until: 76cm/around 15 months| i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 13.9kg | MFM Review rating: 4.6

Pros:

• 6 recline settings
• Sturdy
• Good safety features
• Recycled materials
• Spins 360 degrees
• Side ventilation
• One-handed rotation

Cons:

• Bulky
• Expensive
• Heavy

Joie is a brand that’s known for making reliable, quality car seats that are affordable without compromising on parent-friendly features such as – in this case – 360° rotation. In fact, this was the car seat that really established rotating seats as a favourite with many parents.

When it comes to safety and comfort, the i-Spin delivers: Joie’s extendable ‘Guard Surround’ panels give added security for the head, body and hips, while the TriProtect headrest has three layers of protection inside its wings, including special patented memory foam.

There’s also a clever swivel lock-off feature, which basically means you can’t accidentally spin your little one to a front-facing position – great if you are switching between different cars or carers. It also has indicators showing when it’s properly installed for peace of mind. The support leg adds stability and absorbs impact, and has 19 positions to help you can find the best fit for your car model.

The seat has side ventilation to help stop babies becoming sweaty or overheated on warmer days. There are extra insert cushions for young infants under 60cm to keep them comfy and well-protected, and you can slowly remove the different layers as your child grows.

MFM reviewer Ima tested the Joie i-Spin 360 with her 13-month-old daughter (pictured) in their Nissan Qashqai, everywhere from quiet back roads to motorways. In particular, she praised its sturdiness, and the wide choice of positions it offers, with an easy-to-use one-handed recline. "I like the 6 settings that allow you to set how upright or reclined you want the seat to be," she said.

With a good ADAC rating of 1.8, this is a popular seat that offers great value, and complies with iSize regulations. It also fits easily into cars using the Isofix system.

On the downside, it's another quite big seat – some users say that makes it hard to turn unless your back seat area is clear, and the leg support doesn’t clip back for carrying. But otherwise the Joie i-Spin 360 packs in a lot of impressive features for the price.

Read our full MadeForMums Joie i-Spin 360 car seat review

Available from: Samuel Johnston, John Lewis, Boots and Mamas & Papas

4. Joie i-Spin Safe, £314

Best swivel seat for additional safety testing

Suitable for: 0 months-4 years/40-105cm/up to 18.5kg | Rear facing until: 18.5kg | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129 | Rotation: 180° | Weight: 14.6kg | MFM Review rating: 4.6

Pros:

• Easy to lock in place
• Ultra-safe Swedish standard
• Sturdy
• 6 recline positions
• 6 headrest positions
• Machine washable covers

Cons:

• Heavy
• Rear-facing only
• Expensive
• Not travel system compatible

Looking for a spin seat with top-notch safety credentials? The i-Spin Safe is sister to the original i-Spin 360, and has been put through the rigorous Swedish Plus Test, one of the world’s highest safety standards (and the toughest crash test for car seats).

That is the reason why this seat is rear-facing only: it spins 180° (towards either car door) for easy access on either side, saving wear and tear on your back, but can’t be converted into a forward-facing seat.

Safety features include 'Guard Surround' safety panels that auto-engage when the harness is tightened, and a super-comfy headrest with 3 cushioning layers of memory foam. It scored an ADAC of 1.6 which is at the very top end of the "good" classification.

MFM reviewer Luke tried it with his 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son. He felt this would be an especially good seat for newborns, thanks to the ability to angle it near flat, and the ‘Grow-with-me’ padded inserts, which snap together for a custom fit. "The clever inserts can adapt to go from a cushioned cocoon for a tiny baby, right up to a large support for an older child. While our youngest is just 1, I’d have felt comfortable using this seat with a newborn as it’s packed with safety features and doesn’t scrimp on cosy cushioning."

The seat has 6 recline positions, which our tester noted are easy to activate even while baby snoozes thanks to a handy front lever. The headrest also has 6 positions – when button-activated to adjust, this seamlessly adjusts the seat harness. Other handy features include hooks to keep straps/buckles out of the way when strapping in – a nice touch, if a tad fiddly. Our reviewer Luke did find the straps on the short side, and the seat quite high – increasing the chance of bumping baby’s head on the ceiling.

The i-Spin Safe comes as one piece (so no separate base), and installs using ISOFIX which our tester felt kept the seat reassuringly stable. "Even when swivelling the chair there is no movement from the base, nor is there any rattle when driving," he said.

If there is a drawback, it’s another heavy seat. However, its bulk keeps it feeling solid and safe.

Read our full MadeForMums Joie i-Spin Safe car seat review

Available from: John Lewis, Natural Baby Shower

5. Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 Pro + FamilyFix 360 Pro base, £479.95

— Best swivel car seat for a slide-out base

Suitable for: 0-15 months/40-87cm/up to 13kg | Rear facing until: 15 months| i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129/03 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 4.7kg | MFM Review rating: 4.3

Pros:

• Can take on a plane
• Travel system compatible
• Lie-flat feature
• Transferable base
• Spins 360 degrees
• One-handed rotation
• Sturdy
• Easy-in harness
• Machine washable covers

Cons:

• Shorter life span than some seats
• ISOfix installation only

Maxi-Cosi is another brand well-known for its car seats. The latest version of its popular infant seat has the great features of the Pebble 360, with the additional benefit of being compatible with the brand's new slide-out base.

The clever 'SlideTech' function allows the seat to first rotate, then slide when used with the FamilyFix 360 Pro base, to help caregivers to get their child in and out of the car. A feature designed to save your back and make removing your child from the seat super-easy gets a big thumbs up from us.

The Pebble's rotation works one-handed – a godsend for busy parents carrying 50 different things – and it also has an anti-misuse rotation lock, so your baby stays in the rear-racing position. The seat has 3 recline positions, including one lie-flat option that can be used in the car and as a travel system, making it a great option right from birth, and helping your little one snooze in a more comfortable position.

For the game-changing slide-out feature, the Pebble 360 Pro is installed with the FamilyFix 360 Pro slide-out base (RRP £219.99), which is sold separately. However, the seat can also be belted into any car using the vehicle's 3-point seatbelt, ideal if you're using a car without Isofix. Once your baby outgrows the infant seat, the base can be used with the compatible Pearl 360 Pro (see below).

We also like the easy-in harness, which does as it sounds – staying open, so you can position and secure your baby with minimum fuss. Another i-Size seat, the Pebble's safety features include integrated side impact protection, to help spread the force of any impact. It comes with a Baby Hugg inlay and a sun canopy, to keep babies protected on summer days.

This seat can even be taken on a plane, as it is TUV aircraft certified – one of only a few car seats you can take on an airplane.

Available from: Samuel Johnston, Natural Baby Shower, Kiddies Kingdom

6. Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 Pro and FamilyFix 360 Pro Base, £519.90

Best rotating car seat for easy use with a toddler

Suitable for: 3 months-4 years/61-105cm/up to 17kg | Rear facing until: 4 years | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 7.15kg

Pros:

• 5 recline settings
• Easy-in harness
• One-handed rotation
• Sliding base
• Transferable base
• Spins 360 degrees

Cons:

• Heavy
• Expensive
• Not suitable from birth
• ISOfix installation only

The Pearl is Maxi-Cosi’s big sister to the Pebble (above). Like the Pebble, it offers the clever back-saving SlideTech feature when used with the FamilyFix 360 Pro base, so you can slide the seat out towards you when taking your child out, instead of stooping inside the car. It also comes with a well-designed easy-in harness, that stays open while you place your child in the seat, one-hand rotation, and enhanced side impact protection.

However, while the travel-system compatible Pebble can only be used up to 15 months, the Pearl can be used from birth with a newborn inlay (sold separately), or from 3 months without, right up until around 4 years. It rotates 360°, with rear and forward-facing options.

The seat has plenty of comfy inserts to help make your baby feel secure, as well as helping the spacious seat grow with your child. And there are 5 recline settings to keep your toddler comfy, plus the 100% recycled fabrics

We especially love how the Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 Pro comes with the AGR seal of approval, as a 'back-friendly' car seat. AGR is an independent organisation of health care experts specialising in back related issues/ergonomics. It also had a 2.1 (good) score from ADAC, scoring well for security, service and ergonomics.

Available from: Natural Baby Shower, John Lewis, Samuel Johnston and Boots

7. Silver Cross Motion All Size 360, £325

— Best swivel car seat for a long lifespan

Suitable for: 0 months-12 years/40-145cm | Rear facing until: 4 years | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 14.4kg | MFM Review rating: 4.5

Pros:

• Long-lasting
• Value for money
• Sturdy
• Good quality
• Breathable bamboo fabric
• Spins 360 degrees
• 8 headrest positions

Cons:

• Heavy
• Bulky
• Expensive
• Narrow for older kids
• ISOfix installation only

Silver Cross is a longstanding British brand that's maintained a strong following for good reason – offering pretty much guaranteed quality and good looks.

This lovely plush seat offers rear-facing for longer (until around 4 years), and swivel features, with the added benefit of lasting from birth until around 12 years. Parents of babies rate the spin function a game-changer, while independent toddlers will find it helps them to climb in themselves.

The Motion is one of the more expensive rotating car seats on our list, but if you have the budget upfront, its wide age range means the cost-per-year is pretty good value if you use it until your child is ready to outgrow a car seat completely.

Former MFM Head of Consumer Content and mum-of-3 Christy tried the seat with her baby between age 14 and 17 months, and her 6 and 8 year old daughters, in both a Mercedes and a Volvo. First impressions: this seat was huge and smart, both factors Christy admitted she expected from Silver Cross. "I noticed how well-padded it felt too," she said, "particularly with the newborn inserts fitted."

She said she found the Isofix installation no problem thanks to the Silver Cross website and app. "Having recently experienced a crash I was feeling anxious so the straightforward instructions were particularly welcome," she said. Green indicators let you know when you've installed it correctly – a thumbs up for anyone who's struggled to guess if their seat really is fitted right.

The seat comes with a rotating base and support leg – factors that make the seat easy to use and safe but that take up more space than some other car seats.

Christy also appreciated how easy it is to convert the Motion for other ages – for infants, the newborn cushion inserts are easy to remove when they've outgrown them. For older kids, the 5-point harness was easily stowed under the seat fabric, rather than requiring fussy rethreading/removal, making it a convenient pick if children of different ages are using the seat. The soft breathable bamboo fabric also won praise points, along with the sturdy build, and thick padding which our tester said: "Helps me feel reassured my baby is well protected". It has a 'satisfactory' ADAC score of 3.

There were inevitably a few niggles – at its most upright the seat is still slightly reclined, which might bother older children who are used to sitting up straight. Christy’s 6 year old also reported this seat feeling on the narrow side. Ultimately a seat that lasts such a long time won't have all the features that go with individual stage seats though, and might feel snugger.

Read our full MadeForMums Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 car seat review

Available from: Samuel Johnston, Amazon

8. Graco Turn2Me i-Size R129, £180

Best swivel car seat for i-Size on a budget

Suitable for: 0 months - 4 years/40-105cm/up to 18kg | Rear facing until: 4 years | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 12.66kg | MFM Review rating: 4

Pros:

• Good value
• Easy to use
• Side ventilation
• 10 recline positions
• Machine washable covers
• Spins 360 degrees

Cons:

• Bulky
• Not as well padded or comfy as others on our list
• Only 1 side impact protection pod included

For those looking for a 360-spin seat that meets the newer R129 safety standard but doesn't break the bank, the Graco Turn2Me i-Size R129 seat is a tempting bet. Boasting all the features of the previous R44 version (the Graco Turn2Me Group 0/1 seat), this new R129 version can be used rear-facing until around 4 years old, with an optional forward facing from 15 months.

Our tester didn't find it performed as well as some pricier seats, but for the price it includes plenty of features that are worth considering. A harness that doesn't require tricky rethreading to adjust for different children's heights, a robust build and side ventilation for keeping little ones cool on sweaty days all caught our eye.

It has 5 recline positions in each direction, meaning you should find an angle that suits your child (and their sleep habits), plus 6 headrest positions and one-hand 360-spin. It also comes with a machine-washable padded insert for newborns.

Although it does have improved side-impact protection, our reviewer Harriet was disappointed to see only 1 protector is included, which can be removed and placed on either side. "It's reassuring that the Turn2Me meets R129 standards, but personally I would prefer installed, permanent side-impact protectors on both sides, as the reliance is on the user to remember to install on the correct side, and change if the car seat is moved," she says.

However, she also felt the support leg – which has 12 positions to find the best fit – was solid, and the green indicator system made it instantly clear if you'd installed it correctly. While our tests found the the 360-swivel lever wasn't quite as well placed as other seats – "This lever is directly above a very similar lever for the recline function, however, which meant I often pressed the wrong one first," says Harriet – it proved to be an extremely useful feature that testers used frequently.

Testers were divided on comfort for the child in the seat. While one tester found the main cushion to be very bulky and the headrest narrow, Lana – who tested it with their 12-month-old baby Otto (pictured) – said, "The fabric is lovely and comfortable feeling and my son seems very comfortable. His head is well supported at all times and he is comfortable no matter the recline in the seat."

After testing, we feel this is a solid value option if you’re looking for a swivel seat on a budget, or as a second car seat to use in a grandparent’s car, for example (they’ll love the back-saving rotation feature).

Read our full MadeForMums Graco Turn2Me i-Size car seat review

Available from: Amazon, Samuel Johnston, Argos and Boots

9. Cozy n Safe Morgan, £229.99

Best swivel car seat for a slimline fit

Suitable for: 0 months-6 years/40-125cm | Rear facing until: 87cm (around 15 months) | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 13.2kg | MFM Review rating: 4

Pros:

• Good value
• Comfortable
• Slimline
• One-handed rotation
• Can hide 5-point harness
• Ventilated
• Good recline
• ISOfix and seat belt compatible
• Machine washable covers
• Spins 360 degrees

Cons:

• Heavy to transfer between cars
• Fiddly recline

This is one of the longer-lasting car seats around, working from birth to (potentially) up to age 6. The Morgan has 360-degree rotation so can convert to a forward-facing seat later, on top of generally easing those awkward moments getting babies and sulky children in and out of the car. It’s simple to spin thanks to a pull lever, and it has a very reasonable price-tag.

Our MFM reviewer Annabelle tried it with her newborn daughter Orla and her 2-year-old son Tadhg, in their Hyundai Tucson. Annabelle loved the stylish grey and black design, and how compact the seat felt in situ. “I was impressed at how slimline the Morgan is compared to our current 360 degree car seat. This means more leg room for my son, who is forward-facing – a huge plus,” she noted.

The one-handed rotation was especially appreciated. “It means that you can carry your child with one arm and rotate the car seat with the other.” The seat has a top tether belt for added security for infants, a feature Annabelle also liked alongside the side-impact protection, simply activated using a button on the side.

There is even more to love here – the Morgan’s ultra-comfy, with extra-deep padding (great for young babies). Plus while Isofix means it can slot happily in and out of many car models, it also sports the option to install using a 3-point vehicle belt instead.

One thing to note is that it semi-locks at 90 degrees (facing the car door) – this stability can make it easier when strapping your child in, but the seat should only be used in the forward- or rear-facing positions when the vehicle is moving.

Overall, our tester felt this seat was of a really good quality, with the only niggle being the lever for rotating, which felt ‘plasticky’ compared to the rest. It was also a bit fiddly to recline using the twist knob – the seat does recline 50°, however, meaning it’s good for snoozing.

Like most 360 swivel car seats, this seat can’t be used as part of a travel system, and stays fixed in your car, so you’d potentially wake a napping baby to transfer them to a pram at the end of your journey. But on the plus side, it can be used for up to 6 years, making the price-per-year pretty good value.

Read our full MadeForMums Cozy n Safe Morgan car seat review

Available from: Kiddies Kingdom, The Range

10. Britax Römer DualFix M i-Size, £375

— Best swivel car seat for sturdiness

Suitable for: 3 months-4 years/61-104cm/up to 18kg | Rear facing until: 105cm | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 14.5kg

Pros:

• Sturdy
• Comfortable
• Multiple recline positions
• Machine-washable covers
• Spins 360 degrees

Cons:

• Expensive
• Heavy and bulky
• Can’t use from birth
• Isofix installation only

Germany company Britax Römer is known for its robust, high-quality car seats, and the DualFix M i-Size is an updated version of its DualFix M, now meeting i-Size regulations.

With 360 swivel action, this is a stylish, solid seat designed to grow with little ones. It’s suitable from three months, and offers extended rear-facing up to 105cm (approx age 4). It can also be used as a forward-facing seat from 76cm.

At close to 15kg, this is not the lightest seat around. It’s very much designed to stay put in your car, not be lugged about between vehicles or into homes. However, its bulkiness does mean it feels ultra-sturdy, and it boasts plenty of reassuring safety features. These include high, padded side wings, a 5-point harness, and the SICT side impact protection system.

There’s a height-adjustable support leg to stop things wobbling in the event of a collision, and a rebound bar that prevents tilting (bonus: this bar can be adjusted against the back of seat to offer 10% extra leg room). The seat has an ADAC rating of 2.1 (good) – the ADAC test simulates realistic crashes with Q-test dummies.

Like many seats, the DualFix is a doddle to install in cars using an integrated Isofix base – however, Britax Römer has something called the Pivot Link Isofix System, which is basically Isofix with bells on. It directs the force of an impact down towards the vehicle seat and then forward, reducing the chance of head or neck injuries.

We love the quick-remove, machine-washable covers, to cope with those inevitable sticky spills and other not-so-thrilling drivetime episodes (car sickness anyone?). You can also buy added extras including a backseat mirror and a sunshade.

There’s no doubt the price-tag is on the high side, so this seat won’t suit all pockets, although the price you pay does include the Isofix base. It can’t use it from birth, but if you can afford to splash out, and want safety combined with the dependable Britax stamp of quality, we reckon this 360 swivel seat’s a brilliant, practical option for children up to around age 4.

Available from: Samuel Johnston

Why should I buy a rotating car seat?

The main benefit of a rotating car seat is it’s easier and more comfortable to take your child in and out of the car – you can simply swivel the seat towards your open car door. It saves needing to awkwardly bend over a seat sideways to reach the harness, one of those daily parental frustrations most of us can do without. That makes these seats especially great if you have back pain or mobility issues.

When you consider how many times your child uses a car seat over the months and years, a rotating seat really can make a huge difference to how comfortable everyday life is. For toddlers who can climb in themselves, it may also make this easier for them.

There’s a safety aspect to consider too, too. Many 360-rotating car seats enable rear-facing for longer, up to around 4 years. In the event of a collision, especially head-on, a rear-facing seat offers greater protection to your child’s still-developing head, spine and neck, so many parents are keen to keep this position for as long as possible.

When you are ready to change their position, with a 360-swivel seat you can rotate them to forward-facing without the expense and hassle of buying and reinstalling a new seat.

What age are swivel car seats best for?

Many rotating car seats can be used from birth, and some of the seats on our list grow with your child so they can be used for a number of years before moving on to a child car seat.

Newborn babies start in rear-facing infant car seats. These are sometimes called:

• Group 0+ seats, grouped by your child’s weight for use from birth to 13kg (approx 15 months)
  or
• i-Size (part of the new European standard for car seats, ECE R129), which groups seats according to your child’s height. i-Size infant car seats will have a heigh limit in centimetres, usually somewhere between 62cm and 87cm

Under new R129 regulations, babies must stay in a rear-facing position until they are at least 15 months old. If you have an older-style R44 Group 0 seat, once your baby reaches 9kg (approx 9 months) you can decide whether to swivel them to a forward-facing position, although we don’t recommend turning them forward too early.

In the past, toddler car seats were often forward facing only. However, the introduction of i-Size and the requirement to have children rear-facing until at least 15 months has changed the market considerably. There are now plenty of 360-swivel car seats that allow your child to sit rear-facing far beyond 15 months, with the option to also face them forward when you’re ready.

The 360-swivel car seats on our list mainly encompass i-Size or Group 0+/1 baby and toddler seats, for use from birth to around age 4. We also have some 360-degree seats that will last right up until 6, 7, or even 12 years old.

What to look for when choosing a swivel car seat

When choosing a seat brand or model, there are many factors to take into account, depending on your child's age, your budget and family’s needs.

Does it rotate 180 or 360? — A seat that can swivel a full 360 degrees means it can face both directions, depending on your child's age. You can keep toddlers well-protected in a rear-facing position for longer, but rotate to front-facing whenever they are ready (and it’s safe to). RoSPA’s Child Car Seats website advises parents and caregivers to "keep their children in a rear facing child car seat for as long as possible", based on the British Medical Journal’s research suggesting that they are safer than forward facing seats for children under 4 years old.

Not all rotating car seats swivel all the way round – some only rotate 180°, so always check before buying. Claire Waterhouse and Julie Dagnall, founders of Child Seat Safety, explain the key difference. “A 360° rotation will be a rear- and forward-facing seat, whereas a 180° rotation will only face in one direction (either rear- or forward-facing) but you’ll still be able to swivel it to make it easier to get the child in and out of the seat.”

How easy are they to rotate? — If the answer is ‘not very’, despite being designed to make life easier, your rotating seat might end up being a headache. Try seats out first, if you can, and read online reviews to see how smoothly this feature works. One-handed rotation can be a godsend, if you’re juggling lots of things (and let’s face it, what parent isn’t).

Are they travel system compatible? — The most important thing to note is that the swivel mechanism is part of the base, rather than the car seat itself. Many rotating car seats have fixed bases, so they can’t be attached to a buggy as part of a travel system. This means you’ll need to carry a young baby to and from the car each time you travel (and potentially wake them up mid-snooze). However, some infant car seats (like the Cybex Cloud T) fit onto separate swivel bases, meaning the seat itself may be compatible with travel systems – so shop around if this is important to you.

How heavy is the seat? — As mentioned, rotating seats often come with bulky, non-detachable bases. This can make them heavy to carry and install, and even with a detachable base, the seat itself may still be heavy. Of course, if you plan to install and keep it in one car that shouldn’t be a huge problem. But it's worth considering if you plan to move it in between cars regularly.

Does the base separate from the car seat, and do you have to buy it separately? — Be sure you know what you're buying, and which elements are included. If you do need to buy a separate base, check whether you can also use it with the next stage seat. You could upgrade to a rotating toddler seat but keep the same base, saving space and money.

Is the base Isofix? — Check whether the base is Isofix compatible, meaning it ‘plugs’ into your car’s Isofix connection points to secure it, which can make fitting much easier. All R129 compliant car seats are required to have Isofix connectors. Always check if the Isofix-compatible seats will work with your particular model of car.

If your car doesn’t have Isofix points, you will need a car seat that can be fitted using the vehicle’s seatbelt. Fitted correctly, fitting with a belt is no less safe than using Isofix, however there is more room for error when fitting with a belt, so be sure to read the instructions carefully, and get it fitted professionally if you can.

Are rotating car seats worth the money?

Rotating car seats are not an essential, and they do tend to be a bit more expensive than basic car seats, up to £100 more. The mechanism in the base can also add significantly to the overall weight of the unit. However, many parents will tell you that they are real ‘game-changers’ when it comes to convenience, and worth every extra penny if you have your kids in the car frequently. They can also extend the life of your seat. For that reason, you may feel it’s a wise investment up front.

Are 360 car seats safe?

Providing you only use the swivel function of your car seat when the car is stationary, while taking your baby in and out of the car or switching from a rear to forward-facing setting, it’s a safe feature to have.

Some car seats lock into place when side-facing to help when taking your child out of the chair, but Sophie Steane, RAC shop spokesperson, stresses the importance of using the feature correctly. She says, “After rotation, the key point is to make sure that the seat is fully locked in the correct position before setting off.”

Claire Waterhouse and Julie Dagnall also add that swivel car seats that don’t have the ability to lock are less likely be misused. “We wouldn’t want a parent to turn it side on while travelling to maybe feed the child.”

You should also be sure to only switch from rear-facing to forward-facing when your child meets or exceeds the age requirements of the individual seat. With many in our list offering a rear-facing option for the entire lifespan of the seat, it may not be necessary for you to move them to a forward-facing position at all.

Read more...

• • Best car seats for children from age 4
  • Best car seats from 9 months