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 360 car seat for use with travel systems: Cybex Cloud T i-Size, £229.95
• Best budget buy swivel seat: Ickle Bubba Radial 360, £149
• Best 360 car seat for easy reclining action: Joie i-Spin 360, £250
• Best 360 car seat for additional safety testing: Joie i-Spin Safe, £250
• Best swivel infant car seat for intuitive installation: Thule Maple car seat and Alfi Base £498
• Best rotating car seat for easy use with a toddler: Thule Elm car seat and Alfi base, £511.20
• Best swivel car seat for a long lifespan: Maxi-Cosi Emerald 360 Pro car seat, £399.99
• Best budget i-Size swivel car seat: Graco Turn2Me i-Size R129, £129
• Best 360 car seat for a slimline fit: Cozy n Safe Morgan, £229.99 £159.99 at Kiddies Kingdom (save £70 or 30%)
• Best 360 car seat for sturdiness: Britax Römer DualFix M i-Size, £365 £279 at Kiddies Kingdom (Save £86 or 23%)

If you want more information about key features of 360 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.

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

Best 360 car seats and 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 Star Rating: 4.7 stars

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

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).

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."

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: Cybex, John Lewis, 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 Star Rating: 4.6 stars

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.”

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 Star Rating: 4.6 stars

Pros:

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

Cons:

• Bulky
• Expensive
• Heavy

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.

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.

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

Available from: Boots, John Lewis, Halfords and Argos

4. Joie i-Spin Safe, £370

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 Star Rating: 4.6 stars

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).

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 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.

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

Available from: John Lewis and Kiddies Kingdom

5. Thule Maple + Alfi base, £498

Best swivel infant car seat for intuitive installation

Suitable for: 40-75cm/up to 13kg | Rear facing until: 15 months | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129/03 | Rotation: 180° | Weight: 5.4kg | MFM Review Star Rating: 4.4 stars

Pros:

• Comfortable fit for baby's head and shoulders
• Soft, flexible straps
• Easy to take on and off the base
• Light-up ISOFIX base feels very safe
• Intuitive

Cons:

• Cushioning could be softer
• Base needs to be bought separately
• Not as robust as some other car seats

This clever base features innovative technology that makes installation quick, easy, and most importantly, reassuringly stress-free. The AcuTight technology allows for secure activation only when both ISOFIX connectors are engaged and the SenseAffirm system provides a digital display that gives precise guidance on adjustments, reassuring you that everything is secure. Our favourite feature however is the EasyDock technology — this simplifies the process of attaching the car seat to the base. All you need to do is dock the seat on the base, rotate to lock, and you're good to go!

MFM reviewer Gemma, who tested the Maple car seat and Alfi base with her 2-month-old son was particularly impressed by the easy of installation : "using the base makes installing your Maple car seat as straightforward and error-free as possible. It’s very easy to take the seat on and off the base using the 2 grey buttons at the front. When the seat is fixed to the base, it’s very clear how to rotate it."

The seat itself has been designed with safety in mind too — it has a 3-point safety harness and features an Impact Protection System that provides a secure, protective layer at all angles. It's also lightweight, has an extremely easy-to-use recline mechanism, a large water-repellent UPF50+ canopy (to cover all weathers) and can be used on a pushchair to create a travel system.

Read the full MadeForMums Thule Maple car seat review

Available from: Thule (seat and base), John Lewis (seat), Natural Baby Shower (seat and base)

6. Thule Elm car seat + Alfi base, £568

— Best rotating car seat for easy use with a toddler

Suitable for: 67-105cm/up to 18kg | Rear facing until: 105cm/18kg | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129/03 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 7.7kg (+7.4kg for base) | MFM Review Star Rating: 5 stars

Pros:

• Easy to install
• Comfortable for baby & toddler
• Simple to use
• Clear safety measures

Cons:

• Seatbelt release a little fiddly

Using the same Alfi base as the Thule Maple above, but with a longer lifespan, is the Thule Elm. Suitable from 6 months to approximately 4 years (105cm/18kg), the seat is designed to grow with your child thanks to its adjustable safety harness and headrest which can both be adjusted smoothly and easily. There are also magnets on both sides that hold the harness buckle open, meaning that placing your child in and out the seat is made easy.

It’s also super comfortable for babies and toddlers, MFM reviewer Rob, who tested the Thule Elm with his 8-month-old and 3-year-old sons (who usually hate being in the car), said “Both my boys didn’t complain once in the car seat - both laughing, giggling and singing on our journeys. Normally when I say that we have to get in the car, my toddler’s response is “no Dad”, but since using the new car seat it has been “it’s exciting Daddy”... so that’s definitely a good sign! The longest journey we did was just under two hours, and not once did I get complaints of being uncomfortable.”

As with the Maple, one of the real standout features of this car seat is its easy installation, thanks to the Alfi base. As MFM reviewer Rob explains, “to secure the car seat, it simply clicks onto the base. Then once it’s turned into the correct position the digital display will turn the safety light green. So simple and no confusion as to whether the seat is safe and locked on. The added bonus is that both the ISOFIX and the car seat are easily installed by just one person. They’re not heavy and installation isn’t complex. Thule have really made it as parent-friendly as they possibly can.” This installation reassurance is thanks to the SenseAffirm System, a digital display that provides precise guidance on adjustments.

Safety-wise, the Thule Elm comes out shining too. It achieved the top ranking in the ADAC child car seat test in 2025 and scored a score of 2.2. The seat has a 5-point padded seatbelt system, a large protective headrest and the Thule Impact Protection System provides a secure, protective layer for your child.

Available from: Natural Baby Shower, Thule

7. Maxi-Cosi Emerald 360 Pro car seat, £399.99

— Best swivel car seat for a long lifespan

Suitable for: 0-12 years/40-150cm/0-36kg | Rear facing until: 4 years | i-Size: Yes | Safety standard: R129 | Rotation: 360° | Weight: 15.5kg | MFM Review rating: 4.6 stars

Pros:

• Suitable from birth to 12 years
• 360° rotation
• Seat slides out
• Easy-in harness
• Extra safety features
• Colour-coded installation

Cons:

• Very heavy
• Bulky
• Expensive

Maxi-Cosi are known for creating innovative car seats that focus on comfort, style and safety, and one of their newest car seats is no different.

The Emerald 360 Pro is a Group 0+/1/2/3 car seat, which means you can use it right from birth, all the way until your child no longer needs a car seat — meaning you don’t need to buy a new car seat at different stages.

Installing the Emerald 360 Pro is easy and straightforward. MFM reviewer Sarah, who tested the seat with her 10-month-old baby and 6-year-old daughter said, “it takes just 30 seconds to click the two Isofix connectors into the Isofix slots in the car, and set up the support leg. What I particularly liked is that everything is handily colour-coded – the connectors are yellow so it’s easy to see where you are placing them and there are green/red indicators to show whether the seat and support leg are secured correctly or not, and an indicator for the child’s age and height setting.”

Not only does this seat have a smooth, easy-to-use 360° swivel, the seat also slides in and out of the car seat thanks to its unique integrated SlideTech base. As MFM reviewer Sarah describes it, "there’s currently nothing else on the market like it. You simply pull out a lever on the side of the seat, turn the seat 90 degrees and then pull the seat out towards you. Once your child is strapped in you push the seat back and swivel it rear-facing. This can really take away the strain on your back as there’s no need to stoop into the car and it was a more comfortable experience for my baby too."

The seat comes with a newborn inlay which can be used up until 75cm and our reviewer found it pretty easy to adjust the car seat for her different aged children too. The seat also comes with Maxi-Cosi’s ‘Easy-in harness’ which stays open and out of the way when placing your child in the seat, and ‘ClimaFlow’ for temperature control which enhances air circulation and keeps your child cool.

Our reviewer was also impressed by the G-CELL Side Impact Protection System in the seat, which spreads the impact of a collision and reduces injuries: "with some car seats, side impact protection can add to the bulkiness of the seat but G-CELL is integrated. It’s also reassuring that my eldest child can benefit from this technology as some traditional booster seats are much more basic."

At £399 it is one of the more expensive options on our list, but this might just be the only car seat you ever need to buy!

Available from: Boots, Maxi-Cosi, Natural Baby Shower and Kiddies Kingdom

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.

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.

"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.

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

Available from: Boots, Amazon, Samuel Johnston and Kiddies Kingdom

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.

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.

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

10. Britax Römer DualFix M i-Size, £365

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.

Available from: Kiddies Kingdom

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