The Best Black Friday Rotating Car Seat Deals – 2024
Mostly known as a rotating car seat (or swivel car seat, as some may call it), this is a style of convertible car seat that sits on a base that turns either 180 degrees or 360 degrees to make buckling in a (sometimes wriggling) baby or toddler so much easier and strain-free.
They aren’t necessarily known to be the cheapest type of car seats, which is why you should take advantage of these amazing Black Friday rotating car seat deals if you intend to get one for your child. Buy this Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale and you’ll get to save some big bucks but hurry, while stock lasts!
What is the best rotating car seat for most families? Our top pick is the Evenflo Gold Revolve360 Extend All-in-One – an all-rounder with everything you’d expect a top-notch rotating car seat to have (and some more), and at a reasonable price point. For a more affordable option, the Safety 1st Turn and Go 360 is an excellent choice for the best value of money while the Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 is the absolute go-to if you’re looking for a rotating infant car seat for your newborn.
All The Best Black Friday Rotating Car Seat Deals At A Glance...
Best Rotating Car Seat Overall
Best Rotating Car Seat for Infants
Best 360 Car Seat
Best 180 Turning Car Seat
Best Affordable Swivel Carseat
Most Comfy Rotating Car Seat
Find more information at the end of this guide:
Black Friday Rotating Car Seat Deals Reviews
BEST ROTATING CAR SEAT OVERALL
Dimensions: 21 x 19.8 x 25.9 inches
Weight: 29.6 pounds
Rear-facing weight limit: 4 to 50 lbs.
Forward-facing weight limit: 22 to 65 lbs.; booster seat up to 120 lbs.
Height limit: 17 to 57 inches
Why We Love It
There are quite the few excellent options out there but when it comes to the best rotating car seat in an overall aspect, we think the Evenflo Gold Revolve360 Extend All-in-One Rotational Car Seat is every bit deserving with its all-rounded features and reasonable price point.
If you have been doing your research, you would know that these rotating car seats don’t come cheap. The Evenflo is one of the least expensive of the bunch so it will fit most parents’ budget, but don’t let the price makes you think something is compromised or inferior here.
This is a 360 car seat, meaning, it can swivel 360 degrees (and you can do so with just one hand) so it is easy to switch back and forth between children of different ages. The 3-in-1 configuration allow you to switch from rear- to forward-facing and eventually booster seat mode, and you only need to install it once of which the process is pretty straightforward.
For those who’d like to keep their little one rear-facing for as long as possible, this swivel car seat lets you do just that with its extended rear-facing use that accommodates baby up to 50 lbs. It even comes with a zip-on ergonomic leg rest that is reversible to add comfort for the growing legs, and there is a 14-position headrest, premium fabrics and finishes, as well as cup holders provided.
A SensorSafe technology will send you real-time alerts of any potential danger it senses from your little one and it comes in a slimmer profile too if you’d like to save some valuable backseat space.
Things To Take Note Of
BEST ROTATING CAR SEAT FOR INFANTS
Dimensions: 20 x 21.5 x 24 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Rear-facing weight limit: 4 to 40 lbs.
Forward-facing weight limit: 22 to 65 lbs.; booster seat up to 100 lbs.
Height limit: up to 57 inches
Why We Love It
With a smaller weight recommendation at 4 pounds, the Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 Rotating Car Seat is your best option if you’re looking for an infant car seat that swivels for your newborn.
While most convertible car seats are designed to grow with your child, not many allow you to start as early as the Turn2Me. The smaller weight requirement, together with a removable plush infant insert that comes with it makes it possible to accommodate even the littlest passengers and you can use this 3 in 1 car seat right up to the booster seat stages.
Unlike the Evenflo, this swivel car seat infant can only turn 180 degrees but we love that you can do so single-handedly. The built-in levels and audible ‘click’ are helpful to confirm a secure installation which with the brand’s renowned SnugLock technology, can be done in less than a minute in either vehicle seat belt or LATCH attachment.
Other solid features include a no-rethread harness system and 10-position headrest. The entire rotating baby car seat is ProtectPlus Engineered, meaning it has undergone the most rigorous crash tests to protect baby in frontal, side, rear and rollover crashes. The steel-reinforced frame adds to that peace of mind, as well as durability assurance for up to 10 years of use.
Things To Take Note Of
This swivel infant car seat doesn’t rotate in forward-facing or high-back booster mode but not many parents really mind that because by the time their child is forward-facing, it is generally easier to get them in and out of the car seat already.
It may be a bit of a tight fit in smaller cars and you’ll have to reinstall the car seat completely when converting it from rear- to forward-facing. Because of this, it’s probably not the best when it comes to switching back and forth between children of different ages.
BEST 360 CAR SEAT
Dimensions: 25.3 x 20 x 25.5 inches
Weight: 23 pounds
Rear-facing weight limit: 4 to 50 lbs.
Forward-facing weight limit: 22 to 65 lbs.
Height limit: 17 to 49 inches
Why We Love It
As the very first 360 carseat in the US, the Cybex Sirona S 360° Rotating Seat surely doesn’t disappoint. This is one spinning car seat that lets you rotate by using just one hand so that the other can carry baby securely.
Possibly the easiest-to-install revolving car seat of them all, it has an EasyLock Bar that reduces the force needed to install a car seat up to 4x. and you only need to do it once – the transition from rear- to forward-facing mode is seamless without any re-installing required. Dual-level indicators are present to help parents ensure the seat is positioned at the correct recline angle, and the magnetic buckle holders make it easy to get baby in and out.
It is also probably the safest rotating car seat out of all due to a few additional safety features. One being, it has an extra load leg that can reduce rotation in certain crashes by up to 30%. Adding to that is a liner side-impact protection (L.S.P.) that absorbs up to 25% more impact in a collision compared to one without, and the anti-rebound design reduces car seat rebound movement in the event of a crash.
Like the Evenflo, this Cybex rotating car seat is also equipped with the SensorSafe technology so you can get real-time alerts if your little one is subject to any out-of-ordinary circumstances. It uses the same no-rethread harness that eases the height adjustment of the shoulder straps and the 12-position headrest is certainly one of the highest in the industry.
Things To Take Note Of
BEST 180 TURNING CAR SEAT
Dimensions: 21.75 x 19 x 23.5 inches
Weight: 28 pounds
Rear-facing weight limit: 4 to 50 lbs.
Forward-facing weight limit: 22 to 65 lbs.
Height limit: up to 49 inches
Why We Love It
Most rotating car seats that you see on the market are 360 car seats in that the car seat swivel 360 degrees. The Baby Jogger City Turn Rotating Convertible Car Seat is quite the rare one out here, being a turning car seat that does 180 degrees and only in rear-facing mode.
It has a unique patented rotation that brings baby 10 inches closer to you though so you can maintain a more upright posture without bending when getting baby in and out of the car seat. You can rotate it single-handedly so the other hand is free to carry baby, and it is one of the narrower rotating car seats so that’s good if you’re trying to save space in your back seat.
But perhaps what stood out most is the fabric used on the City Turn – the moisture-wicking COOLMAX material keep your child cool and comfortable while riding in the car and this is even more the apparent if you live in a warmer climate. The rear-facing weight limit is on the higher side for a carseat that turns so you’ll be able to keep baby rear-facing longer, and there are several removable inserts to help get just the right fit for a smaller baby/preemie.
Things To Take Note Of
BEST AFFORDABLE SWIVEL CARSEAT
Dimensions: 19 x 22 x 23 inches
Weight: 37.6 pounds
Rear-facing weight limit: 5 to 40 lbs.
Forward-facing weight limit: 22 to 65 lbs.; booster seat up to 100 lbs.
Height limit: 19 to 52 inches
Why We Love It
You would have noticed by now that a rotate car seat does not come cheap. For a (relatively) more affordable option, you can consider the Safety 1st Turn and Go 360 DLX Rotating All-in-One Car Seat which for a 3-in-1 360 car seat, is quite the good bargain compared to the rest.
For firsts, it offers good longevity. Right from birth up till the toddler years where it converts from rear- to forward facing mode before turning into a backless booster seat, you can easily get a good 10 years use out of it. The seat turns 360 degrees in all three modes to bring you face-to-face with your little one as you buckle and unbuckle, and there are soft locks in place to keep the seat secure during the process.
Particularly great for parents who aren’t confident with the installation process, this 360 rotating car seat is equipped with red-to-green visual indicators that solve the most common installation problem: loose belt tension, with also a built-in vehicle belt lock-off arm to help you get a tight fit during installation.
Things To Take Note Of
MOST COMFORTABLE ROTATING CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT
Dimensions: 19 x 22 x 23 inches
Weight: 39.3 pounds
Rear-facing weight limit: 5 to 40 lbs.
Forward-facing weight limit: 22 to 65 lbs.; booster seat up to 100 lbs.
Height limit: 19 to 52 inches
Why We Love It
The Maxi-Cosi Emme 360 Rotating All-in-One Convertible Car Seat is pretty similar to the Turn and Go in that it is also a 3 in 1 car rotating convertible car seat that comes with the peace-giving red-to-green sensitive indicators (to show the belt has tension) and a built-in vehicle belt lock-off arm that helps get a secure fit during installation.
Speaking of which, installation is one-off as well and the weight and height limitations are the same for all 3 modes. It has an additional connection cord that is attached to the seat to ensure base and seat are used together when installed so this one here cannot be detached and carried on its own.
One aspect that the Emme 360 did better than the Turn and Go is in the fabric used. It is the brand’s premium PureCosi fabrics which are made without wool or added fire retardant treatment so it is very soft and comfortable against baby’s skin. Because of that, it is more expensive than the Turn and Go which materials are cheaper-seeming. We also like how this one comes with cup holders that rotate (to accommodate sippy cups of different shapes) and are removable and dishwasher safe.
Things To Take Note Of
It is heavier than the Turn and Go so if you already have issues with that, you probably wouldn’t like this one here either. On the same note, you’ll need two hands to rotate the car seat.
It is also not the easiest to install because the base has to be installed first without the car seat (of which is still attached to the base by a wire) so you can probably imagine the complexity of it all.
Rotating Car Seat Comparison: Graco Turn to Me vs Evenflo 360
- 3 in 1 car seat
- Swivel 180 degrees (only in rear-facing mode)
- Needs to reinstall again when switch to forward-facing mode
- 10 headrest positions
- Newborn inserts
- 3 in 1 car seat
- Swivel 360 degrees
- One-off installation
- 14 headrest positions
- Extended rear-facing up to 50 lbs.
- Real-time safety alerts
How We Chose Our Best Rotating Car Seats (and the things you should look for)
Ease of Installation
Car seats are known for their tricky installation – rotating car seats are even more the challenging so that should be the very first thing you look at: whether or not the seat has a push on LATCH feature.
LATCH stands for “Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children” and it is designed to make car seat installation easier and safer by eliminating the potential for errors in seatbelt routing and tensioning. That said, LATCH has weight limits which when exceeded, should be switched to seat belt installation so having an easy seat belt installation is essential.
A 360 swivel car seat usually requires only a one-off installation but for car seats that turn partially (90 or 180 degree), you’ll most likely need to uninstall the seat completely first before you can shift it into a new position i.e. rear- to forward-facing.
Size and Weight Capacity
If you intend to use your car seat for as long as possible, choose one with the highest maximum weight and height limits – just so you know, not all car seats share the same maximum capacity with some being lower than others.
With convertible car seats like a swivel baby car seat, you have to also pay attention to the maximum height and weight capacities for each configuration. That’s why we have listed out the weight and height limitation of both rear-forward facing individually above to make things easier for you. For parents who are determined to keep baby rear-facing as long as possible, the Evenflo 360 is the one to go for.
Car Seat and Booster Configurations
The whole point of choosing convertibles is about car seats that grow with baby so that you don’t have to keep buying a baby seat as your child grows. They make for the best transition car seat at every stage but keep in mind that not every car seat that rotates extends to the booster configuration.
For example, the Cybex Sirona S and the Baby Jogger City Turn are limited to just rear and forward-facing – these will require you to purchase a booster down the line. If going all the way through is what you intended, a 3 in 1 car seat like the Evenflo 360 or Graco Turn2Me will be the best rotating car seats for you.
Price
Convertible car seats are generally a pricey baby gear. A convertible car seat that rotates, well, it will cost even more. After all, you’re adding a rotating mechanism to have that swivel base car seat to give you all the convenience.
The price range is pretty varied and while our selections cover a good spectrum, we prioritize those within the midrange so that parents can have more (relatively) affordable choices to choose from.
Some Safety Features (and Terms) That You Should Know
There can be quite the long list of intimidating terminology you come across when shopping for the best rotating car seat, especially those surrounding safety features. Here are some of the most common ones, if they’re all still a blur to you:
LATCH
No-Rethread Harness
Other FAQs
As its name depicts, a rotating car seat is a type of baby seat that turns, swivels, twists. Turning car seat, spin car seat, twist car seat…call them anything, they’re all the same thing – car seats that swivel.
Designed with a car seat swivel base that allows the seat to swivel or rotate 180 or 360 degrees within the vehicle, rotating car seats make it so much easier to place your child in and take them out of the seat which really, is the primary benefit of it all.
While this style of convertible car seat may seem like a frivolous buy, having a car seat that turns is actually game-changing if you often struggle with buckling in an active child. Even with newborns, because they cannot support themselves yet, placing them into the car seat needs to be extra delicate and careful.
Either way – wriggling toddler or delicate newborn, if you can only do so from the side, the whole act of bending and angling yourself in the car will put considerable strain on your body and this will happen every single time you strap baby in. With a car seat that turns, you can just swing it to face yourself when you open the car door and place baby right in, then swivel it back to rear- or forward-facing position and off you go.
On this question, you have to look the pros and cons. That said, different people put different weight on things so at the end of the day, it’s still all about your priorities:
Twisting Car Seat Pros
- Ease of access: undoubtedly, getting your child into and out of the car with a swivel convertible car seat will be easier because you won’t need to strain your back or contort your body. This is helpful especially for grandparents/older caregivers, or if you’re dealing with a wiggly or uncooperative child.
- Extended rear-facing: the longer a child sits rear-facing, the better it is because it provides better protection for the head and neck in case of a collision. Most rotating car seats are designed to accommodate extended rear-facing so it is more convenient to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period.
- One-off secure installation: unlike standard convertible car seats where you’ll need to do the installation for every configuration, most rotating car seats only needs to be installed once and you’re good to go (when using LATCH). That said, do check your instruction manual for the specifics.
Twisting Car Seat Cons
- Weight and bulkiness: a car seat that spins will be heavier and bulkier than standard car seats. This makes them more challenging to manoeuvre when installing or transferring between vehicles and it’s likely you won’t be able to place it next to another car seat (or another passenger) in some vehicles.
- Cost: in most cases, a revolving car seat will be more expensive than one that does not due to all the added features and mechanisms. This could be a significant consideration for budget-conscious parents.
- Lower weight limits: some of the best revolving car seats have lower rear-facing weight limit than traditional convertibles so this can be a concern if you plan to rear-face your child for an extended period.
It’s quite possible to get a rotating baby car seat right from day one. As a type of convertible, it has both rear- and forward-facing positions, the former of which can accommodate most full-term infants as long as they meet the seat’s minimum weight.
It is not as portable or as light as infant car seats are though so what you’ll often see are parents starting with an infant car seat first before transitioning to a convertible once baby has outgrown the former (which is usually around one year of age).
An infant car seat gives more convenience because they double up as a carrier and can be clip in and out of a stroller with ease. Not to mention they also tend to better accommodate the smaller size of newborns and preemies with all the extra newborn inserts and cushioning equipped.
Just like infant car seats or convertible car seats, any swivel car seat sold in the US must meet the same federal safety standards set by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration so rest assured every single one available for sale on the market is safe to use.
One thing: when handling swivel car seats, always make sure that it is in a locked position when you’re driving (forward- or rear-facing mode). Even if your little one isn’t riding in the seat, a turning carseat can become a projective in the event of a crash.
