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Quick List: Best Convertible Car Seats That Rotate
Rotatable convertible car seats offer parents more convenience and become more and more popular. If you don’t have much time to research:
1. Best narrow convertible car seat that rotates: Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover ($349.99) – 16.75″ width, extended rear-facing (50-lb weight limit), quick clean cover for easy use; 360-degree rotation.
2. Safest convertible car seat that rotates: Cybex Sirona S ($549.99) – SensorSafe, Linear S.I.P., and load leg; 360-degree rotation.
3. Most comfortable convertible car seat that rotates: Baby Jogger City Turn ($549.99) – CoolMax technology; 180-degree rotation.
4. Most expensive convertible that swivels– Nuna Revv ($650) – Ample padding and 360-degree rotation
See Our Top Picks
Find the best convertible car seats that rotate up to 360 degrees
Best By Bonus
See the best convertible car seat that rotate by bonus (e.g. extended rear-facing, slim fit,, etc).
Comparison
Compare key performance stats to the best convertible car seats that swivel.
Best Convertible Car Seats that Rotate
Best Convertible Car Seats that Rotate by Bonus
All these best convertible car seats that rotate are good options for optimal protection. Some of them may have bonus features to satisfy different needs. Check below.
Slim Fit
- Evenflo Revolve360 Slim (16.7″)
- Nuna Revv (18.5″)
Further Information
Comfortable
- Baby Jogger City Turn (CoolMax)
- Nuna Revv (Ample padding)
Extended rear-facing
- Baby Jogger City Turn (50-lb weight limit for rear-facing)
- Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with QCC (50-lb weight limit for rear-facing)
- Cybex Sirona S (50-lb rear-facing weight limit)
Further Information
Most expensive
- Nuna Revv ($650)
Safest
- Cybex Sirona S (SensorSafe, load leg, linear SIP)
Best Convertible Car Seats that Swivel
Best Convertible Car Seat that Swivel
Evenflo Revolve360 Slim with QCC
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-50 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: 17-48"(RF); 28-49"(FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: Birth to 4-5 years old
- Rotating: 360 degrees
- Base: Built-in base
The Good
- 50 lb weight limit for extended rear-facing
- 360-degree rotational
- Slim design to fit 3 across
- Affordable price
- US car seat
The Bad
- A bit heavy
$349.99
If you want only one convertible car seat that rotates, we strongly recommend getting the Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover. It is the cheapest rotating car seat. So it’s also the most popular rotating car seat on Amazon.
The Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim does exactly what its name implies, rotating 360 degrees on its base – yes it also has a two-part design just like the Cybex Sirona S. What makes it different from the latter is the slim design. The Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim with QCC features an ultra-narrow body at 16.75″ wide, making it one of the best 3-across car seats for families with multiple kids in the car seat.
As a new model released in 2023, the Evenflo company upgrades the new 360-degree rotatable car seats with a few great improvements.
One is the 50-pound weight limit for rear-facing. The Evenflo Revolve360 Slim and its siblings and the Extend series are designed with this high weight limit, making them good rear-facing car seats up to 50 lbs. So do the Cybex Sirona S and Baby Jogger City Turn.
Like other swivel car seats, the Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim with Quick Clean Cover is easy to install. If you choose to install it with the seat belt, you’ll only need to install it once – the LATCH installation method would not be okay to make full use of the size limit in all three modes. What needs your attention is that you can’t completely rotate the seat when it’s in rear-facing mode unless it’s in the fully reclined position. It still rotates to the side-facing position for easy putting the kid in and out of the car, so it’s not a huge deal finally.
The Evenflo Revolve 360 is packed with a few safety features and can be used for 10 years. It’s decently padded with energy-absorbing foam, and along with the metal frame, the car seat performs well in a crash. Two layers of side impact protection are the basic, there is an anti-rebound bar that delivers extra protection.
To grow with your little one, the Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim includes a no-rethread harness with 15 different positions. That’s more than most convertible car seats on the market (just as the Britax One4Life’s 15 positions). Besides the 360-degree rotation, this seat also gives four recline positions for parents to find the perfect and best-fit angle for growing children.
It’s also heavy and long from the front to back, not good to fit well in small cars, nor as friendly for traveling families as those lightweight convertible car seats or foldable car seats.
Safest Convertible Car Seat that Swivel
Cybex Sirona S
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-50 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: 17-49"(RF); 28-49"(FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: Birth to 5-6 years old
- Rotating: 360 degrees
- Base: Built-in base
The Good
- Built-in sensor notifies you in unsafe situations
- 360-degree rotational
- Lots of added safety features
The Bad
- A bit pricey
- Two hands for rotation
$549.95
Cybes was the first car seat manufacturer to bring a rotating car seat from the European market over to the US and its Sirona S was the first 2-in-1 convertible car seat that swivel on the market.
With a separate base and car seat carrier, the Cybex Sirona S can rotate 360 degrees and make getting in and out of the car much less stressful. You’ll know the difficulty to put a 40-pound toddler in rear-facing. With the 360 degrees rotation – workable in both rear-facing and forward-facing modes, it’s now a piece of cake to take your kid in and out of the car seat. It should be the easiest rear-facing car seat 50 lbs.
The rotation isn’t the only innovative feature happening with the Cybex Sirona S. It comes equipped with a smart sensor called SensorSafe, which is a technique that’s built into the seat’s chest clip and connects to your smartphone with the company’s app.
Once your little one is in any unsafe situations, like unbuckling the chest clip or being left behind in the car, you’ll get an alert. The alert even pops up if the child is sitting in the car for too long – child safety experts suggest not riding a kid in the car seat for over two hours continuously. It’s a really impressive feature that we wish was available on more car seats.
The Cybex Sirona S has a few other highlights, including an anti-rebound bar and a load leg for extra safety and stability, 12 recline positions, side impact protection, and a pretty straightforward installation process.
However, it’s on the expensive side – this happens to all rotating car seats, costing over $500. Also, it’s heavier than the traditional convertible car seats, weighing 30.4 pounds, so may not be a good option for all families who have limited budgets or travel a lot with a kid. You need also to consider another factor to leaving enough space in the back seat to rotate the car seat. That means if you have a small car, a convertible car seat that swivel is not the best choice.
Most Comfortable Convertible Car Seat that Swivel
Baby Jogger City Turn
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-50 (RF): 22-65 (FF)
- Height limits: 17-40"(RF); 28-49"(FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: Birth to 5-6 years old
The Good
- 180-degree rotation
- 50-lb rear-facing weight limit
- Narrow profile (19”)
- Easy to install
- Moisture-wicking fabric for cooling
The Bad
- A bit pricey
- Not rotatable in forward-facing mode
$549.99
The Baby Jogger City Turn stands out as a top-tier choice in the realm of convertible car seats that rotate, particularly for its innovative design and commitment to child safety and comfort.
Different from other swivel convertible car seats that rotate 360 degrees, the Baby Jogger City Turn’s 180-degree rotation seems a bit less impressive. However, the one-hand 180-degree turn in rear-facing mode still facilitates easy access to the child without compromising security.
Moreover, the use of soft, lightweight fabrics with COOLMAX moisture-wicking material demonstrates the brand’s dedication to keeping your child cool and content during rides. This becomes crucial, especially during long journeys or on hot days when children can easily become irritable. That’s the main reason we chose it as one of the best convertible car seats that rotate – cool and comfortable.
As we mentioned above, Baby Jogger City Turn is one of the best rear-facing car seats up to 50 lbs. It is designed to fit newborns as small as 4 pounds and can be used for extendable rear-facing until your baby reaches the 50-pound weight limit. The high weight limit and rotatable function make Baby Jogger City Turn a good car seat for tall babies.
What you need to pay attention to is the down point when rotating it toward the door. The added benefit of bringing your child 10 inches closer when rotated ensures a more ergonomic and convenient position for buckling and lifting them in and out of the seat. However, if you park your car in a small carpool with very limited space between other vehicles, rotating the Baby Jogger City Turn can be a big challenge.
Nuna REVV
Most comfortable 360 car seat
Key Features
- Weight range (lb): 4-40 (RF): 25-40 (FF)
- Height limits: 43"(RF & FF)
- Stage: 1st, 2nd
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Suitable: Birth to 3-4 years old
- Rotating: 360 degrees
- Base: Built-in Base
The Good
- High-end fabrics and stylish design
- 360-degree rotation
- Narrow profile (18.5”)
- Anti-rebound bar
The Bad
- Very expensive
- Lower weight and height limit
$650
The Nuna Revv is the most expensive convertible car seat that swivel, with a price over $600. We don’t recommend it for families who prefer practicality over flashiness, even though Nuna is becoming one of the most parent-favorite brands. Check our post on all Nuna car seats.
The Revv is positioned as a high-end seat and is loaded with a few safety features and smart extras. It’s 360 degrees rotatable and is equipped with soft, comfortable, and made from high-quality (and eco-friendly) materials. It stands out on the extras like the magnetic buckle holders (that work the same as the harness holders in Safety 1st Grow and Go). There’s an anti-rebound bar, a steel frame, and energy-absorbing foam, making the Nuna Revv one of the safe convertible car seats to protect your little one from collisions.
Another appealing feature of Nuna Revv is the narrow profile. With a width of 18.5 inches (same as Britax Marathon), the Nuna Revv is as good as the best narrow convertible car seats. The 18.5-inch width is not as narrow as Diono Radian 3R’s 17-inch, but it’s still a good thing to note if you’re tight on space in the back seat or need to install multiple car seats.
The biggest drawback of Nuna Revv should be the size limit. It’s the lowest of all convertible car seats on the market, only 40 lbs/ 43″, for both rear-facing and forward-facing. That’s the capacity for facing-rear only of most car seats with extended rear-facing, even lower than the car seats with a 50-pound rear-facing weight limit (and 49 inches height limit for some).
The low size limit means that the Nuna Revv lasts only several years. It’s a good car seat for 3 year olds. However, it’s likely that many kids will grow out of it before they’re ready to move to a booster seat after 4 years old, meaning you’ll need to buy another convertible car seat. (Especially disappointing considering how expensive the Revv is.)
Best Convertible Car Seats that Rotate by Performance
| Weight/ Height Limits | Convertible Car Seat | Price | Rotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 lbs/ 43" | Nuna Revv | $650 | 360 degrees |
| 65 lbs/ 49" | Baby Jogger City Turn | $549.99 | 180 degrees |
| 65 lbs/ 49" | Cybex Sirona S | $549.99 | 360 degrees |
| 65 lbs/ 49" | Evenflo Revolve360 Slim | $349.99 | 360 degrees |
When to purchase a convertible car seat that rotate
Once your baby has outgrown his/her infant car seat, it’s time to transition them to a convertible car seat that has a higher rear-facing weight limit. These types of car seats help accommodate larger or taller babies/toddlers and make your child stay rear-facing as long as possible until they reach the convertible car seat maximum weight limit.
Consumer Reports has done some testing and the results recommend you buy a convertible car seat by the time of your child’s first birthday. The new safety guidelines and state laws also encourage you to buy a convertible car seat as sooner as possible.
Most rear-facing only infant car seats have weight limits between 30 and 35 pounds, and height limits between 30 and 32 inches. Few infant car seats, like the Graco SnugRide SnugLock Extend2Fit 35 and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Nido Car Seat allow for a higher height limit of up to 35 inches. In most instances, your baby usually reaches the height limit of an infant car seat before he/she outgrows the infant seat’s weight limit.
Considering the weight and height of kids around age 1, many child safety experts suggest that the convertible car seat may provide some additional protection over an infant car seat in protecting a child’s head.
Things to consider for the best convertible car seats that rotate
When looking for a convertible car seat, there are many considerations that need your attention, like your budget, your child’s weight, and height, your vehicle, whether the car seat is easy to install and use or not, the fabric is easy to clean or not. The basic things to consider are very similar to infant car seat considerations.
Plus, there is an additional feature you should take into consideration – the car seat lifespan. As convertible car seats can be used for a wider range for growing children, starting at rear-facing, converting to forward-facing, some even transition to a booster seat, it would be better to buy a convertible car seat featuring a long lifespan.
Most car seats coming from Graco and Britax has a lifespan up to 10 years, which is very appealing to ride your child until he or she can stay in the back seat at 13 years of age. However, some other convertible car seats might have a shorter lifespan, like 6 or 7 years. So you should check carefully on the targeted car seat manufacturers’ official site or just call their customer service for confirmation.
Types of Convertible Car Seats
The convertible car seat might have the largest number of models on the market, because of its broadest range of child usage. You can use a convertible seat for newborn infants as light as 4 pounds, like the Graco 4ever 4-in-1 and Extend2Fit models. If your baby grows faster and taller, you might need a car seat like Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible to keep him/her in rear-facing until weighing 45 pounds. If you want your child stays in a 5-point harness seat in forward-facing as long as possible, the Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Special Edition Car Seat meets your need with a 85 pounds weight limit.
Yes, the convertible seat covers a really wide range. Some can even use as a booster seat for older and larger children up to 120 pounds. This is a very long extended use until your child can use the vehicle seat belt for safety like an adult.
2-in-1 Convertible Car Seats
Classic convertible seats can be used for both rear-facing and forward facing modes. When using in rear-facing, they offer a higher rear-facing weight limit than infant-only seats. When using forward-facing, most convertible seats accommodate children from 22-65 pounds.
A few budget seats have a lower weight limit about 40-50 pounds, like the Evenflo Tribute LX and Disney Baby Apt 50 (manufactured by Cosco and same as its Apt 50). Few convertibles can hold children up to 80 pounds, like the Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 Special Edition.
3-in-1 (or called) Convertbile Car Seats
From its name, we know that the 3-in-1 car seats can serve three stages. All 3-in-1 seats can be used as a forward-facing harnessed seat, but they are still different for different stages.
Some 3-in-1 car seats can be changed from the rear-facing position to forward-facing and then into a belt-positioning booster seat for kids weighing up to 100 pounds like the Safety 1st Grow and Go EX Air 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat. Most Booster Convertible car seat belongs to this type.
Some 3-in-1 car seats start at forward-facing, then transition to high-back booster and backless booster (refer to the difference of high-back and backless booster), like the Baby Trend Hybrid Booster 3-in-1 Car Seat. And this type of car seat is often categorized into booster seat.
4-in-1 Convertible Car Seats
As the name suggests, the all-in-one (or 4-in-1) can be used for one more stage than 3-in-1, generally adding the backless booster mode for the first booster convertible and the rear-facing infant usage for the second 3-in-1 car seats. It’s the most powerful: rear-facing, forward-facing, high-back booster, and backless booster. All-in-one!
Take Graco 4ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat, for example, it helps keep newborn infants rear-facing from 4-40 pounds, next convert forward-facing from 22-65 pounds, then transition to the high-back booster from 30-100 pounds, and at last change to backless from 40-120 pounds.
FAQs on Convertible Car Seats that Rotate
What is a convertible car seat?
A convertible car seat is a car seat that allows to convert to multiple different stages to accommodate a growing child along with his or her weight and height. All convertible car seats can be used in rear-facing mode and converted to forward-facing position. Some convertibles are listed as 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 or all-in-one models, and these types of convertible car seats supports to transition to a harnessed or belt-positioning high-back booster or even a backless booster seat.
What’s the safest convertible car seat that swivel?
All car seats sold in the US must meet the Federal and ASTM safety standards and have been rigorously tested before they go to the market. Most seats exceed these stands by adding extra protection, so it is supposed that any seat you buy will be “safe”, but ONLY if installed properly and used correctly. That’s why we recommend you install the car seat following the manufacturer’s manual.
Some convertible car seats that rotate come with additional safety features, Cybex Sirona S, for example. It features a SensorSafe clip that helps remind kinds of unsafe conditions, when your kid unbuckless the harness, when the weather is too hot inner the car, or when your kid stays in the car for too long.
Plus, it is designed with two linear side impact protection pods on both sides to reduce the crash force in case of car crash. The load leg can help stablize the car seat.
Do rotatable convertible car seats have separate bases?
Yes. Some of the convertible car seats that rotate have a two-piece design, like the Evenflo Revolve360 Slim and Cybex Sirona S. They’re very similar to the infant car seats that have a base.
When should I switch to a convertible car seat?
This question is much similar to “when should I purchase a convertible car seat?” You should buy and switch a convertible car seat as your child has outgrown the weight or height limit of the infant car seat, if you have bought one, generally until to your baby’s first birthday.
Can I use a convertible seat for my newborn baby?
Yes you can. Most convertible car seats are designed to keep newborn infants rear-facing as little as 5 pounds, some can even for smaller babies weighing 4 pounds, like the Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible. However, the convertible car seats tend to be roomier, not fitting as well as infant car seats that are designed for small babies or preemie. The AAP and a few child safety experts recommend to use an infant seat for newborns at least up to 8 pounds.
Can convertible car seats be used in strollers?
The short answer is no. Convertible car seats usually feature a much bulkier design than infant car seats, meaning the strollers can fit an infant seat carrier well and might not support a convertible car seat.
Do convertible car seats expire?
Yes. All the car seats have limited time for usage, a lifespan. Most convertible car seats allow your child for a 10-year adventure. Many manufacturers will indicate the car seat’s lifespan in the manual or list on the official site. If you can’t find the specific lifespan, you should contact the customer service for inquiry.
What is after convertible car seat?
Booster seat for short answer. But some convertible car seats can be used in booster mode for older children up to 120 pounds, such as 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 or all-in-one convertibles. If you have purchased a convertible car seat that only supports rear-facing and forward-facing with harness, you can find a booster seat anyway.
What convertible car seat fits in my car?
The vehicle size is one of the most important considerations when buying a convertible car seat, especially for those families that have compact and small cars. You should check the car seat dimensions to know if it is suitable for your vehicle or not, paying special attention to the car seat width. For growing families that want to install two or three car seats in the back seat, the convertibles allow for fitting 3 across is preferable, like the Safety 1st Guide 65.
How long are convertible car seats good for
Convertible car seats are good for 10 years. That’s the average usable life of all convertible car seats approaching their expiration dates.
How long do convertible car seats last
Convertible car seats will last 10 years from the date of manufacture (NOT the date of purchase). That’s the longest time a car seat can be in service. After the convertible car seats get expired, you need to deal with them correctly – donate, trade, or trash them.
What are the best convertible car seats
The best convertible car seats are the ones that best suit your child’s and family’s needs. In this convertible car seat buying guide, we list a few different convertible car seats for different situations and hope you can find the best one that fits your demands.
The safest convertible car seat that rotates: Cybex Sirona S
Narrow: Evenflo Revolve360 Slim
Cool and comfortable: Baby Jogger City Turn
Most expensive: Nuna Revv
When do convertible car seats expire
The convertible car seats expire 10 years from the date of manufacture. That’s the common case for all convertible car seats from most brands.
Where is the expiration date on a convertible car seat?
The expiration date for convertible car seats is 10 years after the date of manufacture. The expiration date of a convertible car seat can be found either on the label that is found on the back or at the bottom of the car seat, depending on car seat brands and specific models.
Some brands do not have a specific expiration date on the label but just with the date of manufacture and the lifespan in the user manual. If this is your case, you should do a simple calculation to get the expiry date.
Check our guides on the expiration date for different brands:
Graco car seats expiration date
Britax car seats expiration date
Chicco car seats expiration date
Safety 1st car seats expiration date
Cosco car seats expiration date
Evenflo car seats expiration date
Diono car seats expiration date
Maxi Cosi car seats expiration date
How long can you keep a convertible car seat?
The upper size limit decides how long you can keep a convertible car seat. Strictly, if we take the top weight or height limit of the 5-point harness as the leading factor, then the 65-lb and 49-inch are the same for all convertible car seats. If so, this size combination is okay to last good years to fit kids at 5 or 6 years old.
According to the laws in US states, a kid should stay in a car seat with a five-point harness until they’re at least 40 pounds or 4 years old. The very basic 2-in-1 convertible car seat can do this job as well.