When shopping for the best car seats around, you might want to opt for a 360 car seat to make getting your little one in and out of the car a whole lot easier.
Similar to rotating car seats, the 360 car seats are designed to spin the whole way around, rather than just one way. This gives you the option of having your child rear facing, or forward facing.
Having this option allows you to keep your child safely rear-facing, but then can turn to forward facing when they're old enough without having to buy a completely new car seat.
Our favourite 360 car seats shortlist 2023:
• Joie i-Spin 360: Buy here at John Lewis
• Nuna TODL NEXT: Buy here at Baby Planet Online
• Silver Cross Motion All Size 360: Buy here at John Lewis
It's always important to follow GOV guidelines on car seat safety, and not have your child forward facing until they are over 15-months-old.
360 car seats are also a huge help for parents when getting wriggling children in and out of the car. You can turn the car seat to face you and safely strap your child in, without having to climb into the car and wrestle them into a seat from an awkward angle - trust us we've been there!
We've rounded up the best 360 car seats that have been tried and tested by our mums.
Best 360 car seat with one-hand rotation
www.maxi-cosi.co.uk
The Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 Pro Family was awarded Silver for Innovation of the Year at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024.
The Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 is a perfectly comfortable and safe rotating car seat that is built for long-term use. It has a 360 rotation handle on the FamilyFix 360 base so that the Pearl 360 can be rotated smoothly and easily in any recline position. It's cosy and can be used from birth up until four years old. It also has in-lays that can be used from birth, and has room to grow with an extra-spacious seat.
Our mum tester, Caitlin, said: The 360 function makes it much easier to get my little one in and out of the car. Easy harness for simple fastening and sits well on legs. Easy to fix into different cars and change between cars if needed. Little one is happy in the seat which makes journeys much easier as she is comfortable in her seat."
Read the full Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 review.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Multiple recline positions
- Cover is easy to wash
- Easy to rotate and slide towards you
- ClimaFlow breathable panels
Cons
- Bulky base and sold separately
- Expensive
Best overall 360 car seat
www.johnlewis.com
The Joie i-Spin 360 was awarded Gold in the Mother&Baby 2023 Awards. Not only is it good value for money, it includes the base to attach into your car and spins in every direction at just the touch of a button. It also locks securely in place for safe traveling. The customisable infant body and head support inserts allow the chair to comfortably grow with your baby, as well the multi-height headrest and harness system. It comes with side impact protection for added security to the head, body, and hips, while ISOFIX makes installing this seat a lot easier. It can also be reclined into six different positions, so that your little one can stay snuggly and we really like the fact that the cover is removable and washable.
When our mum tester, Rebecca, put the Joie i-Spin 360 to the test she said: “This product is AMAZING! As a mum, I personally think everyone needs one of these. I suffer from back pain and using this to turn my child and get them out of the car with ease was a lifesaver. It’s 100 per cent made my life easier and I don’t actually know if I will ever be able to go back to a normal car seat now.”
**Read the full Joie i-Spin review.
**
Pros
- Suitable to use from birth up to 4 years
- Removable and washable seat cover
- Guard Surround Safety panels auto-engage when harness is tightened to surround your baby with the ultimate safety
Cons
- It can be heavy if needing to move
Best multi stage 360 car seat
www.babyplanetonline.co.uk
Winner of the Mother&Baby Awards 2023 for Best Multi stage Car Seat is this rotating seat from Nuna. The Nuna TODL NEXT has a sleek, modern design and is suitable for newborns up to four years. The support wedge and merino wool infant head and body inserts can easily be removed. It also has a one-hand, height-adjustable head support with six different positions. The shoulder harness also expands as the headrest raises.
It’s i-Size ready and ISOFIX compatible with 13 different positions, so that you can custom fit it to your car.
When our dad tester, Joe, tried it out on his two children he said: "With this seat everything feels like it has ball-bearings, really smooth to use and at no stage does it feel flimsy or unreliable. Other models' features such as the swivel have strained somewhat after adding a heavier child but I have not noticed this with the Nuna TODL NEXT. With other competing seats available the two key points to take away with this seat are its smooth operation and lightweight construction. I believe this is the smoothest car seat I’ve ever used."
Read the full Nuna TODL NEXT review.
Pros
- Extremely light
- ISOFIX compatible
Cons
- Base has to be purchased separately
Best budget 360 car seat
lesters-nurseryworld.co.uk
The Cozy N Safe Merlin 360 car seat can be adjusted at the push of a button. It makes strapping your baby in and taking them out of the car super easy and hassle-free. It has ISOFIX connectors that allow you to easily attach the seat, with four rear-facing and three forward-facing recline positions for extra comfort. While this seat does have R44.04 testing certification, it isn't i-Size.
When testing the Cozy N Safe Merlin parent tester, Gail, said: "The design is lovely and the extra padding around the babies head is brilliant. Having the option to have the seat rear and forward-facing is great so you don’t have to worry about having to buy two car seats. This is great if parents are on a budget."
Read the full Cozy N Safe Merlin 360 review.
Pros
- Affordable
- Seat cover is removable and washable
- Extra padding for safety and comfort
Cons
- It isn't i-Size
Best long lasting 360 car seat
www.johnlewis.com
Gold winner in the Mother&Baby 2022 Awards, Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 grows with your baby up to 12 years. It’s ISOFIX compatible, not too heavy and has eight adjustable positions for the headrest. It's also made from anti-bacterial bamboo fabrics, making it a more sustainable choice.
When testing out the Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 parent tester, Emma, said: “It was so easy and quick to install, straight out of the box and in the car in less than 5 minutes. I was confident that it was installed securely and correctly with all the green indicators showing as well as little to no movement in the chair. The quality of the fabric and general make-up is of a high standard, reassuring me it will last my son for the next 9-10 years – unlike my daughter's seat which is a cheaper brand and definitely won't last the 6-7 years I would like it to.”
Read the full Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 review.
Pros
- Long lasting
- Straps are easy to adjust
- App to check if your car is compatible
Cons
- Only has three recline positions
Best 360 car seat with fixed base
www.boots.com
The Graco Turn2Me car seat has a one-click ISOFIX installation and 360 rotation, making car journeys a lot easier. It has a colour-coded indicator too so that you know the car seat is fastened securely. The car seat has 10 recline positions for rear and forward facing, meaning your little one can travel in comfort.
Our parent tester, Hollie, said: "The car seat is fantastic because it turns out towards the road making it really easy to get a wriggly one year old in and out. It's particularly helpful now that I can no longer lift my child in his travel system car seat for long because he is heavy. The isofix being attached to the seat also makes it easier to move between our two family cars. It's also fantastic that it is suitable for up to 4 year olds, I was able to test it with my 3 year old nephew as well as my 1 year old and he loved it."
Read the full Graco Turn2Me review.
Pros
- 10 recline positions
- Side ventilation for keeping baby cool
Cons
- Some mentioned the recline and rotation button was difficult to reach
Best easy to install 360 car seat
Best affordable long-lasting 360 car seat
www.boots.com
The Chicco Seat3Fit has six recline positions and an ISOFIX installation, with a handy QR code to watch a video tutorial on how to install. It also has an adjustable headrest height, side impact safety, plus removable and washable covers for any spills or accidents.
Our parent tester, Natalie, said: “I absolutely love the Chicco Seat3Fit. It has so many amazing features. The fact you can turn the seat 360 degrees really is a game changer. The design and colour is perfect. I really love this car seat."
Read the full Chicco Seat3Fit review.
Pros
- Easy to install with ISOFIX
- Machine washable seat covers
- Grows with child
Cons
- Recline could go further back
What's the difference between a 360 car seat and a rotating car seat?
Whilst both car seats are very similar in design, there is one big difference between the two kinds of car seats. The big difference between a 360 car seat and a rotating one could also be the deciding factor on the type of car seat you get.
Rotating car seats are designed to spin at least 180 degrees, meaning you can spin your child from rear-facing to the side, enabling you to get your child in and out with ease.
However, a 360 car seat is designed to rotate all the way around, meaning you have the option of positioning your child as rear-facing, or forward facing.
Are 360 car seats worth it?
While they are a lot more convenient, most only last up until your child is around four years old. Some however, have higher weight and height limits and recline adjustments that mean the seats will last longer. But this is important to check before purchasing.
Samantha Ball is a Product & Lifestyle Writer for Mother&Baby and freelanced for the website for two years before joining the team full time. She's a mum of two and loves browsing for the best products and cute outfits.