Best 360 car seats for easy and safe travel, from newborn and beyond

Anyone who's tried to lift a wriggly or sleeping baby into a car seat knows it's a tricky task. That's why a 360 car seat is a complete game-changer. Rotate the seat towards you, strap your baby in, rotate it to front or rear facing and off you go. It's that simple. It also makes lifting them out a breeze too.

These 360 spin car seats eliminate the hassle of awkwardly twisting your body and straining your back to try and strap and unstrap your baby. If that wasn't enough, it'll save you from banging your head on the top of the car door when you're strapping your tot in or taking them out.

These handy car seats have become a top contender amongst parents who are seeking both convenience and safety. Many 360-degree car seats are designed to stay in rear-facing, which is the safest position for young children. Like traditional car seats, you can also find a great range of 360 ones which have a quick and easy ISOFIX installation mode providing peace of mind to parents.

Why choose a 360 car seat?

The 360 car seats are designed to spin the whole way around (hence the name) rather than just to the side. This gives you the option of having your child rear-facing or forward-facing when they are over 15 months old, and without having to buy a completely new car seat. In the UK, parents should follow GOV guidelines on car seat safety.

The clever design means the 360 car seat spins on a fixed base attached to the car's latch system which remains secure. The car seat has a track that can rotate and clicks to the base and keeps it steady. This all makes 360 car seats a more practical choice than traditional car seats plus, thanks to the spinning seat parents can easily check for twisted or tight harness straps.

If you're considering a 360 spin car seat for your newborn, you've come to the right place. We've put together a detailed buying guide of the best 360 spin car seats that rotate and swivel for safe, stress-free travel. Our guide is packed with real-life feedback and detailed reviews from our parent testers to help you decide which rotating car seat is right for you and your tot.

As well as tried and tested 360 car seat reviews, we've also got expert advice from Julie Dangall, co-founder of Child Seat Safety and national advisor for Road Safety Great Britain.

How we chose and tested these 360 car seats

For the best 360 car seats, we asked our real parent testers to try the car seats out for a number of weeks throughout the day, over the weekend and on long journeys. We asked them to look at the design, safety standards (more on that below) and age suitability, weight and size of the car seat, including compatibility with their car. As well as this we asked them to note the quality of materials, how easy the car seat was to clean, and the ease of installation not forgetting, how comfortable it was for their little ones and if it was good value for money.

Once we reviewed these 360 car seats, we chose the best based on a combination of real-world testing results and our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field, to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product.

At times when we can’t get our hands on something personally, we’ll select products only from reputable brands, scouring reviews, forums and real parent experience to ensure all products are fit for use and deserve a space in your home.

Find out more about how we test products for Mother&Baby by visiting our How We Test page.

In the top spot, Gold winner of the Mother&Baby Awards 2024 and best overall, the Nuna TODL NEXT, was a firm favourite. Our parent testers praised its smooth operation and lightweight construction, making it super easy to install and use. In fact, one of our testers even said it was the smoothest car seat he's ever used! There was so much to love about this car seat with the only drawback being that the base needed to be purchased separately.

A previous Gold winner, The Joie i-Spin 360, also received glowing reviews from our testers again because described as "Amazing"; however, our testers thought it was worth pointing out that it's not the lightest, weighing 13.9kg. Gold winner of 2022, the Silver Cross Motion All Size 360, is still being praised for being extremely good value for money as it accommodates babies and kids all the way up to 12 years old! Our testers like the antibacterial bamboo fabrics too, making it a more sustainable choice, even offering a free car seat recycling service for planet-conscious families.

The best 360 car seats 2025

What to look for in a 360 car seat?

Check the age suitability – While you can use use most 360 car seats from birth, you may have to purchase a separate newborn insert, which can be an added expense. If you're on a budget, look for ones that are specially designed for newborns or that come with the insert included. Some may only be suitable for little ones that are four months or older. Also, be aware of weight and height restrictions.

Long life span - Some 360 car seats grow with your child and can last until they are around four years. If budget is an issue, try and get one that will last this long, instead of having to buy another one.

i-Size certification - All the new baby car seats in the UK need to be i-Size (a European-wide car seat regulation, ECE R129), and should also have side-impact protection (SICT). They also need to use ISOFIX (an international standard for attachment points for baby car seats in passenger cars).

Make sure it's travel system compliant – Due to their weight and size, very few 360 car seats are travel system compliant, so if you need a car seat that you can take in and out of the car, a 360 car seat may not be for you.

Consider how long you want your baby to be rearward facing – Some car 360 car seats can only be used rearward facing until two years, so if you want to keep your child rearward facing for longer, make sure you check out the specs.

Ensure the base is included if you don't have an ISOFIX – If the 360 car seat you like doesn't include the base, you'll have to purchase a separate ISOFIX base, which means an added expense. So if you don't already have one, this is definitely something to consider.

Check for easy rotation – Just because it says it's 360, doesn't mean it'll be easy to rotate. Check out how it actually functions to determine how easy it will be to use. For example, if it has panels or levels on the front it will probably be easier to operate. Take a close look at how simple the mechanism is for better ease of use.

Comfort levels - If you like weekend away or longer car journeys and will be taking baby, check there is sufficient padding and the seat is comfortable enough. While car seats are designed to be comfortable, the level of comfort varies depending on the brand, materials and padding used.

Check for easy installation features - If the car seat has an ISOFIX base, check to see if there are colour indicators, as these will give you peace of mind knowing that you have installed the car seat correctly and it is safe.

Consider the size and weight – The size of your vehicle may determine whether the size of a car seat is suitable or not, which is especially so if your car is not very wide. This is even more important when considering 360 car seats as they do tend to be larger and heavier than fixed ones. The weight is equally important, if you'll be moving it from one car to the other regularly. Ask yourself if you'll be able to move and carry it easily.

Budget - Some people buy a 360 car seat that will last a few year so they don't have to purchase another one further down the line. This saves time and money in the long run. There are plenty on the market that are affordable, mid-range and premium. The Ickle Bubba options are a good investment if you are on a budget and the Nuna TODL Next would be our top recommendation for those that want the best overall 360car seat and don't mind paying top dollar.

Safety regulations and certifications to know

When it comes to UK car seat safety, it's crucial to understand the regulations and certifications. Here's a breakdown of the key points:

ADAC rating - The Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC) is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all automotive-related products, including evaluating children's car seats. ADAC uses advanced technology to rigorously test car seats annually which parents make informed safety choices for their children. The lower the score, the better the performance and safety of the car seats (between 0.5 and 2.5). Check the ADAC rating of the 360 car seat you're looking to buy.

i-Size/R129 - This is the newer, more advanced regulation and is based on a child's height. i-Size aims to provide improved head and neck protection. It requires rear-facing travel for children up to 15 months old and also focuses on better side-impact protection. It is also known as the R129 and is considered the best way to keep children safe while travelling in a car. Check the label for this before making your purchase.

What's the difference between a 360 car seat and a rotating car seat?

Whilst both car seats are very similar in design, 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 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. However, it is important to check this before purchasing.

Why you can trust us

At Mother&Baby, our mission is to provide accurate and reliable reviews, ensuring our readers receive honest and transparent information about the best products available.

Our testers are either pregnant, or real parents with a baby or toddler. This could be members of our editorial team, freelance parenting journalists or external reviewers from the Mother&Baby awards.  Our Mother&Baby Awards are renowned in the industry and are among the most highly respected product awards for baby and parenting products. Every year, we arrange for thousands of independent parent reviewers to test the latest products on the market.

We don't accept payment from manufacturers for product reviews, and maintain our editorial independence. While we do work with commercial partners on advertorials, these will always be clearly labelled.

Our writers have full control over their content, ensuring that products are selected based solely on the needs of our readers. While we may earn commissions or other compensation from links on our website, this does not affect our product choices. These links allow us to continue offering valuable consumer advice, without compromising the integrity of our reviews. We are always honest in our reviews, and we won't recommend products that we wouldn't spend our own money on.

About the expert

Julie Dangall is co-founder of Child Seat Safety. She is a national advisor for Road Safety Great Britain for child car seats and runs the UK’s first & only IOSH and CPD accredited child car seat fitting courses.

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.