The primary benefit of a rotating car seat is that the portion of the seat that holds the baby, known as the shell, rotates on a separate base. While the revolving shell may not always come completely off the base (it depends on the model), its ability to swivel offers one key advantage: easier access for harnessing.
“A rotating car seat can make buckling your child into their car seat easier, as you can turn them to face you. It can be especially helpful for caregivers with limited mobility, which may make reaching across a bulky car seat more difficult,” says Jessica D’Argenio Waller, a CR reporter. “But most of the rotating seats we’ve tested are still bulky and heavy, which means they may not be a great fit in all vehicles, or as your child grows.”
Revolving car seats are increasingly popular and can be helpful for many families, but the added convenience comes with some downsides. They tend to be more expensive than nonrevolving models, as well as larger and bulkier. We break down more of the pros and cons below.
