5 best rotating car seats in UAE, for 2024

However, with so many options available, choosing the best rotating car seat can feel overwhelming. To help you out, we guide you through the top contenders, highlighting features, safety considerations, and factors to prioritise for your specific needs. From budget-friendly all-in-one solutions to feature-rich comfort products, our list helps you find the perfect rotating car seat to ensure safe and happy travels for both you and your little one.

We spoke with Ileana George, a Dubai-based child safety technician, who shared her advice and recommendations for this guide. Scroll below to read what she said. Pick your favourite products with Prime membership to bring it home as early as tomorrow.

1. Best Overall: Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 Car Seat

Pros

Cons

Maxi-Cosi's Pebble 360 car seat is ideal for newborns and infants up to approximately 15 months old, or until they reach 13 kg or 31 inches in height, according to George. It prioritises comfort and portability for short journeys and travel systems. Since it's a lightweight infant carrier, it makes it easier to carry and transfer your baby between the car and stroller. It's also travel-system compatible; the Pebble 360 can be easily clicked into Maxi-Cosi strollers and a variety of other stroller brands using adapters, sold separately. This creates a convenient travel system for on-the-go parents. When installed on the FamilyFix 360 base (which isn't included) the Pebble 360 can rotate a full 360 degrees, allowing for easy switching between rear-facing and forward-facing positions or for comfortably placing your baby in the seat. This car seat also features additional padding and side impact protection for enhanced safety during collisions. Moreover, it has a user-friendly harness system that makes buckling and unbuckling your baby a breeze. In summary, the Maxi-Cosi Pebble 360 Car Seat is a good option for parents looking for a comfortable and portable infant car seat for short journeys and travel systems. However, its shorter lifespan and requirement for a separate base for rotation are important considerations to make before buying.

2. Best Convenience: Britax Romer DUALFIX 5Z Car Seat 

Pros

Cons

The Britax Romer's rotating car seat feature allows the entire seat to swivel on its base, enabling a full circle of motion. With 360-degree rotation, you can simply turn the car seat towards you, making it easier to buckle and unbuckle your child, especially when they're rear-facing. This can save you time and frustration, particularly in tight spaces. Reviewers say easy access to their child has made it easier to check on them, soothe them during a car ride, or place them in the seat comfortably. When the car seat is forward-facing, rotating it can also give your child a better view out the window, potentially reducing car sickness or boredom. The seat has a V-shaped headrest that's specially designed to limit the movement of your child's head, protecting their neck in collisions. The seat is suitable for children between three months and four years (or up to 18kgs). However, this product might be a tad bulky and take up more space in the vehicle. It's also on the pricier side.

3. Best Premium: Cybex Aton G Swivel

Pros 

Cons

Convenience, safety and comfort for your little one. As Cybex is known for its commitment to safety, this product features a linear side-impact protection system (LSP) to absorb side-impact forces, an energy-absorbing shell, and a four-position adjustable headrest for a proper fit as your baby grows. It is also comparitively lightweight, making it easier to carry and transfer between the car and the stroller. You can also trust that the five-point harness is easily adjustable to ensure a snug and secure fit for your baby. Reviewers have given it a glowing thumbs-up, saying that the swivel is probably one of the best inventions since sliced bread. "Well made and no loose parts. Everything just feels tight and well made. My baby is safe in this," wrote one satisfied user.

Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh203.51 for 12 months with select banks.

4. Best For Safety: Lionelo Bastiaan 360 Car Seat

Pros 

Cons

Equipped with a special canopy that protects your child from sunlight, the Lionelo Baastian is a convertible car seat designed to grow with your child from approximately nine months old to 12 years old. The Bastiaan 360 has an all-in-one functionality, and transitions from a forward-facing toddler seat with a harness to a booster seat with a lap belt, potentially lasting your child through several years. It also includes a five-point harness, side impact protection, and an adjustable headrest for a secure and comfortable fit throughout all stages. Your child will be kept comfortable on long journeys, since it also offers multiple reclining positions.

Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh54.95 for 12 months with select banks.

5. Best Lifespan: Maxi-Cosi Pearl 360 Car Seat

Pros

Cons

The Maxi-cosi Pearl 360 is as snug as a bug, as some reviews say. This is a rotating convertible car seat designed to provide a safe and comfortable ride for your child from infancy (approximately three months old) up to four years old (or up to 18 kg). The Pearl 360 allows for smooth and easy turning of the car seat towards the car door with just one hand, making it much easier to buckle and unbuckle your child, especially when it's in a rear-facing position. It also transitions from a rear-facing infant seat to a forward-facing toddler seat, potentially lasting your child through several years. This seat also focusses on safety: It has G-CELL Side Impact Protection to absorb side impact forces, a five-point harness with adjustable positions, and full compliance with the latest i-Size (R129/03) safety standards. And, your little one stays comfortable as the fabric allows for better breathability, multiple reclining positions, and an adjustable headrest for a cosy ride throughout all stages.

Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh45 for 12 months with select banks.

The importance of car seats for children

Car seats save lives, just like seat belts do. As children are much smaller than adults, a car ride can feel like a jerky, dangerous experience, explains Ileana George, an Abu Dhabi-based safety technician and a mother of two. "Even a small bump can send them flying around the car, which can lead to serious problems," she says. So, buying a car seat is a no-brainer, she emphasises. The car seat uses a harness with comfortable pads that fit the child's size perfectly, spreading out the force of a collision and preventing serious injuries.

As a child's body is far more delicate, a car seat provides them with extra support, especially for their head, neck and spine. George comments, however, that some people tend to take it rather lightly, even though the lack of car seats is one of the leading reasons for the cause of death and injury in children. According to the child passenger safety guidelines published by the European Child Safety Alliance, research shows that child restraints significantly reduce the risk of injury compared to adult seatbelts.

"A car seat for your child is recommended from infancy till up to 12 years of age," says George. Explaining the benefits of rotating car seats, she says: "The 360degree rotation allows you to easily turn the car seat towards the car door, especially when your child is rear-facing. This eliminates the need for awkward leaning or reaching across the back seat, making buckling and unbuckling your child a breeze – especially for those with back pain or limited mobility," she says.

Rotatint car seats also help with visibility; with the seat turned towards you, you can easily check on your child, adjust their harness, or give them a quick cuddle without having to contort yourself in the car. Moreover, when your child needs to get in or out of the car seat, the rotating mechanism allows for a smoother transition from the car door to the seat. This can be helpful for younger children who might find it difficult to climb into a rear-facing seat.

Key factors to consider before buying a rotating car seat

Our expert highlighted certain crucial aspects to be aware of, before investing in a swivelling or rotating car seat:

Our recommendations are independently chosen by Gulf News editors. If you decide to shop through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission, as we are part of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.