This New Rotating Car Seat Has All the Bells & Whistles for Under $300

Anyone who’s struggled to buckle a squirmy toddler or transfer a sleepy baby from the car will tell you that a rotating car seat is one of the most helpful parenting hacks. These are somewhat new in the US and are gaining in popularity—they’re already on twice as many Babylist registries than last year, according to our registry data.

But UK-based baby brand Joie has sold rotating car seats across the pond for over 11 years, and now their Chili Spin 360 2-in-1 Rotating Car Seat is finally available stateside for under $300, and was named Babylist’s best affordable rotating convertible car seat of 2024. Watch us take it for a spin in the video above, or keep reading to learn why you may want this as an upgrade from your infant car seat or on your registry to use from day one in your vehicle or a second vehicle.

Why You May Want a Rotating Car Seat

Babies don’t stay little for long, which can make getting them in and out of their car seats a workout—especially when they’re rear-facing for those first two years (or longer). Rotating car seats take the pressure off your back and biceps by allowing you to rotate your baby’s car seat toward you to buckle your baby in their harness and then rotate it back in place for your drive. This is also especially handy if you have a little one who fights getting strapped into their seat or if you or another caregiver have more limited mobility.

What Makes the Joie Chili Spin 360 Different?

Joie has been in the rotating car seat game for over a decade, which means they’ve learned how to combine smart, European design standards with advanced safety features at a more budget-friendly price. At just under $300, the Chili Spin 360 is one of the most affordable 360° rotating car seats out there (and $50–$350 cheaper than similar car seats).

Some rotating car seats only swivel 180 degrees, but the Chili Spin 360 has a full 360-degree rotation. This easy-to-install car seat is convenient for parents, grandparents or caregivers who drive kids of different ages (Head to the 01:49 mark to see how to install in your car). Here’s what else stands out:

Joie Chili Spin 360 2-in-1 Rotating Car Seat

$299.00

Add to Babylist

Buy

Babylist

$

299.00

Top-Notch Safety Measures

One of the concerns we hear most from parents: Are rotating car seats safe? And short answer: Yes, all car seats have to meet the same safety standards. Here are some of the safety features they’ve built into the Chili Spin 360 car seat and its integrated anti-rebound base (you can also skip to the 01:27 mark in the video above to see them in action):

• Super-secure install: You don’t want your child’s seat moving every time you make a turn or hit the brakes—and especially not in an accident. The LockTight belt tensioner and lock-off keep the seat belt or LATCH connector webbing cinched tight around the base so it doesn’t budge (even once they start climbing in themselves).

• Extra-sturdy support: The car seat frame is steel-reinforced, and the base has a built-in anti-rebound panel that sits flush against the back of your vehicle seat to help absorb crash forces that can be harmful to a child.

• Head and body cushioning: The sides of the seat are designed like wings and help shield little ones from side impacts.

• No-guesswork lock indicators: Once your baby is in their seat and you’re ready to rotate them into the rear or forward-facing position, indicators turn from red to green to let you know the car seat is safely locked in place. Plus, the turning activators are positioned on both sides of the seat so they’re easy to reach to turn your child around.

Comfort Meets Convenience

Besides the full rotation, there are a couple of other parent and baby-friendly details on the Chili Spin 360 car seat that are worth mentioning:

• Goes from baby to big kid: The Chili Spin 360 is a 2-in-1 convertible—aka it can be used in rear-facing and forward-facing mode as baby grows, with an adjustable infant insert and removable harness pads. You can use the car seat from 4–65 pounds or until they’re 49 inches tall (around five years old).

• Quick adjustments: The harness and 10-position headrest move together at the press of a button, so every time a growth spurt hits, you can instantly readjust their harness for a proper fit and save yourself the task of rethreading their harness.

• Four-position recline in either direction: Keep baby comfortable at any position with recline options that can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing.

• Easy-clean parts: Pop off the car seat cover to toss the fabric in the washing machine and remove any spills or spit-up and wipe clean the attached cupholders if they get dirty.

Joie Chili Spin 360 2-in-1 Rotating Car Seat

$299.00

Add to Babylist

Buy

Babylist

$

299.00

Why You Should Consider Getting the Joie Chili Spin 360

Rotating car seats can make it a lot easier to get your baby in and out of the car—especially as they get older. The Chili Spin 360 offers just as much safety and comfort for your baby as more expensive rotating car seats, but at a more affordable price. And since it’s a 2-in-1 that could last you well through kindergarten, you’ll be able to get a lot of mileage out of purchase. Watch our full video review for a closer look at the seat.

This article is sponsored by Joie. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.