I’ve owned my Ergo 360 baby carrier for 4 years now. It’s carried (and still carries) my two kids who are now toddlers. I didn’t know much about baby carriers when I first made my baby registry and had never planned on using one.
But looking back now and knowing how useful it has been, it definitely would’ve been on the list! My first child was a month old when I bought one and realized how much I had needed it!
Where Have I Used My Ergobaby Carrier?
- Airport travel
- Around the house- teething baby or while making pb & j for my toddler
- Up & down multiple flights of stairs at an apartment complex; I liked having baby secure so my hands were free to hold the railing and my other child’s hand
- Pumpkin patch and other outdoor events
- Park play dates
- Going for a walk (alone with baby or while pushing my toddler in a stroller); didn’t want to buy a double stroller when having two kids.
- Standing in line to vote
- Grocery store
Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying a Baby Carrier:
- Are you on-the-go a lot and don’t feel like lugging a stroller in and out of the car and everywhere you go?
- Do you travel by air to see family and friends?
- Are you caring for more than one young child?
- Do you have a baby who is fussy, teething or likes to be held and snuggled a lot?
- Do you love carrying your baby or toddler close to you, but still need your hands free to do other things (like push a stroller for other children, hold their hands for walks or do other household chores)?
- Would you love to give your arms a break while holding/snuggling baby while you sit or lounge on your couch?
If you answered ‘YES’ to any of the above questions, then a baby carrier will most likely be a great choice for you.
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Type of Ergo Carrier I purchased:
I purchased the Ergo 360 All Positions baby carrier. It was the newest carrier they had at the time. The other one I could’ve gotten was the original Ergo.
I love that there are a variety of baby carrier options now with the Ergobaby brand.
Why I Purchased The Ergo 360:
I Realized I needed one:
My arms quickly got tired holding a growing infant. Babies, especially infants, do a lot of sleeping and like being held and cuddled. This is great, except that busy moms often can’t just sit around all day and do nothing anything else. There are errands to run, chores to do, other children to be tended to. I especially needed this carrier once I had my second child, often needing both hands free to tend to my toddler while carrying the baby.
I Tried Other Carriers:
My sister gave me her baby k’tan and a friend gave me her baby bjorn while I was pregnant. There were features that I liked with each of them: I liked the softness and comfort of the baby k’tan and I liked the fact that the infant could use the baby bjorn right away. After knowing what a few other carriers offered helped make my decision easier after researching and seeing the Ergo 360.
Friends of ours were using the Ergo 360:
Friends of our had a baby shortly before we had our son. We saw the mom and the dad both wearing the Ergo 360 and really loved the carrier. Knowing my girlfriend is a thrifty and smart shopper (and knowing the Ergo 360 isn’t cheap) made me curious to learn more about it since she had chosen to make the investment.
Reviews:
Baby Bargains Book: After trying other carriers that I liked (but didn’t LOVE) and seeing friends I trust using an Ergo 360, I turned to my trusty Baby Bargains Book—or my Baby Item Buying Bible. This book is my hands-down favorite book for baby items.
I used this book to help me make my baby registry, and I recommend this book to all expectant moms. I even give it as a gift to many of them as well since I found it SUPER helpful. After reading their review of the Ergo 360, I decided it was time to get one for our family.
Pros of the Ergo 360 Baby Carrier:
Sturdy Material
The thick sturdy material holds up well. After 4 years my carrier still looks like new. I’m able to throw it in washing machine and let it air dry; it’s super durable.
Strap Around Waist for Back Support
This is probably my favorite feature of this carrier. Other carriers I tried either didn’t have a back support strap, or didn’t have one as supportive. For me, this made ALL the difference. Often times, moms have weak postpartum ab muscles which can lead to back problems if those muscles are not supported properly. I didn’t want to aggravate my back with a carrier that didn’t have a good back support.
Can Continue to Use As Child Grows
The Ergo 360 can carry children up to 45 pounds. My toddlers are around 30 pounds or under so we have plenty of time to still use this carrier. Now that they’re bigger, they think it’s fun to be carried on our backs.
Versatile:
- The Ergo 360 offers multiple ways to wear your child.
- adjustable straps so my husband can also use the carrier
- great for families: travel, playdates, multiple children
Cons of the Ergo 360 Baby Carrier
Price
These carriers are not cheap. But I justified this purchase by realizing I could carry my kids multiple ways and for years as they grew. Between the countless airport trips and outings that we have used the carrier, we’ve definitely gotten our money’s worth.
Heavier Material Not Ideal for Warmer Climates
While the thicker and sturdier material makes durability a plus, it’s not very soft. The carrier can be hotter in warmer climates for mom and baby, especially if you’re outdoors.
Since I’ve purchased mine, they’ve come out with this new one with mesh panels. I bought this for a baby shower gift recently since it was on my friend’s baby registry.
Recommendations When Buying the Carrier
- Check out the Ergobaby webpage for comparing the different types of carriers: Use this guide to tell you which one right for you since different carriers offer different features.
- Check out the Customer Care Page:
- Read The Guide That Comes With Carrier (online guide): You don’t have to read in one sitting. Some positions aren’t recommended until baby is a certain weight or can hold head up appropriately, for example. So you can take your time reading ahead and trying the different positions as baby grows and the carrier can be used in different ways.
- See If An Infant Insert Is Needed: See if you need the infant insert depending on baby age, type of carrier, etc.
- Watch Instructional Videos On Ergobaby Website: The videos show you how to wear and use the carrier. I found this helpful when I first started using my Ergo 360 with my first baby.
- Practice: The Ergo 360, like most baby carriers, gets easier to use with practice. Especially since there are different ways to carry your child, the more you practice trying out the different positions, the quicker you’ll become at getting your child in and out of the carrier. While it’s not a difficult carrier to wear, I wouldn’t recommend trying it out for the first time when you’re in a hurry to get somewhere. I also practiced with someone (like my husband) helping me the first time. Because of the different straps and different positions there are, at first I needed someone to hold the baby while I got the straps on. I wanted to make sure baby was safely in the carrier. Practicing over my couch or being seated gave me peace of mind for baby’s safety while I got the hang of using the carrier.
PIN IT FOR LATER
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