Which Ergo?

Ergobaby carriers are really popular, and it's very easy to see why.  They are very well made, well designed and fit a wide range of parents and babies.  They don't fit everyone of course - like any buckle carrier it's definitely worth trying on before you buy - as different brands fit different body types differently.  As a general rule Ergo's are on the bulkier side so its worth checking the padding agrees with your shoulders and they can often feel too much on smaller frames.  But for many many people they fit like a dream and for them Ergo carriers represent a fantastic option.

What takes most people by surprise, however, is just how many different models there are!  Over the last few years, Ergo have brought out a new carrier or new variant on one of their existing models out every single year!  Most people coming to the sling library ask me simply if they can try "THE" Ergo, but there are 4 main models and then 3 of these models have mesh versions - 2 of which differ from the non-mesh version in ways other than simply having mesh.  So it does take a bit of thought to work out which model will suit you best.

So what are the differences?  How do I help people work out "Which Ergo?"  There are 3 main factors to consider when comparing each model;

1. Would you like to use this carrier with a newborn/baby under 4 months old? (While in theory all can be used from newborn, 2 of these models require the use of a bulky infant insert that most parents don't get on well with, while the other two have a really great adjustable seat which removes the need for any inserts).
2. Would you like the option to face baby outwards?  (All 4 models offer front facing inwards, hip and back carrying positions, only 2 offer the outward facing position as well).
3. Would you like the option to cross the straps across the adult's back? (All models can be worn in 'Rucksack' mode, but only 2 give you the option to cross the straps as well).

I also encourage parents to think about budget and how much value they place on each of these considerations, because there is of course a price difference!   And its not insignificant - the difference between answering no to all 3 questions and answering yes to all 3 is currently £55!  With prices in between for each iteration in between.  So its very much worth considering the pros and cons of each carrier in conjunction with the price.

So with all these considerations in mind - lets look at each model in turn...

The Original

• Requires an infant insert
• Weight tested from 5.4 kg (12 lb) to 20 kg (45 lb) without the insert, from 3.2 kg (7 lb) with the insert
• Does not offer a facing outwards position
• Straps can not be worn crossed across parents back
• Has an absolutely huge pocket that will easily fit a nappy or two, wipes and a few other essentials
• Cost £99.90*

Where the Ergo Original really shines is for babies aged 6 months to ~2 years. Its the simplest, and cheapest of all the Ergo models and it is a great carrier for older babies through to toddlers. It has a slightly shorter back panel than the other models (as it doesn't have a fold up head support that also acts to extend the panel) so it won't last quite as long as each of the others but it will nonetheless last well into toddler-hood.  While the Original can be used for newborns, it requires the addition of the Easy Snug Infant insert - which in all honestly is a faff, pretty darn hot and seems to confuse literally every parent I've ever met.  If you want a carrier you can use from the beginning, I would avoid anything with an infant insert.  The newest version of this model now features the same amazing lumbar support panel as seen on the Adapt and the Omni. Previous versions of this model just had webbing only, and the lumbar support is a nice addition.

Mesh Version - Ergo are not currently selling a mesh version of the Original carrier.  They did sell a mesh version in the past (I think it was called the Ergo Performance), but this is no longer on the market.

The All Position 360

• Requires an infant insert
• Weight tested from 5.4 kg (12 lb) to 20 kg (45 lb) without the insert, from 3.2 kg (7 lb) with the insert
• Adjustable head support
• Does offer forward facing carrying position
• Straps can not be worn crossed across parents back
• Has a wide Velcro waistband
• Cost £134.90*

The 360 is the model I am most frequently asked for - it's the one everyone has heard of!  It's not necessarily the one people most frequently go onto buy, however!  Like the Original it needs the bulky hot infant insert to carry a newborn, so this is a carrier that works best from ~4 or 5 months.  It has a slightly narrower seat than the Original so does tend to work a bit earlier, typically from 4-5 months rather than ~6 months for the Original.  It also has a longer back panel, because the head support can be used to extend the length of the panel, which means this carrier will often last a little longer too - typically until around 2.5 years, maybe even 3 years with a relatively petite child.

What's really popular about this carrier is the deep 'bucket' style seat for the baby, which gives an excellent position for babies in both the parent facing and the facing outwards position.  Swapping between the two carrying positions is as simple as switching over a couple of buttons ("When facing away, go to Grey!").

The two things that can be less popular are the waist band and the ruck sack style shoulder straps.  The 360 has a very wide Velcro waistband.  Some parents absolutely love this waistband as they find it fits them better because of how wide and form fitting it is, and how it's continuous and thus there isn't any webbing to dig etc.  However, the vast majority don't find they get a better fit with the Velcro, find more traditional webbing easier to tighten correctly and dislike the noise and clothes ruining potential that comes with Velcro!  I can't count how many times that Velcro has woken babies up during Sling Library sessions - it can be really annoying!  For the straps, again like the Original, the straps do not cross across the parents back on the All Position 360.  Many parents really struggle to get the chest strap done up on their back and thus opt for the Omni 360 or another carrier to avoid this struggle!  However, if the Velcro waist or the Ruck sack straps put you off, don't despair as both the next two models have these sorted!

All in all the 360 is a good option if your baby is 4-5 months plus, you'd like to be able to forward face, you like velcro and have flexible shoulders allowing you to easily do up the chest strap.

Mesh Version - All Position 360 Cool Air Mesh, cost £144.90*

Interestingly, the 360 Cool Air does not have the Velcro waist band.  Instead, it has webbing and the same lovely lumbar support found on the Adapt and Omni 360.  The shape of the carrier and the shoulder straps and everything else remain unchanged, its just the waist band that differs.  The waist band, and of course the presence of Ergo's "Cool Air Mesh".  As mesh goes, this is very very soft and not at all scratchy.  Although there isn't really that much of it.  Only the upper panel, the leg padding and one side of the shoulder straps (the side touching the parent) has been replaced with mesh.  So the jury is out on how much cooler this carrier is verses the standard cotton version.

The Adapt

• Adjustable seat - no infant insert
• Weight tested from 3.2 kg (7 lb) to 20 kg (45 lb)
• Adjustable head support
• Does not offer a facing outwards position
• Straps can be worn crossed across parents back
• Lumbar support
• Cost £119.90*

This is my favourite of the Ergo models.  It was the first Ergo to offer the amazing lumbar support panel and to offer the option to cross the straps across the wearers back.  These two things make such a difference to parent comfort and ease of use for me.  I am not very flexible and have always struggled to do up the chest strap on the Original and the 360 so at last having an Ergo where I could cross the straps and avoid that strap altogether was a big deal for me!  Although my one and only bug bear about the lumbar support is that it is not removable and it does look a bit funny across your tummy when carrying baby on your back.  That said it is supremely comfy and feels a bit like wearing a tummy support!  But out of vanity I'd probably remove it if I could for back carrying!!  The other reason this is my favourite model is the adjustable seat.  It adjusts using velcro within the carrier and poppers on the outside... to give an absolutely beautiful fit to any baby from about 4-6 weeks old all the way through till 2-2.5 years old.  The bucket shape of the seat make it so easy for parents to get a good positioning and super comfortable carry for both them and their little one.

The one thing the Adapt doesn't do is allow baby to face forwards.  It offers 3 carrying positions - front facing inwards, hip and back carry.  For both my children these 3 positions have always been enough, neither have really needed or wanted to forward face.  If your debating the pros and cons of forward facing this article might help!  However, if you want to forward face but like all the advantages of the Adapt over the All Position 360 then the Omni is most likely the carrier for you.

Mesh Version - Adapt Cool Air Mesh, cost £129.90*

The Adapt is available in a mesh version, and unlike the 360 and the Omni there are no differences (aside from mesh of course!) between the mesh and cotton versions of the Adapt.  A large proportion of the carrier is replaced with mesh and a very soft mesh, so I would expect this carrier to be a fair bit more breathable than the cotton version, and worth considering if you travel a lot, have a summer born baby and/or someone who finds they get hot easily.

The Omni 360

• Adjustable seat - no infant insert
• Weight tested from 3.2 kg (7 lb) to 20 kg (45 lb)
• Adjustable head support
• Does offer forward facing carrying position
• Straps can be worn crossed across parents back
• Lumbar support
• Cost £154.90* available to purchase through our webshop here.

The Omni really is the model that offers absolutely everything.  It has a super simple and intuitively easy to adjust seat, which is very similar to the Adapt and allows this carrier to be realistically used for babies from  4-6 weeks old all the way to 2-2.5 years.  The size adjustment is done via Velcro tabs, which are conveniently colour coded to help you know how to size it for your baby as they grow.   Like the All Positions 360, the Omni can be used for forward facing and has the same buttons which allow it to be simply switched from inward to outward facing modes ("When facing away, go to Grey!").  Like the Adapt it has the lovely lumbar support panel and the option to cross the straps across parents back for increased parent comfort.  It also has safety buckles at the sides, which can be easily opened with one hand (once you've got the knack!)  And a detachable zippered pocket on the waist band.

The one and only thing it doesn't have is a small price tag!  But then that is the price of everything and for many parents the improved parent comfort verses the 360 and the ability to forward face compared with the Adapt makes the extra price tag worth it.  It's worth paying the extra if it means you get more use out of the sling.

Mesh Version - Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh, cost £154.90* available to purchase through our webshop here.

The main difference with this version (other than the presence of mesh) is that the buttons that you use to switch between inward and outward facing carrying positions have been replaced with sliders.  While the buttons are a nice intuitively easy system for switching they are a bit fiddly to do with one hand and thus hard to do while holding baby or with baby still in the carrier.  The sliders on the other hand are dead easy to change with one hand - you just push.  Its a fab update and one I hope will be rolled out onto the other 360 models in the future.

You can also see the Ergo Omni 360 and All positions 360 compared in the flesh here

All in all Ergo have 4 great carriers and it's worth spending a few minutes considering the differences so you can ensure you can get the one that suits your needs and budget!  Ergo do also make a newborn specialist carrier (the Embrace) and a stretchy wrap (the Aura) both of which are lovely for newborns.  You can read more about the Embrace here, and the Aura here.

-Madeleine

*Please note all prices quoted here are based on RRP, and are correct as of April 2018.  Ergo and other stockists do offer sales from time to time and the RRP may well change overtime so please don't take these prices as Gospel!