‘But… do I actually need this?’ is something I constantly asked myself as a first-time parent shopping for a newborn. I wanted to be prepared but I also had my limits. Plus my house already looks like a baby store!
I knew there were the ‘must haves’ and the ‘nice to haves’ in the baby product world. Non-negotiables for transport including a pram and car seat. However, when it came to baby carriers I was a little unsure. Would this be an unnecessary addition to our baby product collection?
It wasn’t until Mimi arrived and I started using a baby carrier that I properly understood its advantages. Sure, a baby carrier is a ‘nice to have’ but for me it was one of the ‘essentials’ and definitely made parenting a lot easier.
On The Baby Edit, we surveyed thousands of Australian parents about the baby carriers they used, loved and would recommend. You can read our baby carrier guide and the carriers that were voted the best here. I tested a few from this list with my little girl Mimi, one of which was the Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh Baby Carrier.
One of the best things about using a baby carrier for me is being able to bond with and keep your little one close while having your hands free. There are a few different styles of baby carriers including sling, wrap and soft structured (you can read about their differences here). The Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh Baby Carrier is a soft structured variety.
Product lifespan
This product’s usage is advertised from newborn to three years of age (my hat is off to anyone using a carrier with a 3-year-old!). I started using this product with my baby Mimi when she was about 5 months old. While she fit in the soft structured carriers prior to this, I just felt she was too small for many of them and I preferred to use a fabric wrap carrier during those early months.
Key takeaways after testing this product
It took me a few attempts to build up confidence when putting this carrier on with Mimi. In my experience, it’s a bit of a juggling act. You have to fasten the waist belt to your body first. If carrying a newborn, you want to fasten it high on your waist. You then position bub almost tummy-to-tummy with you and with one hand you carefully hold your bub, while pulling up the front of the carrier and slipping your arms through the shoulder straps.
As tiny newborns have no muscle strength and are almost floppy, I did find I had to be very careful of her slipping during this part. Finally, you clip all the buckles and adjust all the straps for a secure, snug fit. In saying that, once bub passes 6 months in my opinion, this type of carrier was the easiest to use for me.
In terms of fit, I found this baby carrier a little bulky in the shoulder straps. There’s a lot of padding used throughout the carrier in general so it felt a bit bigger but otherwise just as comfortable as any of the structured carriers I tried. Mimi’s weight was also evenly distributed and this carrier appeared comfortable for her as well.
Throughout my life, I’ve suffered from back issues from time to time which inevitably became worse after pregnancy and having a baby. So as with any baby-carrying option, I found I would get a sore back when using them for long periods of time. For shorter periods, while sitting at my laptop working or when trying to soothe Mimi to sleep this carrier felt great!
It’s also advertised as machine washable, however, I just spot cleaned it when little accidents happened. I found it pretty easy to keep in good condition and clean.
I also liked that it has a built-in UPF 50+ sun cover. I didn’t realise how handy this would be and how much I would actually use it. This was great when Mimi and I were outdoors and I could offer her some protection from the sun and even better that I didn’t need to ‘remember’ to pack it, as it neatly folds into the carrier.
I’d recommend the Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh Baby Carrier for someone who is looking for a baby carrier that has a longer lifespan. This product is suitable from newborn to 36 months (or approximately 20kg). I also felt this carrier while a little bulky feels like it really is supporting your precious cargo wherever you travel.
The Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh was tested by Emily and her daughter Mimi (from 5 to 12 months). This product was modelled by Camille and baby Elliot. Photography by Sarah Collins, produced by The Baby Edit. Read our 2022 Best Of Baby Carrier List as ranked by the thousands of Australian families we surveyed here.
This is general information only. If you need personal, health, medical or technical advice when it comes to your growing family, please seek out a professional.