Ergobaby 360 review: The best soft-structured baby carrier money can buy

From its humble beginnings, Ergobaby has become a worldwide success, being the go-to brand for new parents looking for something comfortable for both them and their baby.

Like most baby carrier brands, Ergobaby was founded by a mum – Karin Frost – who couldn’t find what she wanted anywhere else. Being a designer, she set about creating a carrier that ticked the boxes in terms of design, comfort and ease of use.

Since this review was written, Ergobaby has launched the Ergobaby Omni 360. It offers very similar carrying positions and comfort features but has added new designs, a detachable pouch to store your keys and has tweaked some of the adustment options. It is suitable from brith as standard – you previously had to buy a separate newborn insert with the Ergobaby 360 – and depending on the model, comes with a cool air mesh to make it more breathable for your little one. 

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Ergobaby 360 review: Design and styling

Where some structured baby carriers opt for a firmer, more scaffolded design, Ergobaby’s family of baby carriers instead use a softer structure which offers more give – the idea being that this provides better support for the baby’s c-shaped spine and their natural frog-legged leg and hip position while offering feeling less rigid around your body. 

The Ergobaby 360 is a lightweight baby carrier that’s suitable from newborn until 36 months, capable of holding a child weighing up to 44lbs. It looks far more modern than the original canvas Ergobaby carrier, as it’s made with a breathable synthetic mesh and has a stiffer structure. The 360 departs from the Earth-mother styling of the original to appeal to modern parents who want something as cushioned and comfortable, but with a more urban, outdoorsy aesthetic.

This includes muted black, white, beige and navy designs as well as more colourful patterned models such as the Trunks Up design that features cute drawings of elephants. All of them are unisex, too, making it perfect for if/when you have another child.

Ergobaby 360 review: Comfort and features

The Ergobaby’s softer structure isn’t just comfy for the passenger: the thick padded shoulder straps offer cushioned support for the wearer, while the wide waist belt sits comfortably and spreads weight evenly across the the hips.

The waist belt can be tightened or loosened with one-hand and the straps are supported using a plastic buckle and adjustable straps that sits between your shoulders. We also love how incredibly easy it is to adjust the width of the front panel. Most structured baby carriers use velcro or zips to change the width of this panel yet the Ergobaby 360 uses a simple hook and button system. This may not offer as many size variations, but as the panel is so soft, this didn’t cause a problem.

The Ergobaby 360 is also approved by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, and you can read more about how to safely wear you baby on your best baby carriers page. 

The Ergobaby 360 gets its name from the fact it can be worn in four different carrying positions: parent-facing, forward-facing, on your hip and on your back making it ideal from newborn until your little one is toddling around but still likes being carried. 

However, we should mention that when our baby was smaller and lighter, the Ergobaby 360 was a dream to use. Since he’s bulked up (he now weighs 28lbs, despite only being 11 months old), we’ve had to switch to the BabyBjörn One to give our back more support. The straps and buckle on the Ergobaby 360 do not offer enough support for larger, heavier babies in our experience. 

Newborns are kept warm thanks to a padded insert. This is designed to be less hit-and-miss than the original, and now has has buttons and poppers to hold it in place, which brings it in line with simpler structured carriers. The previous version simply sat loose inside the carrier and relied on you being able to position and hold the baby and the insert while trying to get them snugly in place – in a word, fiddly.

The new insert is like a little quilt, with a loose cushion that drops inside for baby to sit on. You have to make sure you dress the baby appropriately for this – no snowsuits – as it’s like they’re inside a duvet while you walk around. There’s no reason you can’t use it in the warmer months, but it’s worth bearing in mind that your body also generates heat, so it’s crucial that you dress yourself and your baby accordingly.

Ergobaby 360 review: Verdict

The Ergobaby 360 is comfy, well-designed and looks great, too – it’s not the cheapest out there, but this is a baby carrier that’s well worth paying a premium for. Plus its high-quality build means it should last for years, for when/if you have more children. It’s not as suited to heavier, larger babies but by this point you may find yourself carrying them less so this may not be an issue. 

Also, since the Ergobaby Omni 360 launched, the Ergobaby 360 is cheaper than when we first reviewed it so you might be able to pick yourself up a bargain.