In this in-depth Ergobaby OMNI 360 carrier review, I want to share with you why, despite being more than twice the price of other baby carriers, this durable, flexible model was well worth every penny.
As much as my partner and I would have loved nothing more than to put all our commitments on hold for the first six months of our newborn’s life, being busy, working parents quickly dampened such a dream.
Even with a 6-month-old to take care of, there were still errands to run, household tasks to take care of, and all manner of day-to-day essentials to deal with. We needed a way to tackle all of those activities while still keeping our little one close at hand, and that’s when we started to research the best baby carriers.
Though we were originally tempted to go with a much more affordable Tula carrier, the number of reviews praising the Ergobaby OMNI 360 for its strength and versatility convinced us to at least give it a try.
It turns out it was one of the smartest investments we’ve made for our family. I’ll explain why below in my Ergo Baby Carrier 360 review.
My Experience with the Ergobaby OMNI 360 Baby Carrier
Setup
As a first-time parent, I’ve certainly had a crash course in setting up all kinds of baby equipment, from bassinets and bouncers to car seats and video monitors and more.
Some have been a breeze to set up. Some have been so complicated and confusing that I was tempted to take the whole thing back to the store.
Fortunately, I had no reason to return the Ergobaby OMNI 360 as the setup process was as simple as I could’ve hoped for.
The carrier comes almost ready to go right out of the box.
All I had to do was adjust the seat width to fit my son’s size, and even that was very easy, thanks to the velcro straps and a handy color-coded system that shows you exactly where to put them.
All in all, the entire process, from unpacking the OMNI 360 to heading out the door carrying my child, took no more than five minutes.
Setup Verdict: 4.5/5
Safety and Support
The most important thing to consider when choosing any new baby equipment is that it provides maximum support and safety.
I’m happy to report that Luca (our son) and I have been testing this one out for a while now, and it consistently proves to be strong, safe, and highly durable.
Manufacturer Ergobaby have weight tested their OMNI 360 carrier from 7 lbs to 45 lbs (3.5 to 20 kg) and claim that the carrier is built to last all the way from birth to 48 months.
Personally, I’m skeptical that I’ll still be using this when my son is four years old, and only time will tell if my OMNI 360 will still be holding strong by then, but so far, I’ve seen nothing that would lead me to believe that it won’t.
For my own piece of mind, I even tested it with a few household items that weighed more than my little one, and it still remained strong and sturdy enough that I could easily keep using this until at least the baby’s second birthday.
This durability is thanks in no small part to the 100% cotton construction and webbed straps with solid, secure buckles to keep everything in place.
And if you’re concerned about safe materials?
The OMNI 360 carries a STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® label as proof that it’s been tested for 350 harmful chemicals and proven to be safe for both parents and children alike.
Safety and Support Verdict: 5/5
Design and Accessories
Although looks may not be the most important factor when choosing a baby carrier, it’s still nice to have an attractive carrier with various design options to suit your aesthetic tastes.
Although I opted for the standard all-black version, the OMNI 360 comes in blue, white, and grey color options and a fun design with a stardust print.
There’s even a Harry Potter-themed baby carrier that is perfect for taking your little one to their first day at Hogwarts Kindergarten, or at the very least for bringing them to the store in style.
Beyond the color and pattern choices, a big selling point of this top-priced carrier is the accessories that come with it.
My favorite is the large, detachable storage pouch which I’ve found hugely helpful for carrying my keys, phone, and other essentials when we’re out and about.
Meanwhile, my partner is a big fan of the hidden hood, which can be pulled out to protect the baby’s head from the sun or used to give mom and baby extra privacy while breastfeeding.
Design and Accessories Verdict: 4/5
Comfort
We all know that carrying our young ones around can get pretty tiring, and that’s before we even touch on the sore back and shoulder muscles.
One thing I love about the Omni 360 is that I haven’t yet felt the slightest bit of discomfort from using it.
The carrier fits well and features an in-built lumbar support that is well-positioned to provide ample cushioning to prevent lower back pain. The only downside is that it isn’t detachable, so if you’re anything like me, you may find that it requires a little extra adjustment if you’re wearing this as a front-facing carrier.
Elsewhere, I really like the extra padding on the straps, which does a great job of alleviating tension in the shoulders.
Of course, comfort and fit are all subjective. While I found this to be very comfy indeed, I have read multiple customer reviews from parents much shorter than me who say that the Omni 360’s ample size is just too big to wear properly.
Design and Accessories Verdict: 4/5
Ease of Use
For the most part, the OMNI 360 is as easy to use on a day-to-day basis as it was to originally set up, though it still has room for improvement.
A major highlight is that, unlike other baby carriers, there’s no need to add an insert for smaller infants. Instead, you can simply adjust the seat to fit them, which is so easy you can do it one-handed without much effort.
One thing that’s not so easy to adjust is the lumbar support. While it’s undoubtedly a useful feature, it does need to be tightened at both ends to get it into the most comfortable position.
I won’t lie, it took me more than a few tries and quite a bit of fiddling with the adjustment controls to get it right.
The strap buckles likewise have both good and bad points.
The good thing is that they’re designed to be as secure as possible so that they don’t accidentally come undone while you’re carrying your infant.
The bad is that these buckles can be a little tricky to fasten and unfasten. I’ve used this carrier enough times now that I’ve just about mastered the art of buckling and unbuckling, but, like the adjustment controls, it certainly took some practice.
Now that I’m past that little learning curve, however, I generally find that it takes me no time at all to slip into the OMNI 360 carrier and get my son sitting comfortably…provided he’s willing to cooperate, of course!
Ease of Use Verdict: 3.5/5
Price and Delivery
Though I’m definitely glad that I purchased Ergobaby’s flagship baby carrier, I can’t deny that one of its biggest disadvantages is the expensive price point.
Shop around, and it’s easy to pick up a baby carrier for under $50. The Ergobaby OMNI 360 All-Position Carrier is well above that price, with the costs varying depending on which design you opt for.
As for delivery, I bought it from Amazon around the same time that I bought our trusty Graco Pack-N-Play. From hitting the checkout button to the product landing on my doorstep here in Australia, it took the OMNI 360 a little over a week to arrive, which isn’t bad at all when you consider it came from the US.
Once it did arrive, everything was present, correct, and in optimum condition.
Price and Delivery Verdict: 4/5
Ergobaby OMNI 360 Carrier Pros and Cons
Pros
- It doesn’t require an insert for smaller children
- Offers four different wearable positions for maximum comfort
- Machine washable.
Cons
- Much more expensive than other baby carriers
- The straps can be difficult to adjust with the baby inside the carrier
- The buckles can be tricky to undo at first.
Features of Ergobaby OMNI 360 Carrier
The Ergobaby OMNI 360 comes with all of the following key features:
- Padded lumbar support and padded shoulder straps to improve comfort
- 2 x shoulder strap positions (X shape or H shape)
- 4 x carry positions (inward, outward, chest, hip, and back)
- Adjustable height and width
- Ergonomic, bucket-shape seat to keep your baby in the healthiest position
- It comes in a choice of cotton or mesh finish
- Lifetime guarantee.
Ergobaby OMNI 360 Specifications:
If you’re not sure whether the OMNI 360 baby carrier is going to be a good fit, the following key specifications will hopefully prove helpful:
- Material: 100% cotton or mesh
- Dimensions: 6.18″ x 9.13″ x 10.43″ (15.69 CM x 23.19 CM x 26.49 CM)
- Waist size: 25.5″ – 55.25″ (65 CM – 140 CM)
- Minimum recommended weight: 7 lbs (3.5 Kg)
- Maximum recommended weight: 45 lbs (20 Kg)
Top 3 Ergobaby OMNI 360 Carrier Alternatives
It’s time for a confession:
The Ergobaby OMNI 360 was one of many baby carriers I considered. Although it ultimately proved to be the best option, I also seriously considered the three following alternatives.
Tula Ergonomic Carrier
If cost alone were my only priority, the Tula Ergonomic Carrier would earn my pick of the best budget-friendly baby carrier.
Available at a fraction of the price I paid for the OMNI 360, the Tula offers both inward-facing front and back carrying options, though it doesn’t allow you to position baby facing outwards, nor can you use it to carry them on your hip.
Strong and super durable, the Tula Ergonomic Carrier is relatively easy to use but sadly requires an insert for smaller infants, which can add to both the cost and set-up time.
Diono Carus Complete 4-in-1 Baby Carrier
Doing one better than the Tula, the Diono Carus Complete 4-in-1 Baby Carrier offers both inward and outward front carry as well as back carry. It even comes with a backpack which can prove useful once your young one is old enough to walk on their own.
I also have to admit that the Diono Carus is better looking than the Ergobaby carrier, though the lack of a hip-carrying option and the fact that its maximum recommended weight is limited to just 33 lbs ultimately ruled it out as an option for us.
If you think it might be the right one for you, you can check out a full review of the Dino Carus Complete 4-in-1 Baby Carrier here.
BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier One
Ranked highly in Upside Dad’s guide to the best baby carriers for plus-sized moms and dads, the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier One would make an excellent option for any family thanks to its unbeatable durability, three carrying position options and excellent level of comfort for both parent and child.
Unfortunately, it’s even more expensive than the OMNI 360, which proved to be a deal breaker for us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What’s the difference between the Ergobaby Omni 360 and the Ergobaby 360 baby carrier?
Answer: The biggest difference between the Omni 360 and the regular 360 baby carrier is that the latter requires a special infant insert to carry infants from birth, while the former is designed to carry newborns without the need for an insert.
Question: When can a baby face outwards in the Omni 360?
Answer: Ergobaby recommends that you can begin to carry your baby in the outward-facing front position once they weigh a minimum of 14 lbs and have enough head and neck strength to hold their chin above the body of the carrier.
Question: How long can you carry a baby in an Ergobaby Omni 360?
Answer: Some experts recommend that babies spend no more than an hour in a baby carrier, while others suggest that they could spend up to two hours. I can carry my six-month-old comfortably for around 90 minutes, though I expect that to decrease once they get older.
Is the Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier Worth the Cost? My Final Verdict
We did extensive research when choosing the best baby carrier for our family. However, even with many cheaper options available, the Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier still seemed like the best value for money.
Once we started using it and discovered its combination of high-quality construction, maximum comfort, and versatility, we could certainly agree that it was worth every penny.
Still, that doesn’t mean it’s right for everybody. Although it was a good fit for us, the reports that some smaller users found it simply too big may be off-putting for more petite parents.
If that’s the case for you, you can find some great alternatives in this guide to the best baby carriers for doing chores.
As a new dad himself, David understands the struggles in dealing with a newborn’s sleep schedule. He knows how hard it is to work and deal with a lack of sleep at night. He thoroughly tests out products and can advise which are best for your little one. In his spare time, he enjoys riding ATVs and BMX.