When I found out I was pregnant, one of the first things on my to-buy list was a baby carrier. There was so much to do and see and so much of the great outdoors I wanted to show our newest family member.
Plus, I wanted to be able to walk the dog, do the dishes, grade papers, grocery shop, and maybe even eat a bit of lunch hands-free. All the advice from my already-mom friends was clear: you need a baby carrier.
And the recommended name that kept coming up was: Ergobaby. Over eight years later, we still have our original Ergo: an olive green organic original Ergo carrier that I bought used off of Craigslist from a mom of three. With us, it’s been on dog walks and mountain tops, cuddling a newborn one day and a toddler the next. It’s climbed the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, navigated the Reykjavik airport in Iceland, and toured the United Nations in Geneva.
And it still has plenty of adventure in it because that Ergobaby lifetime warranty is no joke. So when I had the chance to try out the new Ergobaby Omni Breeze all-in-one baby carrier with SoftFlex—made to be just like the original Ergo with more lightweight and breathable fabric—I was more than willing.
Why Ergobaby
Ergobaby is one of the companies that has been in the forefront of baby development. Started in 2002 by Karin Frost, a mom who was looking for a more ergonomically-friendly and comfortable way to hold her new baby, the company was created to design carriers that hold your child in their natural sitting position and evenly distribute their weight.
Aside from their original Ergobaby carrier, they now have a newborn soft structured carrier for the tiniest little ones to a hip seat carrier. And then there are the carriers that do just about everything. The Omni Breeze is one of them. Overall, if I was a baby carrier minimalist, this would be my “one and done” carrier because it’s really the only carrier you would ever need.
The Omni Breeze Baby Carrier Can Do It All
If you are looking for a flexible carrier that will support both your back and your baby, have a wide range of kids, or just want an “all-in-one” carrier, the Ergobaby Onmi Breeze could be your best choice. The Omni boasts some great details:
- It can be used for babies 7-45 lbs.
- It’s machine-washable
- You can breastfeed while baby is in the carrier
- Waistbelt range: 17.8 in – 57 in
“If I had to choose just one carrier to fit all my many needs as a mom of 5 little ones, I can say with confidence the Omni Breeze would be my choice."
Features to Love
I’ve mentioned that this is a carrier that can do it all and here are the features that make that happen.
All the lumbar support for parents…
Not gonna lie: I love the portability and easy of a ring sling. But hiking with one and wearing one for an extended period of time? Nope. My back starts to ache after an hour.
Not so with the soft structured Omni breeze. The supported shoulder straps and the option to cross straps coupled with the adjustable lumbar support for parents means the weight distribution of even chunky babies is evenly placed and easier on my back.
And babies
Speaking of support, Ergobaby is completely focused on baby comfort and correct body position. (Hence the name—ergonomic, get it?)
The Omni breeze makes it easy for me to get all my kids—no matter their size and age—into the right position where they will be both happy and ergonomically supported. While I love baby wraps, the thing I most appreciate about the soft structured carriers like Ergo is that they are structured to get baby into the correct position.
Simple to use
If you’re intimidated by using a baby carrier, please know that the Omni Breeze is incredibly easy to use. The Velcro patches on the inside help you adjust for height while the genius slide panels on the front give appropriate support for front and back facing options.
I was nervous to use a carrier that was so “all in one,” erroneously thinking it would be difficult to navigate. I am happy to report that I was wrong. It really couldn’t be easier.
It’s machine-washable, baby!
Do you really need to hear more? I was so excited to find out that I could just plop the entire carrier in the washing machine (just be careful not to use bleach!) instead of having to take the time to hand wash or (gasp) take it to the dry cleaner.
The washing instructions do indicate that you can tumble dry low. However, I have always preferred to air out my carriers.
Parent fit
I’m 5’7” while my husband is 6”1” and the carrier adjusts to both of our sizes easily. This is a nice feature because you don’t have to buy two different carriers for different size parents.
Additionally, it accommodates both of our carrier preferences: my husband prefers to wear the kids on his back or front forward-facing while I like the kiddos front-parent facing. It’s also pretty user friendly. You can pretty much wear it right out of the box with a quick skim of directions.
Convenient details
As a mom of five kids, I truly appreciate the parent-friendly features in this carrier, such as:
- Reflective piping on the front and straps for nighttime strolls
- Foldaway hood
- Detachable pouch (for holding things like your phone and wallet if you run into the store)
Multiple carry options
You have multiple kids? Both you and your partner want the option to carry? You want to carry a sleeping baby one day and a kid who wants to see the world the next? The Omni breeze has you covered.
You can wear your little one on your front, on your back, hip carrying, front facing, or parent facing. Plus, thanks to its adjustable straps, I can carry my newborn in this one minute and the next, I can hand it off to my 6’1” husband who can throw our 3 year old on his back and go. Instead of having multiple wraps for multiple kids and different sized partners, we literally just need this one carrier.
Breathability
Personally, I always recommend a breathable, mesh baby carrier over a classic one because babies can really get warm in a carrier next to your body.
It’s much easier to throw a baby cover or wear a babywearing-friendly jacket over yourself on a chilly day than to try to cool a hot baby down. That’s why I love the mesh paneling in the Omni breeze. It gives us that added airflow that becomes crucial on a summer hike or walk around the block.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Adjustable straps and fit
Newborn-toddler carry
Lightweight and breathable materials
All-in-one-carrier
Cons
Can be pricey
Velcro straps can catch hair
Won’t fold and fit into your diaper bag
Three Features to Keep in Mind
I am going to be honest: there are very few things I did not love about the Omni breeze. It’s one of my favorite baby carriers ever, hands-down. But if I have to choose two things I didn’t downright love, I would say:
- The fold. You’re never going to fit the Ergo Breeze into your diaper bag nicely. However, Ergo does provide a nifty suggestion for how to fold it in order to make it more portable.
- The cost. For a carrier, this one is not what I would call cheap (but that’s a good thing). Cheap is not where you want to be as far as a baby carrier (or your back) is concerned. Plus, if you get the Omni breeze as your “one and done” carrier, it ends up being much more cost effective than buying a ring sling, a wrap, and a structured carrier for example. In addition, if cost is an issue, Ergobaby does offer a used purchase option. You can also sell your carriers back when you are done with them!
- The Velcro. If I had to change anything, it would be the Velcro tabs you use to adjust for baby’s size. Don’t get me wrong: I love the fact that you can adjust it. But I’ve found that Velcro tends to catches hair, makes noise, and gets messy. This is a tiny complaint in the grand scheme of things, but I’m a believer that Velcro is for toddler shoes and reusable diapers. Not baby carriers.
“Ergobaby does offer a used purchase option. You can also sell your carriers back when you are done with them."
Before You Buy
There are a couple important things you should think about before buying an Ergobaby baby carrier:
- Will someone else also be using the carrier?
- Do you want a carrier that is good for newborn to toddler or would you prefer a separate newborn carrier (usually these are more wrap-like)?
- Do you live in a warm climate or are you concerned about keeping baby cool enough?
- Do you want the option to both front and parent face?
- Do you want to be able to carry baby on the front and back?
- Do you need a place to store personal items when carrying?
If you answered yes to all these questions, the Omni breeze is definitely an option for you to consider.
Final Verdict
If I had to choose just one carrier to fit all my many needs as a mom of 5 little ones, I can say with confidence the Omni Breeze would be my choice.
From my newborn to my three-year-old, from taking naps on my chest to looking out and seeing the world, no other carrier I have had so far has given me so many options.
