Ergobaby Omni 360 All-in-One baby carrier review

Ergobaby products sit towards the top end of the market – the Omni 360 retails at £164.90 on the Ergobaby site – and the brand still stands for quality in the face of new brands vying for a piece of the market.

The Ergobaby Omni 360 features several innovations, most notably a design that offers four seating positions to suit your baby from newborn (3.2kg) to toddler (up to 20kg). There is no need for an extra newborn insert either, which is still required with the All Positions 360, but was bulky and could get hot.

Sturdy Velcro fastenings on the seat of the carrier make it adjustable in three different sizes, so it grows as your baby does.

Tested by

Natasha tested the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier with her 6-month-old baby on local walks in the city and parks. She also used it around the house as a way to keep her baby happy while doing chores.

What are your first impressions of the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier?

Straight out of the box, it’s a pleasure to see the classic Ergobaby hallmarks on the Omni 360 carrier. The sturdy fabric, good design and safety features around the clasps offer reassurance that your baby will be held safely and that you will be able to get the hang of baby carrying quickly.

The Ergobaby also comes in a good choice of colours. It has a handy storage pouch that not all Ergobaby models have (great for chucking in your keys and phone for quick trips), as well as the sleep hood that models such as the Embrace don’t have.

What seating positions does the Ergobaby Omni 360 offer?

The Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier is versatile in that it can be used to carry your baby in four different positions:

• Parent facing
• Outward facing
• On the parent’s hip
• On the back

The four different positions mean the Omni 360 has great longevity. Start out with your newborn inward-facing, then as they get old enough you can try them in an outward-facing front carry. Some parents might prefer a hip carry and once baby is sitting unaided you can have them on your back.

I found the front-facing inward carry was most comfortable, although it’s great to have the other options, as I will definitely use them, albeit to a lesser degree.

This flexibility makes the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier a great choice if more than one parent is going to be carrying, as different people will find different seating positions preferable.

How supportive is the carrier?

The Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier offers solid back and hip support – in fact, the carrier has various certifications including the AGR ‘healthy back’ award and is acknowledged by the international Hip Dysplasia Institute as being ‘healthy for the hip’.

How easy is it to put on the Ergobaby Omni 360 with your baby?

The process of putting on the Omni 360 carrier is quite straightforward:

• Adjust the Velcro on the seat of the carrier to suit your child’s size (the measurements are printed directly on to the carrier so that you don’t have to faff around looking for the leaflet every time)
• Then decide on which carry position to use
• Adjust the top of the carrier by either narrowing or widening the fabric depending on whether the baby will be facing in or out. (Again, there is a helpful illustration sewn on to the inside of the carrier which tells you when the buttons should be fastened on which setting.)

For a parent-facing carry, which is the most suitable for a newborn:

• Fasten the waistbelt of the carrier around your middle
• Place your baby on your front
• Lift the carrier up
• Cross the straps behind you one by one to snap into place.

It’s easy to do alone and the enclosed leaflet helps, but if you get stuck the Ergobaby website has really detailed videos (under the ‘Instructions’ tab) that smooth the learning process.

It’s also possible to wear the straps as two parallel lines down your back ie, with the carrier like a backpack worn on your front. To wear in this position:

• Attach the straps before you put baby into the carrier
• Then reach behind you to fasten a smaller strap across your shoulders to form an ‘H’ shape on your back

Crossable straps are arguably better for a snugger fit than parallel straps. I found the parallel ‘backpack’ style much less convenient as it’s tricky to fasten the strap behind you, but video instructions from the Ergobaby website can be found here.

The outward-facing option is just as simple as the first seating position mentioned, though the hip and back seating options take a little more practice, just through their nature.

How easy is it to take your baby out of the carrier?

Taking baby out of the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier is easy – the main thing is to remember to keep a hand on the baby while you unclip the straps until you can lift them out.

Unclipping the buckles takes a bit of practise as they have a safety catch that requires you to lift and pull at the same time, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s a doddle and provides extra reassurance that baby will be safe.

Is the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier ergonomic?

The Omni 360 carrier is definitely ergonomic, living up to the Ergobaby name, and receiving the International Hip Dysplasia Institute’s ‘hip healthy’ product seal of approval.

A mirror helps at first so you can make sure baby is evenly positioned, and it’s extremely easy to reach inside the carrier, under their bottom to adjust their legs into an ‘M’ position for their comfort and hip health.

The same applies both in the traditional inwards-facing position and the outward-facing position – this is not one of the notorious ‘crotch-dangler’ styles of carrier that are both uncomfortable and unsafe for the child.

How comfortable is the carrier for your baby?

My baby seemed very comfortable in the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier and fell asleep in the parent-facing position (this is the recommended position if baby is going to sleep, because if facing outwards, baby can’t rest their head on your chest).

There is a nice, padded neck support cushion and a sleep hood you can use for nap time or coverage while breastfeeding.

How comfortable is the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier for you?

The wide, structured lumbar support belt on the Omni 360 carrier is excellent for parent comfort. The shoulder straps are also well padded and the fact that you can cross them over your back makes for a more secure fit, especially if you are petite.

This is an upgrade on the Ergobaby Original, the straps of which I could never get tight enough in the backpack style.

How easy is it to adjust?

Adjusting the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier and repositioning your child once they’re in it is easy: there are straps at the front with the aforementioned safety clip and a larger waistband buckle.

This is positioned on the parent’s left during a front carry which I found a bit counter-intuitive, but that’s personal preference, and it’s reversed during a back carry in any case.

The crossable straps mean you don’t have to fiddle with a horizontal back strap on your shoulders if you don’t use the straps backpack-style, which is a big bonus. When back carrying there is a chest strap for extra support and this is simple to use.

Is it easy for you to do other things while wearing the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier?

The Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier really lends itself to multitasking while keeping your infant calm and content.

Cooking or hoovering to tackle? Pop baby in a back carry and take them along for the ride. Breastfeeding is also simple: when in front, inward-facing or hip carry, loosen the side straps to lower baby, pop up the neck cushion and/or sleep hood for privacy and with some practise it can be done.

Ergobaby has a helpful video demonstrating the process.

How well does the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier fit?

I found it easy to get a really close fit thanks to the shape of the carrier seat and those brilliant crossable straps. The straps stay put on your shoulders thanks to the ample padding.

What age range is the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier suitable for?

According to the manufacturer, the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier is safe to use from newborn (3.2kg), up to 20kg (around 48 months). So plenty of room for growing, all the way up to late preschool age if you need it.

This is a huge range compared with many other carriers, and a big plus in the longevity of the Omni 360. Having said that, for a tiny newborn I prefer the softer Ergobaby Embrace, as the Omni 360 is made of a stiffer fabric that doesn’t feel as cosy. Again, this is a personal choice and I could see the Omni 360 being fine for many parents of newborns.

What are the safety features on the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier?

Each buckle has an elastic strap that you thread the straps through to ensure that if any strap did come loose it would be held safely in place.

There is also the added safety element of the lift-and-pull mechanism on the side straps, which take one or two tries to get right, but from then on it is instinctive. They did give me confidence, as it felt above and beyond what many carriers feature.

Are the straps comfortable and easy to adjust?

The padded shoulder straps on the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier are very comfy and the waist belt is easy to adjust while you’re wearing it.

The big buttons for adjusting the carrier width are a little stiff to use but nothing too troubling and you only use those when moving from inward to outward facing or back carrying ie, before you place baby in the carrier, not while baby is in it, so it’s only an issue for a second.

Note that the Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh (rather than the Premium Cotton) model features one-handed slider adjusters rather than buttons, making this process smoother.

Is the fabric on the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier durable?

I tested the Premium Cotton model and the thick, sturdy fabric feels like it can stand up to all manner of everyday baby mess and daily use.

I tested it in winter and suspect it might get quite hot on warmer days due to the heavyweight fabric. The Cool Air Mesh version features a lighter weight, breathable material.

How easy is it to clean?

Like all Ergobaby carriers, the Omni 360 can be machine washed on a gentle cycle, which I did straight out of the box as a matter of course.

I followed the instructions to fasten all Velcro and buckles before washing and “use a mild detergent free of bleach, perfumes, dyes, chlorine, or optical brighteners”, plus popped it in a pillowcase for extra safety and it emerged as good as new.

Has Ergobaby made any improvements to the Omni 360 compared with its other carriers?

The Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier has several improvements on the All Position 360 (which sells for the cheaper price of £119.90).

With the Omni 360 you can carry a newborn from 3.2kg without an infant insert, whereas the All Position 360 requires the use of an infant insert if you want to carry a baby weighing under 5.4kg.

The strap buckles are located on the front of the Omni 360 meaning it can be worn with straps crossed as well as in parallel. It also comes with a removable pouch, which is so handy if you’ve ever tried to carry a bag on your shoulder while wearing a baby carrier, which can be awkward.

How easy is it to use the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier on public transport?

I wasn’t able to use public transport due to Covid-19 national restrictions but this carrier would be fine to use on the go as it’s easy to put on and take off.

One issue is that it is quite bulky so doesn’t fold up quite as small as some other carriers if you want to chuck it in the bottom of the buggy. You wouldn’t be able to cram the Omni 360 into a changing bag either.

How does the Ergobaby Omni 360 compare to other carriers and wraps you have used?

Compared with the Ergobaby Embrace, the lumbar support on the Omni 360 is great if you’re still recovering from pregnancy. The Embrace is made of a softer jersey fabric that is easier to use with a newborn, in my opinion, and also folds up smaller for cramming into a changing bag or storing in the bottom of the buggy in case baby is fussy and needs a change of scene.

With a carrier like the Tula Half Buckle, which has long wrap straps for tying, you may prefer the feeling of getting baby wrapped in close to you, but the Omni 360 has the advantage of full buckle straps that are easier to wrangle.

The Integra carrier is more simply designed and more portable than the bulkier Omni 360, but you do get more back support and more carrying positions with the Ergobaby.

The 20kg weight limit on the Ergobaby Omni 360 is also reassuring and not something all carriers can boast.

What’s in the box?

• Carrier
• Detachable storage pouch
• Instruction leaflet

Can you buy any additional accessories for the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier?

• Drool bib £19.90
• Teething pads £9.90
• Rain cover £29.90
• Winter weather cover £39.90

What would you have wanted to know before purchasing it?

The Ergobaby Omni 360 is quite bulky as carriers go, but the plus points outweigh this overall.

Who would the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier be most useful for?

The Omni 360 carrier is useful for:

• Parents who could use good lumbar support when carrying
• For those with narrow or wide shoulders, as the crossable straps adjust to fit
• Anyone who wants a ‘one and done’ carrier that will last from newborn to age 4

Is the Ergobaby Omni 360 carrier worth the money?

Yes it’s definitely worth the money if you're planning to use a carrier frequently, thanks to the ease of use, multiple carrying positions, durability and longevity.

Where can I buy the Ergobaby Omni 360 baby carrier?

It is available to buy from Amazon, Ergobaby and John Lewis.

MadeForMums verdict

Once again, Ergobaby has created a great baby carrier in the Omni 360 that will be a popular choice with parents.

It might be on the expensive side, but its durability, reassuring safety features and the variety of seating options – you can use it from newborn up to age 4 – will mean it offers parents everything you need in one carrier for a really long time.