Ergo Baby Carrier

by Ergo

Product Features

• Can be worn on front, back or hip
• Recommended use from newborn (with additional Infant Insert) up to 40 lbs
• Comes with detailed, illustrated instructions and instructional DVD
• Adjusts for most sizes, waist circumference extends from 25" up to 43"
• Attached Sleeping Hood supports sleeping baby's head

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12 x 10 x 4 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0010XVH08
• UPC: 845197010223
• Item model number: CREG00102
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,376 in Baby (See Top 100 in Baby)
  • #44 in Baby > Gear > Backpacks & Carriers
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (394 customer reviews)

Product Description

Color: Camel

This new concept in ERGObaby Carriers is sure to be a best-seller! Made of a blend of 35% cotton and 65% polyester, the lighter, more-breathable fabric provides a slight wicking feature to help keep baby-wearers more comfortable. The carrier`s body features a vent to provide extra breathability, keeping both baby and parent cooler. The waist belt can extend an additional 5` further than our Standard or Organic carriers, and the shoulder straps can extend an extra 4`, providing comfortable fit for baby-wearers of all sizes. The Sleeping Hood is completely detachable and can be stored in the pocket. Though this Carrier does not include the zippered pocket, the matching Front Pouch is a perfect place to store any necessities, including keys, a cell phone, a diaper and wipes, keeping all items easy to reach, and leaving you completely hands free!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

494 of 498 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Baby Bjorn vs. Ergo Baby Carrier - a comparison, September 24, 2009

By 

S. Lee - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ergo Baby Carrier Black with Camel Lining (Baby Product)

We have a Baby Bjorn (Original) as well as an Ergo baby carrier. I think both have their advantages and disadvantages, which I will try to explain below.

We purchased the Ergo carrier before our daughter was born based on the recommendation of a friend. However, we found that she could not sit in it comfortably at first. Before your baby can straddle your torso (until about 4 months/15 lbs), you have to put both legs on one side. I watched the instructional DVD several times and tried to place her into the carrier as comfortably as possible, but she did not like it at all. It didn't look comfortable either with her back twisted and body squished. This is when we decided to try the original Baby Bjorn carrier.

Our daughter loved being in the Bjorn (facing in or out). This carrier is easy to put on and take off and quite compact. However, it was not very comfortable for me (especially as she got heavier) since it put a lot of pressure on my back and shoulders. The fact that there is no waist belt and little padding on the shoulder straps probably contributes to this. The newer Baby Bjorn Active carrier with lumbar support may alleviate some of these problems. I haven't tried this product though, so I'm not speaking from personal experience). We used the Bjorn until she turned 4 months (about 15 lbs).

I was so relieved when she could finally fit into the Ergo properly (with one leg on each side). It is so much easier on my back and shoulders. With the Bjorn, I could maybe last 15 minutes (at 15 lbs). With the Ergo, I can comfortably go for an hour or two (at almost 20 lbs now). I go grocery shopping and on longer walks this way. She seems very comfortable in it now. She's happy whenever I put her in it and will even go to sleep in it. Sometimes, this is the only way I can get her to sleep). It looks a lot more comfortable than the Bjorn since she's sitting in it as opposed to being suspended from her crotch. I also don't have any trouble nursing discretely in the Ergo.

Around 6 months I also began carrying her on my back in the Ergo, which was even easier on my back. I have found this to be really convenient when doing things around the house such as vacuuming, doing laundry, cooking etc. It's also nice for outdoor activities like apple picking, strawberry picking, hiking etc. I find these activities somewhat more difficult when carrying a baby in front. While it is easy to put your baby in the front carrying position by yourself, it takes some practice to wear your baby on your back. At first, I needed somebody to help me get her situated on my back, but now I can easily do it by myself. Some may not like the fact that you cannot face your baby outward in the Ergo (and some babies may not like facing inward). This has not been a problem for us. While our daughter loved facing outward in the Bjorn, she did not object to facing inward in the Ergo. Rather than being pressed up against me, she's sitting in it, so she can still look at things to the sides. One more thing about the Ergo - I would recommend purchasing the sucking pads (ERGO Sucking Pads - Cream). Our daughter loves sucking on the straps and it's just much more convenient to wash the sucking pads rather than the whole carrier.

In summary, I think that both, the Bjorn as well as the Ergo, are good carriers, each with some drawbacks. The Bjorn is wonderful for a newborn up to about 12-15 lbs. Being able to have your baby facing in or out is a nice feature. Because of the strain on your back however, I would not recommend using this carrier with older/heavier babies. The Ergo is great for babies starting at around 15 lbs or when they are able to wrap their legs around you. It is much easier on your back and being able to carry your baby on your back can be convenient. For us, the Ergo was not very useful before our daughter turned 4 months as she was not comfortable with her legs on one side, but this probably depends on the baby.

I would rate the Bjorn 3 stars (because it's so hard on your back and we could only use it for a few months) and the Ergo 4 stars (because we couldn't use it with our newborn). My recommendation would be to get one of each if you can. We bought a gently used Bjorn for less than $10, and I have seen a lot of these on Ebay as well as Craigslist. Maybe you could even borrow one from a friend. It just seems like a lot of money to spend on something you aren't going to use for very long. However, I loved carrying my newborn around in it, so I wouldn't have wanted to do without it.

***********************
UPDATE July 2011:
We went on a trip overseas and I was able to carry my 25 lb toddler on my back at 6 months pregnant for about an hour at a time if she got tired.

235 of 237 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter LOVES the Ergo, July 6, 2008

By 

Juniper (Santa Cruz) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ergo Baby Carrier Black with Camel Lining (Baby Product)

and so do I! I started out with the Moby wrap and that worked fairly well for us, but it was a hot to wear, inconvenient to wrap when out and about, and tricky (but possible) to nurse in. I knew I wanted something else, but baby carriers are expensive and one could easily spend a fortune trying out all the variations.

We decided on the Ergo and we couldn't be happier. We've had it for six months now and it is the number one thing I could not live without as far as all baby gear is concerned. I too was worried about her only facing inwards, but she has never minded and she seems to prefer it. She holds on like a little koala bear as we go about our daily business. Unlike the Moby, she isn't flat against my chest, she's sitting, so that she can easily check out the scenery by looking to the sides.

When she was big enough--probably in the neighborhood of 5.5 or 6 months, I started wearing her on my back and that is great! Now when I do those glorious household tasks like cleaning toilets and baseboards, she isn't dangling off the front of me. We get a lot more cleaning done now that she can ride on my back. :-) At first, I needed help to put her on my back. However, now that she's 9 months and can hold on a bit, I can get her on easily--I even trust our abilities over concrete these days (when I started getting her into the back carry position on my own, I would practice over the couch. It *was* tricky at first (we made some mistakes), but once we got the hang of it, it wasn't a problem at all.

My husband can wear her too and it's simple to readjust the straps so that they fit both of us.

Like any of the carriers, this one takes some practice (though the front carry is about as easy as it can get). Breastfeeding in this for me is difficult, but I can do it in a pinch. I can carry her long distances and after a long while (probably 4-5 miles), my neck will hurt a bit, but my back is fine.

My daughter loves her Ergo in the way some kids take to a lovey. She'll stop by and give it a visit when she's crawling around exploring the house. When I see her chewing on the straps (they second as a favorite teething toy) or playing peek-a-boo with them, I'll put it on and she gets all excited (we compare it to the way a dog gets excited when his owner gets out the leash to take him for a walk). It is very sweet and funny. When she went for her first trip to our friend's house to be babysat, the only thing that would calm her when she was sad was being carried in her Ergo. If she has a meltdown when she's home with daddy, the Ergo saves the day (she just needs to play with it--not even ride in it).

I love the time my daughter and I spend walking our neighborhood with her in the Ergo. Sometimes we're quiet and other times she'll make happy bounces and that's my cue to do some hops and bounces for her. Our family members wonder why we never need a stroller. "Isn't she heavy?" they ask. They think we're a little weird. I don't know any parents out there who will look back on their child's life and wish that perhaps they had carried him/her less. We don't carry her all the time, but we do carry her more. The forward-facing position allows for optimal baby head-kissing...now who wouldn't want more of that? (except maybe the baby :-))--but a few more here and there are always nice, especially if you can sneak them in when they're asleep or not looking.

Hug your baby, carry your baby, dance with your baby...the Ergo will let you have more time to do those things *and* maybe get the dishes done too :-).

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, January 26, 2008

By 

KLZO "KLZO" (Redmond, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ergo Baby Carrier Black with Camel Lining (Baby Product)

Okay- like almost all other new moms, I got a Baby Bjorn, and it was fine, until my daughter hit about 12 lbs. Then my shoulders started to hurt when I walked with her and I read that it wasn't very good for baby's spine to be held by their crotch. So a friend of mine had an Ergo, and I tried it.
Wow, all of the weight was on my hips- not my back, and baby was actually sitting in a little pouch, not in a harness. I love this carrier!!! Now that she is older, my daughter loves the hip carry and back pack carry of this carrier. It has been so valuable when we travel or go to stores or anywear...

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