ERGObaby Original Baby Carrier

by ERGObaby

• Baby's weight is evenly distributed between the wearer's hips and shoulders
• Baby is ergonomically cradled in a natural sitting position
• Front, back, and hip carry positions
• The only carrier you'll ever need
• Machine washable

Product Description

Color: Galaxy Grey

The Ergobaby Original Carrier has evolved to make it more comfortable than ever. Made of durable cotton canvas with high-density padding and straps that adjust for the perfect mutual fit. Ergobaby carriers keep baby safe, close, and comfortable.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1,078 of 1,084 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

Color Name:Black Camel|Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

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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.

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UPDATE January 2013:
Loved using the Ergo for baby #2 as well. He didn't want/need to be carried around as much as his sister (around the house), but it was still nice to have for grocery shopping and when we were out and about. I actually didn't use the Bjorn at all this time, so I think I'm going to get rid of it at this point. Instead, I got a moby Moby Wrap Original 100% Cotton Baby Carrier, Black and a k'tan Baby K'tan Baby Carrier, Black, Small. I mainly used the k'tan from 0-4 months (it's similar to the moby, but "pre-wrapped" so you're not dealing with 5 feet of fabric), then switched to the Ergo. I loved having a soft carrier for my newborn! So my NEW RECOMMENDATION would be to get a soft carrier for the first few months and the Ergo. The moby is nice if several people need to use it since it is one-size. I personally found the k'tan more convenient, but it is sized, so another caregiver may not be able to use it. Read more ›

318 of 324 people found the following review helpful

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

By Juniper

Color Name:Black Camel

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 :-). Read more ›

228 of 236 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best For You, Best For Your Baby April 29, 2009

By poundofturtle

Color Name:Black

After reading many online reviews, asking other baby-wearers, and trying four other baby carriers, It is my opinion that the Ergo is the best carrier for my baby and for me. I will tell you what I love about the Ergo style in general, and then what I like specifically about the Ergo Sport, followed by the things I don't love about the carrier. Finally I will talk about how I think my 7month-old daughter feels about the Ergo.

First, what I like about the Ergo in general: I like that the Ergo baby carrier puts most of the baby's weight on your hips, making it much more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. It also has very nice padded shoulder straps. Next, I love that my baby is in a healthy seated position,(and as far as I can observe, she is also more comfortable.) I have read that carriers offering the front carry position (this one doesn't) are not good for your baby, because instead of being seated, they are just kind of hanging from their crotch and that it puts too much pressure on their spine and hips. Versatility--I really appreciate that the Ergo offers three different carry positions: Back, Front, and Hip (your baby faces in toward you in each of these positions.) A good carrier should carry your baby like you would--close and high. This carrier does that. Also, the Ergo has a "sleep hood" which I can pull over my sleeping baby to keep her head from bouncing around. It can also provide privacy for your baby to nurse in the carrier if you choose. Lastly, because of how it is designed, you can carry heavier children in it (it's rated for up to forty pounds), so you can use the same carrier for your baby, or your toddler. The Ergo is to be used only when a child can support his own head well, but there is an infant insert you can buy to use before that.... I have not comment on the insert, as my daughter was 6 months when we got it, so we did no purchase the insert.

I cannot compare the Ergo Sport to the original Ergo, because I have not tried the original, but these are the reasons I chose the Sport: First, it claims to be made of a more breathable material for more active and outdoor use--summer is coming, and my baby gets grouchy when she's hot. Second. The straps are longer and I want a carrier that will fit my husband (who is a bigger guy) as well as myself. I have not yet tested the breathability in hot weather and sunshine, but the carrier is VERY comfortable, and seems to be super-durable and well-made. I'm pleased with my choice.

These are the things I don't really love about this carrier: It does take some practice to become good at getting your baby into and out of it. The back carry position has been particularly tricky for me, but we are improving. Kind of along the same lines, some of the positions seem to put the straps and buckles kind of out of reach, so that I have to really strain to get everything all strapped and adjusted. I know I'm not as flexible as I used to be, but at thirty-two, it really seems like it shouldn't be so tough. I'm confident that over time I will find what works best for my baby and for me, in getting her in and out of the different positions. Those are my only complaints, but I'm willing to live with them, because I don't believe that the carrier could be made easier to use, without making it less comfortable and safe. Also, I know that some will object to the price. I personally think that a good baby carrier is something worth investing in, and I feel like the Ergo's price is justified by it's high quality, comfort, and safety.

Finally, if my baby could tell you what she thinks about the Ergo Sport I think she would say something like this: "I like that I am more comfortable for longer, and that my mommy is more comfortable so she lets me stay in it for longer. I like that I can nurse while Mom is making dinner. I do wish that the Ergo would let me face out instead of always facing in. I am not yet tall enough to really see well over the straps of the Ergo, and I like to be able to look straight forward, see everthing, grab everything, and kick my legs. I think as I get taller I will like it more."

The Bottom Line: Most baby wearing enthusiasts will tell you that they use different slings, wraps and carriers for different purposes, such as slings or wraps (like "Hot Slings" ring slings or the "Moby Wrap") for newborns; and more structured carriers (like the Ergo) for older babies, longer outings or hands-free housework. The Ergo offers quality, comfort and safety for you and your little one, at what I consider a fair price. I would definitely say it's a good choice in baby carriers. Read more ›