Comfy Baby-Wearing: A Review of the ERGO Carrier

I really, REALLY like this baby carrier. Keep in mind that I haven't actually tried a whole lot of them, so I cannot say for sure that this is the very best carrier out there. But, from the few soft carriers that I've tried, I can definitely say that this one is the most comfortable on my back.

The complete name of this carrier is the "New Generation Ergo Baby Carrier." It was designed to be "ergonomically" correct, thus the name. One of the major differences between this and the other soft backpack that we own, is this has no leg holes for the baby. The baby's bum just sits inside the carrier, above the parent's waist belt, and his legs stick out more to each side. This sitting position is supposed to be better for the baby's spine. Another great feature of this carrier is that is distributes the baby's weight mostly on the parent's hips, rather than on the back and shoulders. (In my opinion, this is the BEST thing about the carrier!) I can easily wear Julia on my back for a couple of hours, without getting very sore at all. She does still get heavy after a while, but gone are the days of aching shoulder muscles which I always got very quickly with my old backpack.

The Ergo can be worn in 3 different positions--front, hip, or back. The front position is for younger babies. There is also a newborn insert you can get separately, which cradles a tiny baby (more like in a sling, from what I can tell), rather than the baby being in an upright position. The back position is for older babies--those with strong neck/head support--up to about 40 lbs., or age 4. The hip position, which from what I can tell is probably the least popular, would also be for older babies or toddlers. So far, the only position I've used is the back position. At this age, Julia wouldn't enjoy being in the front and having to face me all the time, and it's a lot easier to get things done with her on my back, rather than front! Still, I think it would be a nice position for a little baby, and likely I'll get to try it with another little one someday.

The Ergo comes in several color combinations. I got the black one with the "critters" lining, and it's so cute. It's a very well-made carrier, although to my disappointment it is made in China. Still, the quality seems to be very high. The outside is canvas. The straps are very well-padded and comfy on the shoulders and waist. The buckles are good and sturdy. There is a nice little sleep hood that can be pulled up to support baby's head if he falls asleep, or tucked into the pocket when he's not sleeping. I think it would also be nice for keeping the sun off baby's head while out for a walk.

The biggest downside to the Ergo is the price. They run about $92 on most every site I checked, although the shipping is almost always free. Sometimes you can find them cheaper on Ebay, or this site occasionally has barely used ones that have been returned within the 90 day trial period, which cost a bit less. I got mine at www.alongfortheride.biz during their Customer Appreciation Days sale. Along for the Ride is a mom-owned small business, and I was very happy with her customer service. The carrier was well-packaged and arrived quickly. The owner, Kristen, included a couple of coupons for a future purchase--one for me and one for a friend. She also included a little package of business cards for me to hand out to anyone who might ask about the carrier.

The only other minor complaint I have about the carrier is that it's a little tricky to get the baby into it following their instructions for the back position. I just wasn't comfortable trying to reach around behind me to get Julia into it while it's on my back. So I just came up with my own way of getting her in it while I'm sitting on the couch, and I've been much happier with that.

So, just to quickly recap--here are the pros and cons.

PROS:
~Comfy for parent and baby
~Can be used in 3 different positions
~Available in a variety of colors
~Very well-made and sturdy

CONS:
~Very expensive
~Not made in the USA
~A little tricky to put baby in, following instructions for the back position

Overall, I give this carrier a rating of 5/5 stars, because for me, the positives very much outweigh the negatives!