I am thrilled to be able to review two products from the ERGObaby line of baby carriers. Today's review is of the original ERGObaby Carrier (pictured in camel). If you're interested in an earth-friendly carrier, ERGO also has a line of organic carriers.When I first opened the package, I was surprised by how lightweight it was. The entire carrier fits neatly into a compact carrying pouch, small enough to put into my purse.This light, foldable carrier is a workhorse, though, easiliy carrying infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. It feels almost identical to wearing a well-designed hiking backpack. The bulk of the weight falls on your hips. The waistband is wide, sturdy, and padded with neoprene. Its curve helps fit the natural curves of your waist and hips.
The body of the ERGO carrier is lightly padded, making it comfortable when your baby is going on extended walks or hiking trips. The bottom of the body has darts and a curve, creating a seat shape in the bottom. This also makes it more comfortable for your baby than a rectangular mei tai. There is a small pocket for your keys, wallet, or cell phone in the back of the carrier. And, as you can see in the photos of my happy test subjects, there's a sleeping hood. When your baby is tired, simply snap the hood straps to the top of your shoulder straps, and the hood supports the baby's head. Zari thought the hood was the BEST THING EVER and wanted to wear it the entire time.
There are several accessories for the ERGO (not pictured), including a backpack that fits onto your carrier's shoulder straps, a front pouch that attaches to the waistband, a changing pad, sucking pads for the shoulder straps, and a weather cover for cold, rainy days.
I see our family using the ERGO any time we want to have an easily portable, very comfortable carrier that can hold both Zari or Dio. A few nights ago we went on a family walk before bedtime. Dio went in the Ergo and Zari rode in the stroller. Halfway through, we switched, since Zari wanted a turn. When we go hiking, we bring our hiking backpack for Dio and the ERGO for Zari. The ERGO is small enough to fit in the cargo pocket of our backpack. When Zari gets tired and wants to be carried, out comes the ERGO!
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the review: ERGO's new Heart2Heart infant insert. And a giveaway too!
We love our Ergo! And the back carry is very simple to do alone, with a little practice!
ReplyDeleteWe just got our ergo too! I would have preferred the organic but we went with the Ergo Sport because my husband gets hot very easily and it's supposed to be cooler. I'm loving that now he can carry the baby (he wouldn't try the sling). I waited to get it until Liam was 4 months old because the infant insert was so expensive and didn't seem worth it since the sling worked great. I'm looking forward to hearing what you think.
ReplyDeleteI love my ergo. I bought it when my first was about 5 months old, so I always used it as a backpack with him. I bought the infant insert to use with this baby, but have found the ergo doesn't seem to fit or distribute the weight as well as a front carrier (maybe it's just me?). I think while he's still small I prefer my wrap.
ReplyDeleteYou must have a big purse, Rixa, because our Ergo takes up half our diaper bag (which, admittedly is small)! Our Ergo is great - best purchase of our son's life and still in use just about every day. You forgot to mention another feature of the Ergo - they aren't so girly or so complicated to put on that men refuse to wear them. DH would have nothing to do with a chrysanthemum patterned mei tai, nor would he ever try wearing any sort of wrap, but he uses the Ergo Baby carrier all the time.
ReplyDeleteWE love our Ergo too, and their customer service is incredible! When our first one had a small seam come undone on the waist safety strap, they not only mailed me a package to send it back free of charge, but they mailed me a new carrier BEFORE I sent the old one back so I didn't have to lose a day of use! They were incredible!
ReplyDeleteI also love the little pouch that attaches at the waist or can be used alone as a small purse.
It works for me at 5'1", and for my husband at nearly 6' with just adjusting the position of the chest strap.
And yesterday, when I was desperate to work in the kitchen and our teething child could not nap on his own, it kept him asleep and me sane. Talk about a great invention!
i couldn't live without my ergo. i actually tore an old one up and fixed the worn out padding and used cooler fabric...some neat upholstery remnant i found at the store.
ReplyDeletebut i LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
i should call it my wife!!
finally, a helpmate for a wife. lol.
I'm feeling some serious ERGO love here!
ReplyDeleteYes, serious Ergo love. You look great in the pics. Your kids are adorable. The only thing I don't lke about the Ergo is how my muffin top hangs over the waist belt when I do the back carry....but that's simply my own fault.
ReplyDeleteContinuing the Ergo love...Our daughter will be turning 4 years in a few months, and we still use it to carry her around. Love, love, love it!
ReplyDeleteThis review is perfect timing for me. I've just started debating whether to get an Ergo, Mai Tai or Becco carrier. I have been leaning toward the Ergo so I'm happy to hear a good review of it.
ReplyDeleteAny plus size mammas out there use one? I'm mostly worried about how big the waist strap will go.
I love love love this carrier. So much so that I have electrical tabe holding pieces together from so much love (wear) and I still use it. Just wanted to 2nd your vote for the Ergo! Great review. So much fun to see pics of your family. Zari is just beautiful and it's fun to see Dio's charges. Lots of love to you guys!
ReplyDeleteps...can you email me your address please? I have had a new baby gift for you for a while now (I guess 21 weeks!) that I'd like to send out. =)
More love for the Ergo from me too. In fact, my 3.5 month old is sleeping in it as I type! I usually use my Hugabub wrap slings until the kids are 5 or 6 months old, then switch to the Ergo, but my new boy is so huge he fits into it already without the infant insert. We still carry our 2.5 year old in the Ergo as well (we own two).
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the kids version that is available? Little miss and mister can carry their favourite doll on their backs, just like mom and dad. Very cute.
Olivia, the waist belt on the original and organic carriers goes from 25-43 inches and on the Ergo sport it's 30-48 inches. They also sell a belt extender that adds up to an additional 8 inches. Keep in mind that it is designed to sit very low on your waist (almost like a pair of low rise pants) so that the weight is on your hips. Ergo has a pretty generous return policy. If you can find a local store that carries them you can try it on and see if it works for you. If not I would suggest ordering from http://www.myfavoritebabycarrier.com/ because they have a 90 day trial with a money back guarantee and free shipping. Since it's one of those items that costs the same everywhere that site seems the best. I was going to order mine from there until I discovered that it was carried by a little baby store that had just opened in my town.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Most definitely echoing the Ergo love. My absolutely favorite carrier ever. I only wish it looked a little cooler--better patterns. My second son LIVED in the Ergo. It was wonderful. I almost exclusively carried him on the front though--up until he was three years old he was still carried on my front in it at least once a week. I wonder if it is a body type difference that leads to front vs. back carry preference. I felt like the back carry was pulling me backwards (and, I didn't like not being able to see him).
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by the mention of the "compact carrying pouch." Did that come with yours? Mine has no such thing and it would be handy if it did, because it isn't a very convenient carrier to carry/store. I actually have a new Ergo purchased earlier this year from the company (not used) for future babies, as well as my older one purchased in 2006. So, I wonder if they added a carrying pouch between February of this year and now? if so, I feel ripped off, because now I've been storing this new one and should have waited for an improved one to come along!
Molly
I don't remember the last time we used a stroller, and our kids are 6 months and 2 years. actually, little penny has never been in a stroller! first thing I got upon getting pregnant again was a second ergo. spread the word, these things are amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great review! Thanks! I'm going to try it for my 33 lb 3 yr old on a hiking trip in NH. My Mom was doubting me, so it makes me feel better to see you had a heavier child in it as well. I LOVE your Canadian diaper covers too. My hubby is Canadian.
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