Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh Baby Carrier review

How we tested the Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh Baby Carrier

• Tested over the course of four months

• Used by two mums

• Tested with a newborn and an 11-month-old

The Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh baby carrier was put through a series of tests by two mums. Our first tester used it with her newborn while also looking after her three-year-old. She didn't use a baby carrier with her older child and was new to most of the products she tested. 

Our second mum’s baby was 11 months old when we started testing and her older child had just turned two. She is an experienced babywearing parent and was completing her babywearing consultancy certification at the time of testing.

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What’s in the box? 

• Baby carrier

• Detachable storage pouch

• Privacy hood (attached)

The Ergobaby Omni 360 comes with an integrated privacy hood, as well as a removable storage pouch. There’s also an instruction manual to help you get started.

How easy is the Ergobaby Omni 360 to assemble?

There are very clear instructions to help you familiarise yourself with the Ergobaby Omni 360. The accompanying images are very clear, showing you how to adjust it to four different positions. If you lose the instructions, you can easily download them from the Ergobaby website and there are lots of instructional videos online to watch if you need extra help.

During testing, we found it very easy to put the baby carrier on for the first time, including putting the baby in and adjusting it for a secure fit. Our first tester says: “I found this carrier very simple and user-friendly - it’s intuitive to use. I could put my baby in and take him out easily straight away. I also found it simple and easy to adjust for my baby’s age. The instructions made this very clear.”

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How does the Ergobaby Omni 360 look?

An upgrade from our previously parent-tested Ergobaby All Position 360, the carrier is made with a mesh material to keep it feeling light and cool for parents to wear and offering more ventilation for your baby. 

While our testers felt the design resembled a sports rucksack, the Ergobaby Omni 360 is available in 10 colours - a range of black, greys and blues. We tested the neutral-looking light grey colour which matched well with our testers’ clothes.

Is the Ergobaby Omni 360 safe and sturdy?

Designed to last from birth (minimum 3.2kg) until your baby weighs 20kg, the Ergobaby Omni 360 can be adapted as your baby grows, offering lots of support while remaining comfortable to wear for long periods of time. 

The ergonomic carrier offers parents four different positions: front inward-facing (birth onwards), forward-facing (five months plus), hip and back carry (six months plus). The seat part of the carrier can be adjusted upwards and inwards to ensure you get the correct fit for your baby. 

The carrier correctly positions your baby into an M-position no matter which position you choose, which supports better hip joint positioning. There are different coloured buttons on the leg support so when you need to adjust the carrier from facing inwards or outwards, it is very clear how to change it and can be done swiftly.

The carrier is secured with buckles on both the back and waistband, and the shoulder straps can be easily tightened under your arm for a comfortable fit. Once the carrier was done up, our testers’ babies were safe and secure. 

As one tester explains: “The front panel is very big and covers my son well. The carrier is quick and easy to do up and he cannot move around due to the front panel being very long so his body is very well supported. There is little room for error as it is just a case of putting the straps over your shoulders and doing up a buckle, which I could reach easily.”

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What’s the Ergobaby Omni 360 like to use day-to-day?

One of the things we love about the Ergobaby Omni 360 baby carrier is how versatile and easy to use it is. If you have an older child or a busy lifestyle, you can get one with your day while your baby rests, sleeps and even breastfeeds.

We found the carrier simple to put on and take off, with buckles that are easy to reach and do up for both our testers and their partners. One person can do it all on their own so you can get out and about with your child without needing any assistance. As one of our testers says: “It was very easy to get on with other tasks as the carrier is very supportive and has good head support so I am truly hands-free. My baby was able to sleep and breastfeed.”

While our testers didn’t use the carrier during warmer weather, they reported that their babies were never too hot when using it. The included neck cushion ensures your baby is comfortable and can be adjusted for when the baby is facing in or out, as well as working as a UPF50+ privacy hood on warmer days or when your baby is sleeping.

We found the removable pocket came in very handy for carrying small items like a phone and purse for the school run or quick outings. As one tester says: “I find this carrier really easy to use at home and outdoors. My partner also likes it and it is very easy to adjust for both of us. The additional feature of the pocket is very handy as I don’t like having a carrier on my front and rucksack on my back.” 

How comfortable is the Ergobaby Omni 360?

Extremely. The straps sit on your shoulders and then cross over your back to provide excellent support and, because the material is thick, they don’t dig in when holding the weight of your baby. 

The lumbar support provides extra back support so you can carry your baby comfortably for longer. “The waistband is comfortable. It is a little bit padded without being too bulky. I find it is padded around where my baby’s legs go which is nice because some carriers do not have this and leave red marks on his legs,” our first tester said. 

While the waist strap can be easily tightened whilst wearing it, one of our testers found the shoulder straps tricky to adjust as they are bulky and didn’t fit on her shoulders very well. She said: “I find this carrier really comfortable - I think the lumbar support helps with this. I don’t feel any aches or pains when wearing the sling or afterwards.” 

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Does the Ergobaby Omni 360 fold down?

When not in use, the Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh Baby Carrier can be folded down. This can be done by folding both the shoulder straps in, making sure to tuck the straps and buckles inside, and rolling it down to the waistband. It is then secured in place by the waist buckle. As the shoulder straps are padded, it is large when folded down which may be an issue for you if you lack ample storage space.

What’s storage like?

If you don’t want to have to carry a bag as well as your baby, the Omni 360 Mesh comes with a detachable pouch on the waistband that is big enough to store a phone, small purse and keys. We found the pouch really easy to access and use when the baby is in the sling. 

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Are there any added extras?

The Omni 360 comes with a removable pouch, but you can also buy extras such as a drool bib, dribble pads, a weather cover and a washing bag to keep the carrier in good condition.

Is the Ergobaby Omni 360 easy to clean?

With the potential of dribble and milk getting on the carrier, the Omni 360 Mesh baby carrier can be machine-washed on a cool wash. For smaller marks, Ergobaby suggests spot washing any bits that are dirty. 

As our second tester explains: “When forward-facing, my baby does suck or dribble on the cushioned part of the front panel at the top. This does show up at the time but dries and goes away. It does show up dirt as it is a fairly light colour, but the carrier washes well. As it can only be washed on a cool wash, I’m not sure how well it would remove tough stains, such as a nappy explosion.”

Is the Ergobaby Omni 360 good value for money?

Retailing at around £165, the Ergobaby Omni 360 is one of the more expensive carriers on the market. However, we like that it can be used in a variety of ergonomic positions as well as from the newborn stage to toddlerhood, which makes it great value for money. It’s also both comfortable and practical as it can be worn comfortably all year round thanks to the lightweight mesh material.

As one of our testers explains: “I like this carrier particularly for an older baby. It is quick and easy to put on and easy to adjust. I would buy this carrier and wouldn’t need to move on for a long time as it lasts until toddler age.”

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About the author 

Gemma Wilcock is a freelance writer and copywriter. She loves writing about subjects that will make parents' lives easier, including recommending the very best products including strollers, double buggies and cots.

As a mother of two children herself, she knows how important online reviews are when it comes to making the right purchase so is committed to creating in-depth and honest product reviews that parents can trust.