Ergo Review (soft structured baby carrier)

The ergo baby carrier is a soft structured carrier complete with adjustable straps that can be loosened and tightened while wearing baby with ease. The ergo can be worn for a front carry, back carrier and a hip carry (if you make some adjustments to the straps). It features an adjustable hood that enables children to fall asleep and lean their heads back supported. The ergo also has a pocket on the front where wallets, keys and phones can be stored securely. Unlike wraps and ring slings, the ergo uses plastic clips which many western parents find easier to understand and use on account of social familiarity with clips.

Soft structured carriers are more comfortable for adults and children alike compared to hard structured carriers such as the Baby Bjorn carrier. The ergo is ergonomically designed and distributes the child's weight far more effectively than the Bjorn carrier. Unlike the Bjorn carrier, ergos better support the child's spine, hips and legs, enabling their bottoms to sink lower than their knees, whereas the Baby Bjorn places all the weight on baby's crotch.

The ergo is quick to get on and easier than a wrap in the sense that it has clips and it's structured, when bub is freaking out and is crying too much to give you a few minutes to get the wrap on you can calm her instantly by popping her in an ergo (although a pouch is even quicker). But there is one clip that goes across the top of your back, that is tricky to learn how to fasten at first when wearing the ergo on the front. Initially I did that clip up before I put it on and slip my head and back through the gap between that clip and the straps. I have since learned to keep the strap higher up my back, at the base of my neck and I can reach behind and fasten that clip with ease. This clip is extremely easy to deal with when wearing the ergo on your back.

The ergo is ideal for walking, but you can't really sit in it as with a wrap, pouch or ring sling. It is comfortable, but not snug like a wrap. It took many months for me to warm to my ergo because it is quite bulky compared to a ring sling or wrap, and takes time to soften and mold to your body shape. I found that the straps dug in under my arms uncomfortably, and I still find this when wearing the ergo on my front. However, my partner never encountered this problem.

It is my favourite carrier for carrying my child on my back, perfectly comfortable. I struggled at first to learn how to get my child into the carrier for a back carry, until lying it on the floor, lying my child on top of it and then positioning myself on top of her (not resting my full weight on her of course!) and fastening the clip around my waist in that position, and putting my arms through the straps. This method is fast and effective and gives me a mini abdominal work out in the process.

The ergo is not ideal for newborns, you can get an infant insert with it, which we have, which is a piece of fabric you lay between you and the ergo and then lie your newborn on it. To be honest I am not comfortable with using the infant insert in the ergo when I have snuggly wraps like the ellaroo woven wrap and the hug-a-bub stretchy wrap and our child did not like to be laid down in carriers, she always favoured an upright postion.

The ergo is ideal for long walks with older babies and children on your back. It is the only carrier I find I can move fast in, with ease. When I'm running late for the bus it's the ergo I want to be using!

This carrier comes with an instructional DVD, though we never felt the need to watch ours...structured carriers with clips and buckles are fairly self-explanatory.

*The ergo featured in the photos above is the "cranberry" colour.

The Sling Stations has this to say about soft structured baby carriers:

The Ergo Baby Carrier is easy to use...We find that it is easier to transfer the weight to the hips with a structured carrier. Cons: Not usually recommended for babies who cannot hold their heads up well. Not as versatile or as beautiful (in our opinion) as some of the other carriers. The baby carriers that we sell are comfortable and will last for many years. 4 months to 3 years or more. Dad's favorite.

Ergo Website

Where to Buy:
Mothers Direct
Babes in Arms
Carrying Away
Nature's Child
Sling Station

Other Soft Structured Carriers Available at:
Karri Tree Lane (Yamo)
Karrie Tree Lane (Patapum)