Ergobaby Omni 360 Review

Ergobaby Omni 360

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How it Compares

The Omni 360 is a standard style baby carrier. It advertises being able to hold up to 45lbs and has a variety of carry options. It has several high points and a couple of things we did not love, all of which we will dive deeper into later.

Our Video Review

Most Common Complaints

Compared to some of the baby carriers that we reviewed, the Omni 360 did not have a lot of critical reviews. However, we read all of them and compared them to our experience when testing the carrier. Some criticisms we agreed with, some we did not.

Criticism	Our Experience
Too bulky	Though this was bulkier than some carriers that we tested, we did not feel that it was uncomfortably large
Uncomfortable for smaller adults	We tested it with a 5′, 5″ size small/medium adult and she never felt uncomfortable
Material is hot	Material is less breathable than mesh carriers, but we did not feel that it was too warm
Hurts adult’s back	We felt it pulled a little bit on the shoulders, but no more than any other carrier
Hard to put on by yourself	Agreed. We did wish there were buckles on the shoulder straps rather than having to buckle behind your shoulder blades once baby is in the carrier
Pulls on shoulders and back	We didn’t feel that this carrier pulled excessively on the upper back area
Material was rough	We felt that the material was decently soft

Our biggest issue with the Omni 360, which we will go into detail on later, is that it was a challenge to put on. It buckles behind the shoulder blades once baby is in the carrier rather than with quick snaps on the shoulders. This made the set up process a little more challenging.

Testing and Research

We researched the highest ranked baby carriers and purchased the top fourteen to test and compare. We read several buyer guides and critical reviews to determine the best criteria to test the carriers. From testing the comfort to comparing the versatility of each carrier, we put each of them through several tests to determine which carrier would come out on top.

Usability

We measured the usability of the Ergobaby Omni 360 by timing the setup, evaluating the clarity of the instruction manual, and measuring the overall user-friendliness of the carrier.

It took us around four minutes to get the carrier unboxed and set up for use. The instructions were fairly clear, with an initial setup guideline as well as how to make specific adjustments based on the carry method. This was also one of the final carriers we tested, which gave us a bit of an advantage in learning how to set it up quickly.

Minutes to Install

The instructions clearly lay out the guidelines for ages and stages of wearability. They also show how the color-coded Velcro tabs for the seat should be adjusted for children of different ages.

Something we did wish was different about the instructions was that they are multipurpose for both the Omni 360 and the Omni 360 Air Mesh. Though much of the instructions are identical for both carriers, there are a few areas of difference that are labeled in the instructions, so you have to pay close attention to which carrier the instructions are for to avoid mistakes or confusion. We feel it would have been easier to have different instructions included with each carrier.

When setting up the carrier, the wearer straps on the waistband but lets the chest/shoulder area hang freely while setting the baby into the seat. They pull the chest/shoulder cover over the front of the baby, then buckle the shoulder straps behind the shoulder blades.

We, as well as many critical reviewers, found this process to be a bit difficult, especially with a wiggly baby. When buckling the straps behind shoulder blades, baby’s weight tended to pull the carrier down to the extent that the strap buckled more behind the neck than the shoulder blades. This made the correct adjustment more complicated. 

Overall, this was our biggest complaint with the Ergobaby Omni 360 Carrier as we preferred shoulder straps that could pre-buckle behind the shoulder blades and had individual straps that buckled over baby’s shoulders onto the adult shoulder straps instead.

Versatility

In this category, we measured versatility based on three different criteria: wearability styles, child size, and adult wearer size.

Most carriers we tested had at least four wearing styles, including the Omni 360. This carrier allows for an inward facing front carry, an outward facing front carry, a hip carry, and a back carry. Most of the carriers we tested offered inward facing, outward facing, and back carry options, but only a few offered the hip carry, which is one we especially liked.

The seat advertises the ability to hold children from 7lbs to 45lbs, so we tested the carrier with a 26lb one-year-old toddler and a 40lb three-year-old. 

This carrier also has adjustable straps to fit adults of varying body types, extending to fit a waist size of 25.5 inches to 55.25 inches. 

Another unique versatility that we liked about the Omni 360 is that the carrier straps can be worn in either a standard “H” layout, or an “X” layout, with the straps crossing behind your back. We did find the “X” layout to be a little tricker to set up than the “H,” but it does offer another option that may be more comfortable to some wearers. The crossable shoulder straps did seem to give more room in the shoulders and may work better for broader shouldered adults. 

Design Quality

When testing the Omni 360’s design quality, we took its safety, child support, size, and component design into account. 

We felt that the carrier was safe for children within the size limits. At no point did we feel like either child we tested with would fall out of the carrier. A complaint we noted during our critical review research was that infants seemed to slide too low into the carrier which didn’t give the child support. We did not have access to be able to test the carrier with a newborn baby, but as with anything, it is important to note the earliest recommended size for babies.

The Omni 360 advises that the carrier is only for children at least 7 lbs and 20 inches long. If your child is smaller than that, do not use this carrier for babywearing until they meet the size requirements. If you are still uncomfortable and believe that they need to grow a little more before using the carrier, do not put them in it until you are comfortable. 

You should never bend at the waist when wearing a baby carrier, which puts your baby or toddler at risk for falling out of the carrier. Always bend at the knees. Fortunately, the thicker waistbands made it more difficult to bend at the waist anyway.

The Omni 360 is made of cotton and is machine washable. It is not quite as soft a material as some other carriers we tested, but the inner padding and areas around baby’s face feel softer than the adult straps and front portion of the carrier.

Some carriers came with so many straps it was hard to know where each buckle went. We did not feel that this was the case with the Omni 360. There are three main sets of straps: One that buckles behind the shoulder blades, one that buckles the shoulder straps to the side of the carrier, and one at the waistband. 

Some complained that the Omni 360 was large and bulky. We didn’t necessarily agree. Since it is designed for children up to 45lbs, it is larger than some carriers we tested that were for smaller babies only. The padded portion of the shoulder straps adds a little bulk, but we didn’t feel it was an overly bulky carrier.

Comfort

If a child is going to be spending any amount of time in a carrier, it is obviously something that you would want to be comfortable for both your little one and yourself. 

Comfort Rating:

We felt that the carrier itself was fairly comfortable to wear. The shoulders are padded well and the waist strap has a lumbar support piece to wear on the back. The cotton material isn’t as breathable as some of the mesh carriers we tested, so you could get warm in the carrier with the added body heat of a baby, but we didn’t experience much discomfort in that regard.

The weight distribution is good as long as you have the straps adjusted correctly. We did not notice any undue pressure on the hips. The shoulder straps can pull on your shoulders and upper back a little if you don’t have the straps tightened sufficiently, but we did not feel that the carrier was uncomfortable. Obviously, a lighter child was more comfortable to carry than a heavier one, but we felt that the Omni 360 was comfortable for adult wearers.

The children we tested the carriers with also seemed comfortable overall. A 40 lb three-year-old did complain a little bit about the hip carry position, but as she was nearing the weight limit and is a taller child, we were not surprised that she found it a little less comfortable. A 26 lb one-year-old toddler did not seem to have any issues with the hip carry position. We do feel that an inward facing front carry is less comfortable and efficient for older babies as many don’t want to face inward at that point, but we felt that is true for all carriers, not just the Omni 360.

We felt that the Omni 360 did a good job of keeping baby’s legs in the ergonomic “M” position that carriers strive for. The Velcro tabs can be adjusted by child size to keep a baby’s hips and legs in an appropriate position as they grow.

The Ergobaby Omni 360

The Ergobaby Omni 360 comes with a detachable storage pouch on the waist strap for holding pacifiers, cell phones, or snacks. A small pocket next to the storage pouch can also be used for storing smaller items. 

The Omni 360 also includes a privacy/sun hood that tucks into a small pocket in the front. The hood can be used for protection from the sun or for privacy while breastfeeding.

The Ergobaby Omni 360 costs nearly $180. Though it was not the most expensive carrier that we tested, it did rank high in the price ranges. If you are willing to invest in a baby carrier, we believe that the Omni 360 is worth the price due to the range of usability it offers. This carrier can be used from your child’s infancy to their third or fourth year (size depending). Its machine washable fabric makes upkeep easy, and the variety of holds it offers can give options for you and your child’s preference and comfort. 

The Ergobaby Omni 360 Carrier is a great carrier with a straightforward design, making it easy to set up and use. It can grow with your child and offers comfort and simplicity for parents and children alike.