Ergobaby Omni Breeze Baby Carrier Review

Ergobaby Omni Breeze

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The Ergobaby Omni Breeze is a standard style, soft structured carrier. It scored very well overall in our testing process, with only a few small drawbacks that we will dive further into later.

How it Compares:

Testing and Research

The Ergobaby Omni Breeze is one of fourteen top-rated baby carriers we purchased to test and compare. We tested and ranked each of the carriers on their usability, versatility, design quality, and comfort. The Omni Breeze scored very well overall in each category, and, though it was not our top carrier, it is a great piece of baby gear.

Common Complaints

When testing the Omni Breeze, we read through the critical reviews of the product to find the most common complaints. The Omni Breeze did not have as many low reviews as some of the other carriers we tested, but we read through them all and compared the complaints to our experience while testing the carrier. 

Criticism	Our Experience
Scratchy material	We do agree that the mesh polyester material is not as soft as some of the others we tested
Straps are hard to manage	The straps are a little bulky and it takes some practice to use them effectively
Baby is uncomfortable	Our test subjects seemed happy and comfortable
Carrier is stiff	We did not feel like the carrier was stiff

Related Reading: Top Baby Carriers This Year

Usability

Of the four testing categories, usability was the lowest scorer for the Omni Breeze. When we first set it up, we found that the straps were a little difficult to figure out, particularly when we tried to use the crossed “X” layout instead of a standard “H” strap system. We felt that the straps are a little bulky to comfortably cross. However, once we got the straps figured out, the rest of the carrier was pretty straightforward.

We did feel that the instruction manual would benefit from more written instructions since the directions were very graphic-heavy. 

Something we did like about the Omni Breeze’s usability was the seat adjustment. The carrier seat is adjusted with color-coded Velcro tabs that change as baby grows into a toddler, taking away the need for an infant insert. The color coding and adjustment directions can be found in the instruction manual, but also sewn into the carrier itself.

It took us about five minutes to set the carrier up for the first time. Once you get used to the seat adjustment and strap system, future adjustments are easier. The head support can be folded down for older babies and secured with a button on either side. 

Though usability was the lowest scoring category for the Omni Breeze, it still received a decent score, and overall is a pretty user friendly carrier compared to some of the others that we tested.

Here’s how the Omni Breeze ranked in our usability category:

Versatility

The Omni Breeze has a good variety of carry style options: newborn and older baby inward facing holds, outward facing carry position, back carry position, and a hip hold. The multiple options for carry position made the Omni Breeze one of the more versatile carriers we tested.

Here’s how the Omni Breeze scored in the versatility category:

The carrier advertises that it can hold babies from 7 lbs all the way to kids at 45 lbs. We tested the carrier with an almost 30lb one-year-old and a 40lb four-year-old and both were comfortable in the carrier. Our older test subject did not seem too large for the carrier, as has been the case in some of the others we’ve tested.

When doing a standard hold on the carrier, the padded shoulder straps can either be arranged in a typical “H” pattern or an “X” crossed pattern, which may be more comfortable for some wearers. Though the “H” pattern was easier to set up, especially if you are buckling it by yourself, we did feel that the “X” pattern of the crossable straps offered a bit more security. 

The Omni Breeze’s waistbelt is easily adjustable and can fit adult wearers with waists 25 1/2 inches to 55 1/4 inches, offering a pretty good versatility to its adult sizing options.

Design Quality

The Omni Breeze scored pretty well in the design quality category:

The carrier is made of a breathable polyester mesh fabric, which allows for good airflow. Unlike some similar material carriers we tested, this one did not have any kind of strong chemical smell from the polyester. Some reviews complained that the material was rough. We do acknowledge that it’s not the softest carrier we tested, however, we do think that the mesh fabric is decently soft and certainly not uncomfortable. 

The Omni Breeze has thick straps and is a little bulky compared to some other carriers, but not so bulky as to make it uncomfortable. We mostly noticed the bulkiness when trying to adjust the shoulder straps into a crossed “X” style. 

We do wish that the Omni Breeze had straps that didn’t have to buckle behind the shoulder blades after baby is in the carrier. We find it difficult to buckle the straps while trying to hold onto baby and prefer when the carrier can be secured by buckling onto the parent shoulder straps. This is more of a minor inconvenience than anything, but we do find it a little harder to adjust, especially with an older baby that is wiggly. 

The Omni Breeze includes two small pockets on the front of the waistband, as well as a detachable pouch for storing a couple of diapers, wipes, or small items like snacks or a cell phone. There is also a small pocket in the front that holds a privacy hood for when baby is nursing or sleeping. 

We felt that the Omni Breeze offered good stability and security. There is enough room for baby or toddler to rest their arms under the adult shoulder straps for more security. At no point did we feel like our test subjects would fall out. The head support can also be adjusted to provide more stability for younger babies who are facing inward.

Comfort

The Omni Breeze is a pretty comfortable carrier compared to some of the others that we tested. The mesh fabric shoulder straps are well padded and there is a padded lumbar support piece on the back of the waistband. The breathable mesh fabric allows for good airflow to keep you from getting too hot while wearing the carrier. 

The weight distribution was pretty good, with no unnecessary pulling on the shoulders or waist. The padded lumbar support helped with that. The padded shoulder straps, though soft, do feel a little loose around the shoulders, even when pulling them fairly tight. They don’t feel like they will fall off, but do seem to slide around a little. Wearing the straps in the crossed “X” pattern seems to help with that.

Our toddler and older child test subjects both seemed comfortable while in the Omni Breeze. The material is very breathable, offering an airflow that kept both parent and child from getting hot. There did not seem to be any pressure on baby’s legs and the adjustable seat helped keep her legs in the ergonomic “M” position to protect her hips.

Even our 40lb four-year-old test subject enjoyed the Omni Breeze. Even though she is getting close to the weight limit, she did not feel too large for the carrier and enjoyed sitting in it.

Is the Omni Breeze Worth It?

Babywearing is a great way to bond with your baby, and can even promote and advance your child’s health. It can take a lot of care and research to determine what baby carrier is the best fit for you and your little one. We believe that the Ergobaby Omni Breeze is a great option to consider. 

The Omni Breeze is not a cheap baby carrier. Pricing out around $200, it is one of the higher priced carriers we tested. However, this carrier is a well-rounded product that offers comfort, breathability, and versatility and will grow with your little one from infancy to toddlerhood.

The Omni Breeze can also be ordered in multiple colors, giving you options to fit your personal style. 

Though there may be more cost-effective baby carriers, the Ergobaby Omni Breeze is a great carrier that we certainly recommend to anyone looking for a solid piece of baby gear.