Ergobaby Original vs Ergobaby 360

Baby wearing has many benefits and babies love being worn. It makes them feel calm and comfortable being strapped to you and they usually fall asleep or stop fussing as soon as you get them in the carrier. I tend to prefer wraps and slings for newborns, but the Ergobaby Carrier is hands down my favorite all around baby carrier.

When it comes to choosing a soft structure carrier you cannot go wrong with an Ergo. But, you might be wondering what the difference is between some of their styles. They recently (well recent to me) came out with the Four Position 360 carrier. In the past their carriers had three positions, forward facing-in, hip and back, but the 360 adds forward facing-out to the lineup.

I have been wearing my original organic carrier for close to three years now, and I am perfectly happy with it. I recently had the chance to check out some of their other carriers, so I had to share my thoughts. I decided to put together this comparison with emphasis on the Ergobaby Original vs the Ergobaby 360. I know many parents are wondering if the Ergobaby Four Position 360 is worth the additional cost and ability to have baby face outward. I also checked out their Performance carrier and you can see that towards the end of this post.

First up..

Contents show

Ergobaby Four Position 360

Features:

The main differences between the 360 and the Original Ergo are the forward facing out carry position, the velcro waist band, and the bucket seat (to facilitate the forward facing out). The upper area near baby's head is also styled a little differently.

For weight range 7-33 pounds with infant insert. This is a little lower than the original which goes up to 45 pounds.

Bucket seat - Keeps baby ergonomically seated in all 4 positions, with knees even to or above hips. Seat can be adjusted with buttons.

Velcro waistband - Comfortable waistband can be worn high or low and provides extra support for lower back.

Back Panel that can be extended - Can be rolled down for front-outward, or upwards for the inward facing positions to provide extra head support for your baby.

Padded shoulder straps - Helps evenly distribute baby's weight in combination with the waistband to maximize comfort.

Sleeping Hood - Provides support for baby's head while sleeping, protection from sun and added privacy while nursing.

My first impression of the 360 was that while it looked really nice and overall was comfortable, the bucket seat looked kind of big and bulky to me. It definitely will not be folding up into a tiny package and it seemed thick and like it might be warm. But, this seat is needed for the forward facing out position, so if that is what you are looking for then this seat is worth it.

I only tried this one on and did not wear it for long, so I can't say how it feels after hours of wear. It looks like it comes up pretty high on baby's back and it has comfortable straps. The velcro belt seems to be a point of contention. People love it or they hate it. While it's easy to adjust it can be loud and scratchy.

Find it here.