Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier review

As with many of the brand’s models, long-term usability is high on the agenda, with the Breeze suitable to use from birth until toddler age in a variety of carry positions. With an RRP of £184.90 – the same as the brand’s Omni Dream baby carrier – the Omni Breeze sits in the higher end of the baby carrier market, alongside other premium offerings like the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One Air, £189.

What were your first impressions of the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier?

All good! The Omni Breeze comes in a compact box (perfect if you want to save it for selling or handing down to someone else) and it’s folded up nicely in there, along with the instructions. The colour hits the mark for me big time – practical and trendy. But my favourite bit about taking it out of the box? Part of the setting up process is already done for you. Not starting from scratch is a definite bonus when you’re contending with a needy baby. Don’t worry though, if you ever need to take it to bits, the instructions are there to put it back together again.

How easy is the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier to set up ready for use?

As I mentioned, part of the setting up is done for you (thanks Ergobaby!) but that doesn’t mean you can just throw your little one in – you need to adjust various mechanisms to suit your baby and yourself.

There are two sets of instructions in the box, but I must admit I quickly reached for my phone – Ergobaby has an official set-up video on their YouTube channel. If learning from pictures suits you, you’ll find the paper version just fine but as someone who likes a step-by-step typed up in black and white, I got a little confused. As soon as I incorporated the video, though, the pictures made sense and combining the two helped me set my sling up in less than five minutes.

One teeny, tiny niggle here – the instruction format is one giant sheet of paper folded up with a step on each section and my (limited capacity) baby brain/desire for ultimate efficiency would have preferred a standard stapled booklet so I could be sure I was doing everything in the right order by turning pages.

How easy is the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier to put on with your baby?

When it came to popping Pippa and Max in, I referred to the paper instructions and the official videos, and it couldn’t have been easier. The video didn’t just show me what to do – it also had handy bullet points at each stage with little reminders, like how best to position baby and meet the TICKS criteria. Putting baby into this carrier is a quick, simple process that you can easily do yourself and you’ll pick it up in no time.

How easy is it to take your baby out of the Ergobaby Omni Breeze?

Again, this was pretty seamless – no practice needed, and the babies seemed happy.

Is the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier ergonomic?

The website says there’s ergonomic support in all the right places, and I have to agree – I was pretty impressed by the credentials. All Ergobaby carriers have been acknowledged by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute as “Hip Healthy” products and awarded a Seal of Approval by the AGR of Germany as “back-healthy” for babies and parents.

From a personal point of view, I felt the Omni Breeze supported Pippa and Max’s little hips and they were firmly in the recommended ‘M’ position. I was able to tick off my TICKS guidelines with ease, and correctly positioning my children was easy. If you ever forget, the label on the lumber support waistband tells you how to adjust the seat based on your baby’s height, or you can consult the Ergobaby website, which explains it in detail.

My only gripe is the neck support. I’m split on it because on one hand it’s a superb support for baby (especially in comparison to fabric carriers I’ve used before) but using it makes it hard to check on your little one from a bird’s eye view.

I found myself popping to the mirror a few times (the side view is great, which is comforting as there’s no danger of mouths and noses accidentally being covered by the material) to check on a sleeping Pippa or Max, but I imagine that as I get used to wearing the carrier I’ll be more confident here.

How comfortable is the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier for your baby?

Having used a fabric sling for around 3 months with my twins, I was concerned they may not be happy about a new carrier. But I needn’t have worried. Both went in happily on the first attempt. Max’s first turn was outward-facing.

He seemed super-comfy and loved his high vantage point (especially when his older brother, Oscar, was doing a bath bomb experiment on the breakfast bar)! Meanwhile, Pippa was the first to test the Omni Breeze for a nap and I’m delighted to report she was snoozing within 5 minutes.

As I mentioned, the lightweight SoftFlexTM Mesh is all about comfort and breathability, providing as much airflow as possible whilst keeping the 2 of you cool and dry. Other than this, the hood (tucked in a small pocket underneath the head and neck pillow) gives protection from wind and sun, as well as shade for snoozing and privacy for breastfeeding.

There’s a foldable, padded headrest for total comfort and cosiness. And for teething babies, you may want to invest in Ergobaby’s dribble bibs to give your little chomper something to chew on.

How comfortable is the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier for you?

I’m not going to lie – I LOVE this carrier when it comes to comfort! I just can’t fault it. The ergonomics aren’t just about baby – mums, dads and other carers have been carefully considered too. The waistband has lumber support to protect your back and keep you comfy (wear it high and tight with a newborn and drop it as your baby grows).

The carrier felt light and ‘barely there’ every time I wore it. Baby’s weight felt evenly distributed and afterwards, there was zero leftover pressure from carrying, even after a long session with Big Max!

How many different carry positions does the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier offer?

The Omni Breeze has 4 carrying positions – inward-facing for newborns and up; forward-facing for 5 months plus, and hip/back carrying for those aged over 6 months. At just 4 months, our 2 lack the head control for the latter but we took full advantage of the other options and were very pleased with both.

How easy is it to adjust the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier?

Colour-coding and Velcro – this is one happy mama! Ergobaby has made adjusting the sling for your growing baby super simple. Sliders let you swap from inward to outward facing (they’re a little stiff and needed a bit of a shove but I reckon it’ll loosen up with use), whilst adjusting the ‘seat’ part is done using Velcro tabs on the waist-belt based on your baby's height – along the red lines for a baby between 20-24in, yellow for 24-28in and blue for those more than 28in.

The shoulder straps are a simple pull mechanism, like a backpack, so you can tighten and loosen with ease whether or not you’ve got a baby strapped in. Top marks here, Ergobaby.

Is it easy to do other things while wearing the Omnio Breeze carrier?

Getting things done while letting baby sleep is an absolute winner – and as a mum of twins, I’m 100% on board with this. I tried loads of household tasks, from cooking and cleaning to sitting and chilling to playing with my son, as well as experimenting with being out and about on walks. I felt safe, comfortable and unrestricted at all times.

Obviously, I was aware of a baby stuck to my chest, but I carried on relatively normally and used both hands at all times – no anxious need to keep a hand on baby. It’s also worth noting that breastfeeding on the go is a breeze with the Breeze (couldn’t resist!) This report comes directly from Ergobaby, though, because as a bottle feeder, I couldn’t personally test this part. Take advantage of the hood for privacy then simply loosen the shoulder straps a bit and slightly lower the baby to your chest.

How well does the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier fit?

Both Simon and I tried the carrier. It was fast and easy to convert it from my size to his – just a case of adjusting the straps and lumber support, in the same way you would if you were altering the size to account for you adding another layer of clothing when using the carrier outside. So simple.

What age range is the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier suitable for?

Branding itself as “The All-In-One Carrier for every stage of baby’s development,” the Breeze is suitable for newborns (providing they meet the minimum weight/height requirements of 3.2kg and 20in, and it’s worth noting you don’t need an infant insert for this) as well as your toddler. The maximum weight it’ll take is 20.4kg.

Do you like the look of the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier?

Yes, I think it looks fab. I’ve got a relatively small frame and it’s not clunky on me at all. The breathable materials make it look super-lightweight, which it is. I love my sage green carrier but if that’s not your cup of tea you’ll find it comes in 11 other shades, from sleek Oynx Black to bright Sapphire Blue to pretty Pink Quartz.

How would you rate the buckles/straps?

I found the buckles, straps and buttons on this baby carrier great. They’re easy to use, even with my stiff fingers, and I feel like they’ll last – the Ergobaby Omni Breeze has high-quality vibes.

What do you make of the quality of the fabric/materials?

Like the mechanisms, the rest of the Omni Breeze carrier feels top quality. I’m confident this will last me my twins and if I were having more children (which I’m absolutely not, by the way!) it’d do them as well. I’ll certainly be passing this on or selling it on.

How easy is the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier to clean and keep clean?

If you’ve got a reflux-prone little one, you’ll be pleased to hear the Ergobaby Omni Breeze is machine washable. The brand recommends unfastening all buckles and then washing it in a pillowcase at 30 degrees before air drying. Stick to a mild detergent (no bleach, perfumes, etc). We gave it a whirl and can report it was all good.

What are the safety features of the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier?

I love the smart safety features of the Breeze. Out for a walk at dusk? There are little reflective lines on the carrier to keep you feeling safe. They’ve added double locking buckles too, just to make sure a toddler can’t accidentally open the buckle when they’re facing outwards.

Does the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier have any storage?

There are 2 stretchy, deep side pockets (handy) and a detachable zip purse with an inner zip and stretchy divider. Even the construction of this purse section has been cleverly thought about to maximise the storage options! Clearly, there’s plenty of space for your keys, phone and pennies, leaving your hands free if you’re carrying your baby outside.

How does the Omni Breeze compare to other carriers you have used?

When we had Oscar, I was unfamiliar with carriers and avoided them, largely due to the fear factor. This time around, I had to get involved. I sought out local experts who let me test different options, explained clearly how to wear them and gave me peace of mind in terms of safe babywearing (I would wholeheartedly recommend all new parents do this.)

In the end, I went for a stretchy wrap-style sling, and Simon has one too. We’ve been big fans of them to date and the twins took to them immediately, so I thought it’d take a lot to turn my head.

But I’ve totally fallen in love with the Ergobaby Omni Breeze. The support for baby is leaps and bounds beyond that of the fabric sling. Sometimes throughout a nap or walk with the wrap, the position of the baby or fabric can move and go unnoticed, resulting in a less comfy or safe ride for baby. The Breeze, on the other hand, feels so secure, like I don’t even need to check it during the wear because it’s so well-fitted and robust, yet lightweight.

The fabric sling puts the onus on you to set it up correctly every time and if you tie it a little high or accidentally twist the material, you’ll feel it. Beyond that, I do feel a lot of the weight pressure is on the parent – the baby feels like a weight hanging off you. The Breeze is at the opposite end of the scale – Pippa and Max felt almost weightless, probably due to the thought put into the design of this carrier. Wearing them feels stable and even, and not like something you know will hurt later on.

I should say, though, that timing could be an issue in my preference for the Ergobaby carrier over the fabric wrap. I know the wrap-style is particularly good for smaller babies, so it’s perhaps the case that my twins are getting to an age where a more structured carrier suits better.

What’s in the box?

The Ergobaby Omni Breeze carrier and 2 sets of instructions.

Are there any additional accessories you can buy?

The carrier is great as it is, but Ergobaby offers a suite of add-ons to maximise comfort and ease of use. You’ll find accessories like the drool bib (£19.90) and practical weather covers (from £49.90), as well as spare parts, on the brand’s website.

Who would the Ergobaby Omni Breeze baby carrier be most useful for?

I think all parents keen to explore the world of babywearing would be pleased with the Ergobaby Omni Breeze. But, with the breathability USP and handy hood for sunny days, I can see this carrier being popular with those who like to be out and about in all weather. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this to first-time parents who haven’t carried before – the intuitive nature of the Breeze makes it far from intimidating and the instant comfort for both of you makes everything feel just right.

Is the Ergobaby Omni Breeze worth the money?

Coming in at £184.90 on the Ergobaby website, this is a premium product, but I reckon it just about merits the price tag. This isn’t your average carrier. It’s an ultra-hardworking, super-comfortable, cleverly designed babywearing option that feels like it’ll last forever (and if for some reason it doesn’t, the ErgoPromise lifetime guarantee has your back).

If you want a quick fix for 6 months, this isn’t the one, but if you’re expecting a baby or are in the newborn phase and expect to wear your little one until they’re a pre-schooler, it could be a worthwhile investment. Plus, get your timing right and you may be able to take advantage of a special offer.

Where can I buy the Ergobaby Omni Breeze Baby Carrier?

It is available from Ergobaby, Mamas & Papas and Amazon.

MadeForMums verdict

Ergobaby sell the Breeze as a product that’s “merging airflow, comfort and growing needs” with “every detail designed for your life” and I must say, it’s ticking a whole lot of boxes. For those looking for something for newborn through to 4 years, it’s a winner – if you’re happy to spend a bit of money, of course. The carrier makes your baby feel almost weightless, plus it adapts to you and your baby’s shape; the functionality is super and it’s a breeze (there I go again!) to put on and adjust. And from teething solutions to breastfeeding privacy to being seen in the dark, the designers have thought of everything and more with the Omni Breeze.