Ergobaby Omni 360 VS The New Ergobaby Aerloom
Ergobaby have recently released their latest carrier, called the Ergobaby Aerloom. This is a unique, innovative, and new product to their range, however it does have a lot of similarities to the popular Ergobaby Omni 360.
So naturally, people are asking how are they different, what do these great products have in common and why would you choose one over the other?
How are the Ergobaby Omni 360 and Ergobaby Aerloom Similar?
The Ergobaby Omni and the Ergobaby Aerloom are both soft structured buckle carriers, with the same basic structure and shape. They both have a waist band, a front panel and a H-Strap style strap connecting at the back.
They are both comfortable, easy to use, ergonomically designed and well made carriers. Ergobaby is also a trusted brand and a market leader, so you really can’t go wrong choosing between these great carriers.
Both the Ergobaby Aerloom and Omni 360 are suitable for newborns (from 3.2kgs) without the need for an infant insert, because they grow and expand with your baby.
In terms of carry positions they both offer inward facing, forward facing and back carrying. Though the Ergobaby Omni 360 does also offer a fourth carry position, which is a hip carry.
Why Choose The Ergobaby Aerloom?
As an overall impression the Ergobaby Aerloom is the more premium of these two carriers – which is reflected in the price point.
It is made from their new “FormaKnit” fabric, meaning it’s made from a knitted fabric rather than a woven fabric. Knitted fabric has a little more stretch and also can be knitted into curves, so it is more comfortable and moulds to the shape of your body.
Also because of the innovative FormaKnit fabric the Ergobaby Aerloom is super lightweight and is Ergobaby’s lightest weight carrier.
Another big reason to choose the Ergobaby Aerloom is it’s designed to be an eco-friendly baby carrier and is made from 87% post consumer recycled polyester. In fact, 26 recycled water bottles go into each and every Ergobaby Aerloom.
Finally from a practical point of view, I found the Ergobaby Aerloom easier to adjust to my body than the Ergobaby Omni – especially around the shoulder straps. It all just seemed to sit comfortably with minimal adjusting. I think this is due to the knit fabric and the ergonomically curved shapes of the shoulder straps. For new parents, particularly if they don’t have someone to help them correctly fit their baby carrier the first time, being a little easier to fit and position is a huge benefit.
Check out my full Ergobaby Aerloom Review
Why Choose The Ergobaby Omni 360?
The Ergobaby Omni 360 has a weight limit of 20kgs, whereas the weight capacity of the Ergobaby Aerloom is 15.9kgs. While most parents aren’t using their baby carrier up to that full 20kgs limit, it is something to keep in mind if a higher weight capacity is important to you.
The Ergobaby Aerloom is made from polyester and I understand some parents would prefer to use a baby carrier with natural fibres, which is an option with the Ergobaby Omni 360 Cotton. Though note the Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Mesh is also made from a polyester fabric.
Another benefit of the Ergobaby Omni 360 is the option to cross the straps over at the back. While most parents aren’t utilising this feature, as someone who has helped countless parents try on the Ergobaby Omni 360 for the first time, for some parents crossing over the straps is the best way for them to get a perfect fit. The main reason parents use the cross-back method is if they have very narrow, or sloping showers. So if you’re very petite, or concerned about feeling like the shoulder straps are slipping, it might be worth trying on both to decide which is right for you.
Also as I mentioned above, the Ergobaby Omni offers the fourth carry position, which is a hip carry. How important is a hip carry? That really depends. While it’s a position I used personally with my daughter in an Ergobaby carrier, it’s not something I see a lot of other parents using.
The benefit of a hip carry is being able to have a baby on your hip so they can see you and see the world. It’s lovely for connecting and communicating with your baby, while engaging them with what’s going on around you (whether you’re somewhere like the Zoo, or just wandering around your neighbourhood.) However it’s not a position that is comfortable for long walks. And as I said, most people don’t actually use this carry position.
One other reason to choose the Ergobaby Omni is price and availability. The Ergobaby Omni is available at most baby stores and it’s a product that retailers compete heavily on price, so you can usually buy it for a significantly discounted price.
Check out my full Ergobaby Omni Review.
Final Thoughts
I feel like I say this a lot with my product comparisons, but I’ll say it again – there is no wrong choice here. They’re both great baby carriers!
The premium fabric, the eco-friendly factor, the overall more polished and sophisticated styling of the Ergobaby Aerloom makes it perfect for a parent who is looking for something a little bit extra with their baby carrier.
Whereas the price, availability and functionality of the Ergobaby Omni 360 is why it is an extremely popular baby carrier that suits most parents’ babywearing needs.
