Disclosure: The lovely Ergobabies over at Ergobaby sent me the Ergobaby 360 Omni to review. Despite receiving a free carrier all opinions are my own.

I am well versed in the World of baby carriers. I have reviewed several other baby carriers and this just may be the best. While the other two carriers that I reviewed were great in their own ways they do not match the Ergobaby Omni 360. It is stylish, comfortable(for you and your baby) and extremely versatile.

Instead of just writing a run of the mill boring review, I decided that it would be much more interesting for you to hear three real-life stories about how we use it every day. The Ergobaby 360 has also helped us to overcome some of the biggest challenges that come with the territory of having twins.

Before I go into storytelling mode, there are different positions that your baby can use. The Ergobaby Omni 360 is an upgrade on the previous models, the Ergobaby 360 and the Ergobaby Adapt.

The Ergobaby Omni 360 can be used to carry your baby in four positions:

1.The Sleepy Snooze Snooze Position

Traditionally known as carrying on your front facing in, this position is the best if you want your baby to fall asleep while you walk. The movement, warmth and closeness are very soothing for your baby and once in the cocoon, they will be catching a few z’s in no time.

2.The Baby Backpack

The other baby carriers that I have tried did not have the option for the baby backpack. Having twins the backpack position is a life saver. This is how we get the babies out of our fourth-floor apartment(without a lift).I can carry one baby in my arms while the other does their best rucksack impression.

3.The Hipster

Hipsters pride themselves on being different. This statement rings true for hipster babies too. If your decaf latte drinking, vintage wearing, vegan baby does not want to be limited to facing one direction, like the other conformist babies, then there is the hip carry option. They can face forwards(with a twisted neck), inwards and sideways all while comfortably hanging on their parents hip.

4.FOMO Baby

There are many babies that suffer badly from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). My son Max is the biggest FOMO baby that I have ever seen. He needs to know all the latest gossip, what’s in every press, and he’s fascinated by any bit of action that is going in. When I carry him in the “Sleepy Snooze Snooze Position” he spends his time rubbernecking and contorting his body to see what is going on. The FOMO Baby position is ideal for babies with an inquisitive disposition.

Ergobaby Omni 360 – 3 Stories about how I get the best use out of the Ergobaby Omni 360.

The 4th-floor with Twins Dilemma. Ergobaby Omni 360 is the solution

My wife and I live in Berlin with our twins Max and Mathilda. They are just over a year old and hopefully, they will be walking soon. We are very lucky, we have a very cheap rent and live in a stunning, south-facing, old style Berlin apartment. It is bright, spacious and tastefully decorated by my wife. Our Rent is so cheap that we can afford live comfortably from one income while she is on paternity leave.

In Germany, we received 14 months paid parental leave between us. After a combined 14 months, parents can take as much unpaid leave as they want for up to three years. She took 12 months and I took two :(. During this time we were both paid 66% of our salary. We have decided that Olivia will be a stay at home mom for another 10 months until the children go to Kindergarten.

There is one downside of this cheap rent and stunning apartment, we live on the fourth floor without a lift. With twins, everything that we do is planned with military precision. Without the Ergobaby the simple task of getting into or out of our apartment alone would be impossible.

Coming home and going out takes hours of preparation and getting the babies in and out of the apartment would not be possible without the Ergobaby.

Here is 18 Step Guide to getting twins out of an apartment on the 4th floor without a lift:

1. Change the twins clothes – 20 mins
2. Change the babies nappies – 10 mins
3. Feed the twins – 40 mins
4. Change the twins again(they always have full nappies after feeding, especially if you just changed them) – 10 mins
5. Try to stop them falling asleep so you can get them out of the apartment – 10 Mins
6. Pack the twins bag – 10 mins
7. Parents – Change, shower, eat, get ready – 6.5mins
8. In Winter – Put the twins Winter gear on – 5 mins
9. Put on the Ergobaby – Position 2 – The baby backpack – 1 min
10. Run down 93 Steps and put the twins bag in the stroller. Bring down the rubbish on the way – 5 mins
11. Run back up the 93 steps – 3 mins
12. Put Twin 1 in Ergobaby Omni 360 baby backpack – 1 min
13. Put Twin 2 in your arms or car seat – 1 min
14. Walk gingerly down 93 steps – 5 mins
15. 15 put Twin 2 in the stroller – 1 min
16. Take Twin 1 out of the Ergobaby Omni 360 baby backpack position and put into the stroller – 1 min
17. Secure the babies 1 min
18. Get the hell out of the apartment 1 min

Total Time: 131 and a half minutes

Coming home is also to be timed to perfection. Olivia will usually call me and let me know when she will be home. We then meet punctually downstairs and do the same process in reverse. Coming into our apartment only takes us about 20 minutes.

Ergobaby Omni 360 Travel Story

Travelling with Twins is a challenge, to say the least. We live in Germany but I am born and bred in Dublin, Ireland. My family and many of my friends are in Dublin and I try to get back at least 4 times per year. This journey used to be quite easy. I live only 5 Km from the airport in Berlin and under 10 Km in Dublin. The trip takes 5-6 hours door to door.

The ease of travelling has been greatly reduced since we had the twins. At the moment they travel for free as they are under two. I think the airlines do this purely out of sympathy for parents that are travelling with babies. Travelling with one baby is hard. Travelling with Twins is even harder. There is just so much planning and preparation that is involved. You are constantly switched on and trying to control an inquisitive baby and stop them from annoying every passenger on the plane. You live in constant fear that your baby may start crying and will send some grumpy German passenger into a fit of rage.

As you can see from my last story, leaving the house itself is difficult without having to go up 30,000 feet in the air. Travelling with baby twins lasts for roughly 10-12 hours including preparation. The fact that it only lasts a few hours is the reason that it is not on the Holmes Rahe stress inventory – https://www.stress.org/holmes-rahe-stress-inventory/.

Travelling with baby twins is one of the hardest aspects of having multiples. There are only two things that make it easier. Firstly, putting things in perspective when times get tough. Fighting through many years of fertility treatment was much harder than travelling with twins. Secondly, when you travel with an Ergobaby life is easier. Your hands are free, you and your baby are comfy, and getting through the airport is much easier.

If you are travelling with a baby and he/she is under 3 then carrying your baby on your chest is the way to go. You can have a backpack on your back, baby on your front and the whole stressful experience of travelling through an airport is about 30% less stressful. I am not sure if it is the same for women but if you are a man travelling alone with a child then lots of people will want to help you. Especially other mothers and grandmothers:)

Ergobaby Omni 360 makes shopping easier

Finally, my last story about how useful the Ergobaby is. Like most men, I have a love-hate relationship with shopping. There are several types of shopping that I hate and several types of shopping that I enjoy. The shopping that I hate accounts for 75% of the fights that Olivia and I have

Shopping types that I hate:

1. Clothes Shopping(in store)
2. Shopping in malls
3. Furniture shopping – especially IKEA
4. Christmas time shopping

Shopping that I enjoy:

1. Sports equipment shopping
2. Online Shopping in all its forms – especially amazon prime
3. Book Shopping
4. Grocery Shopping

As you can see from the list above I do like some bricks and mortar shopping. Sports Equipment and book shopping I do rarely and would not do it with a baby. Online shopping I do when the kids sleep which leave grocery shopping.

I enjoy grocery shopping on my own with one of the twins. Getting to and from the shop(before I put them in trolley seat) needs two free hands. I would not be able to carry the heavy shopping bags without having my hands free. When I do a smaller shop, I always keep the baby in the Ergobaby and just use a basket. Both kinds of grocery shopping would not be possible without the Ergobaby.

Secret Tip: Not all baby carriers have a pocket, the Ergobaby does. If you are going shopping then use the pocket to carry just your wallet and your phone.

3 other times that that Ergobaby is useful:

1.Teething

When your baby is teething they often just want to be embraced. If you are at home then put on the Ergobaby and your baby will be instantly comforted by the close contact.

2.Housework/Work

When your baby is small and is crying, it can be distressing for you. It is distressing for your too as you have so much to do. When our babies were very small I would often do housework or write on this blog when my baby was in a carrier.

3.When you have a Velcro Baby.

What is a “Velcro Baby”? A velcro baby is a baby that needs constant contact. When you do put them down, then they cry. An Ergobaby a the perfect solution for this. You can go about your daily business while meeting your babies contact needs.

Ergobaby Omni 360 Final Thoughts

You will not be disappointed by Ergobaby Omni 360. It is an amazing product that we use nearly every day. I have used several baby carriers and this is the best. It is more comfortable, easier to use and looks better than any of the others that I have used. I know the price tag is a little hefty but it is definitely worth it.

The post Ergobaby Omni 360 Review – 3 Stories About How Useful It Is appeared first on Scantily Dad.