ERGObaby Four Position 360 Cool Air carrier review

Buy the Ergobaby 360 Air from John Lewis, Amazon, or direct from Ergobaby.

What's the difference between the Ergobaby Four Position 360 Cool Air and the Original Ergobaby carrier?

The seating positions. The Ergobaby 360 Air now has a 4th, forward-facing position and takes the original carrier into more sporty, outdoorsy ground with its more lightweight synthetic material and stiffer structure – it feels more like a backpack.

It’s actually pretty similar in aesthetic to the Baby Björn One Air, but has greater comfort for the wearer and more reassuring support for the baby.

How many seating options does the Ergobaby Four Position 360 Cool Air carrier have?

Four; front-inward (facing mum or dad) front-outward (facing the world), on the hip or on the back. The outward-facing position is the new addition, it's for older babies who can handle the full-on stimulation of facing the world.

Front or back carrier - which should you choose?

Does the Ergobaby carrier support your little one’s hips and allow them to sit in the ‘M’ position?

Yes, Rowan’s spine was held in a more convincing curve, his legs and hips more clearly frog-legged.

• Baby slings: how to wear one safely
• Baby carriers, slings and hip dysplasia - what you need to know

What do you think of the design?

Its use of technical fabric (a ‘lightweight, breathable mesh’) makes it suited for all-weather wearing, such as clifftop hiking, when the rain and mist can come in suddenly.

Is the Ergobaby Four Position 360 Cool Air suitable for newborns?

Yes, it is, with the newborn insert, which costs an additional £29. The updated newborn insert is simpler and quicker to strap in, with buttons that fasten on to the front and hold it steady.

The original newborn insert still works with the carrier – we used ours with it – but as before, it’s less secure because it has nothing to fix it in place.

Resembling a little quilt, the new insert is still very toasty for little ones so must be used with care during the summer. In the winter, you can strike the balance of temperatures outside easily, but once you come in, you’ll have to take the carrier off to avoid the baby overheating.

This can be a bit annoying when you’ve got him to sleep by nipping to the shops and would like him to stay that way for a bit so you can catch up on housework/emails/Breaking Bad.

Is it easy to put on the Ergobaby Four Position 360 Cool Air carrier and take it off?

Yes and no. With older babies, it’s brilliant, as you just strap them in and go. But with newborns it’s a little fiddly until you get used to it, and the only way to keep them in a good position, with an elevated head and unrestricted airway, is by having it tighter than you instinctively want to.

But then, you have to trust that your baby will let you know if he’s uncomfortable – and as long as you follow the TICKS guidelines, it’s fine. Whatever age your baby, you can put the carrier on by yourself – although you might want to practice a back carry with a partner until it becomes intuitive to you.

10 of the best baby carriers

Is it as comfy as the original?

Yes – my husband prefers it. The carrier itself is lighter in weight. Both Rowan, our newborn, and William, his eight-month-old friend who we also tested it with, got snugly enough to drop off in.

However, William’s mum Rebecca found it less comfortable and suited to her body shape than her original. A slim 5’8” with a long back, she wears William low and closer to her hips than I wear Rowan, a position that doesn’t work so well with this carrier.

How is the weight of the carrier – is it light/heavy?

Weighing around 900g, it feels very lightweight and comfortable.

What do you think of the shoulder straps and waist belt – how easy/hard are they to adjust?

The straps are wide and padded, as for the waistband, I’m a big fan: post c-section, my stomach felt so vulnerable that the thought of wearing a car seat belt brought me out in a cold sweat – so wearing a sling or carrier was bottom of my list. However, I did try it and the Velcro strap around the waist was nice and wide, and supportive.

The waistband extends from 66cm-140cm.

Would the Velcro unfastening noise wake a sleeping baby?

Probably. But if you’ve been in the noisy outdoors, have come home into a quiet house and are trying to take the baby out of the carrier, well, then flicking the kettle on or flushing the toilet is probably going to wake him up, if the sudden silent atmosphere doesn’t.

I would say, why take him out of the carrier at all? Make the most of the hands-free time and make that cuppa or sandwich before you settle on the sofa for a long post-snooze feed. That’s the best thing about carriers, after all.

What do you think of the baby sleeping hood?

It is useful, once they’ve nodded off, to be able to shade their eyes a little, so the baby hood does come in handy, plus it offers extra head support. But it won’t keep the rain out – it’s not big enough.

Made for Mums verdict:

A super comfortable, ergonomic baby carrier with new forward-facing position - as well as offering back and hip carry positions. It's an outdoorsy upgrade to the original Ergobaby, and really easy to put on, which is great if you're a first-time baby wearer.

Want more reviews of baby carriers and slings?

• Oscha Cairis sling review
• Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One Outdoors review
• Mountain Buggy Juno review

MadeForMums product reviews are independent, honest and provide advice you can have confidence in. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links. However we never allow this to influence our coverage. Our reviews and articles are written by parents who are professional journalists, and we also include feedback from our parent community and industry experts.