Four babies later, and I finally found my ideal infant carrier sling. Read my Ergobaby Embrace review to find out why the Ergobaby Embrace is one of the best baby carriers for newborns.
Having four children, I have tried out my fair share of baby slings and baby carriers. From stretchy wraps like the Boba Wrap and Solly Baby Wrap, to more structured carriers with buckles like the original Ergobaby and the Boba 3G. By the time it got to my fourth baby, I had realised that I liked some aspects of these baby carriers, but other aspects were not working for me.
I really liked the snugness of a stretchy baby wrap, but did not like the faff of dealing with a long piece of fabric, or having so many loops of fabric (plus a new baby!) on my body in hot weather. I liked the ease of soft structured carriers, but never managed a perfect fit and found myself always fiddling with bulky straps.
Soft structured carriers work better for my husband, who has a long torso, whereas stretchy wraps work better for my short, more rounded, torso. We needed a newborn sling carrier that would work for both of our body types.
Enter the best of both worlds AKA the Ergobaby Embrace
The Ergobaby Embrace infant carrier has an adjustable waist belt with a buckle fastening, and stretchy fabric shoulder straps that crossover at the back, like a wrap sling, for great support. The shoulder straps are made of a thin, soft fabric that molds to your shape, without the gaps and discomfort of padded bulky straps.
Due to the adjustable buckle straps, there is way less of a learning curve with the Ergobaby Embrace than with an infant stretchy wrap. As new parents, you ideally want a baby sling that you can throw on in a second, doesn’t need regular adjusting, and doesn’t have a wrapping technique or various ways of wrapping to get your head around.
The Ergobaby Embrace offers different ways to wear your baby, whilst most infant carriers do not offer different carry options or different positions. Made with ergonomic design in mind, with the Ergobaby Embrace, baby sits in the ergonomic, hip-healthy ‘M’ position, with the knees higher than baby’s legs and bum. Once your baby reaches 66cm in height, you also have the option to wear the Ergobaby Embrace in front facing mode.
Unlike a more simple wrap sling, the Ergobaby Embrace has a cushioned head support, which keeps your baby’s head in position.
The oekeo tex fabric of the Ergobaby Embrace infant carrier is super soft yet maintains it’s shape and is resistant to sagging. If you will be wearing your baby in warmer climates, or require a summer baby wrap, the even more breathable material mesh version of the Ergobaby Embrace could be a good option.
The Ergobaby Embrace is machine washable and super lightweight, easily folding away into a nappy bag or other small bag when not in use.
We used our Ergobaby Embrace all the time. My youngest would be in the Embrace most afternoons and evenings during the witching hours whilst I was trying to feed and do bedtime with three older children. Our Ergobaby Embrace really came into it’s own during our UK holiday to Pembrokshire, where it was essential to have a baby sling to access various beaches and coastal paths – a pushchair would not cut it!
The Ergobaby Embrace has a weight limit of 11.2kgs so is specifically designed for younger babies. Once your baby’s weight goes beyond 11.2kgs, you will need to move on to a more structured carrier for older babies. A baby on the 50th centile weighs 10kgs at 12 months old, so you can use the Ergobaby Embrace for a good while.
Bay was a big baby, and I’d say we’d officially graduated from the Ergobaby Embrace by the time he was 7 months old. The Ergobaby kept a great resale value, which meant I was able to put a good chunk of money towards the next stage baby carrier.
In an ideal world, one baby carrier or sling would see you through from newborn to toddler, but having tried many different baby carriers, I am a firm believer that a one-stop-shop baby carrier is not going to be perfect for every stage. In the early months, a soft wrap to keep baby close and get the right fit is the only carrier I want to use, and for older children / babies over 12 months, I prefer soft structured baby carriers.
In conclusion, the Ergobaby Embrace combines the best of a newborn wrap sling with a soft structured carrier with buckles. It has superior ease of use to a basic wrap carrier, yet it holds your baby just as snug in it’s stretchy soft fabric. The Ergobaby Embrace was one of my top picks / game changer items in the early days with my fourth baby. The Ergobaby Embrace infant carrier ended up being the perfect fit for both parents and our fourth baby spent 90% of his life in this carrier until he grew out of it.
Ergobaby Embrace product specification
- Ergobaby Embrace weight minimum: 3.2kgs
- Ergobaby Embrace weight limit: 11.2kgs
- Waist strap range: 56 cm – 137 cm
- Current RRP: £99
Disclosure: I researched and bought the Ergobaby Embrace myself – this isn’t a brand collaboration. I just wanted to write about a product that really made a difference in those early days of the fourth trimester.
