Ergobaby Original Stowaway

Perfect, loved it – I love the stowaway because it was lighter and not as bulky and hot. It was also excellent to fold up as it fits into a tiny bag. Great for carry on the front and back, both my bubs up to 2 years old. I live in the tropics so I wanted something that wasn't hot. Bub was very comfortable. Very easy on and off and very easy to adjust. Great all round, no complaints at all.  Show reply

Great carrier – Great, light, compact, practical and easy-to-use! Used this when i went on holiday. DS absolutely loved sleeping in the carrier. It seemed very comfortable to him.

You can't have it all – We bought this as an extra carrier when we had our second. We also have an Ergobaby Performance, which we are very happy with. The stowaway was appealing because it could fold into such a small size, perfect for keeping in the stroller, and taking while travelling. It worked well for me (158cm tall) when my sone was 8weeks old up to around 7 kg (7… Read more

months). Then it became too much strain on my shoulders because of the narrow, flimsy straps. I tried wearing my now 10kg son at the shops today and within 20 min I was feeling the strain! My 3 year old daughter, while even now comfortable in our Performance (I barely notice her when on my back!) can't even fit in this one on my back - the back panel is too short for her to sit comfortably (she is a small 3 year old) and the chest strap chokes me as it cannot go low enough!

My 180cm tall husband has never been able to use this carrier comfortably for either of our children as there is not enough length for him to wear.

Pros

- light weight

- folds into itself..very small

- washable

Cons

- baby outgrows it too quickly - I can't fit a 13kg child in it, let alone a 20kg!

- chest strap doesn't slide low enough for comfortable back-wearing, even for a short person

- baby hood attaches at too low a position on the straps - this means no head support for baby when sleeping - I had to use a hand to support my sleeping baby's head..not hands free then!

- hood doesn't stay stowed in the little front pocket - needs a button or something to stop it slipping out

- shoulder straps too narrow to distribute the weight of heavier babies

- back panel too short for any child over 12 months to feel like they won't topple out in back carry mode.

We plan on buying an Ergobaby Xtra tomorrow to replace it. Very disappointed.

Good for babies 4 months and over – Bought this with a newborn insert, and for the life of me I couldn't get my newborn daughter into it in such a way that she was comfortable. I watched the YouTube vids and even emailed customer services for help. While they were very helpful, it still didn't work as my daughter had quite long legs and wasn't comfortable with them folded up against… Read more

me. Spent $50 on the insert and used it once or twice just to trial it - unfortunately baby pooped in it and I couldn't return it!!

I ended up purchasing a Baby Bjorn model which I used for when she was small, and began using the Ergo Baby once she hit about 4 months and was able to have her legs splayed out either side of my hips. It is certainly better for my comfort and also more supportive for my daughter as her weight is distributed more evenly.

Other than that, this carrier is great for its purpose, folds up reasonably compact and is simple to use. It is more comfortable on my back and shoulders than the Baby Bjorn. The sleeping hood looks quite large and I feel like it is probably a bit too big, but other than that I like the carrier. I'm in a hot climate and the fabric is quite light and easy to clean.

I bought the Stowaway so that it wouldn't be cumbersome to travel with (we do a bit of air travel), and whilst at home so I could pop it into the stroller or handbag just in case - and it is perfect for that purpose. I have now had a sling, a Baby Bjorn and this Ergo Baby and my advice would be to use a sling/Baby Bjorn for newborns and skip buying the newborn insert (or at least try it before you buy).

However, in my opinion as your baby grows the Ergo Baby is definitely the best of the three. Light durable fabric, folds down small for packing, comfortable and easy for both me and baby once she was 4 mths + Wasn't comfortable for my newborn, sleeping hood seems a bit loose