I use our baby carrier at least once a day. Honestly, outside of the cot and the pram, it is probably the thing we use most. Here’s an honest, long-term review of the Ergobaby Embrace in Heather Grey, how a UK Sling Library expert validated our choice, how we transitioned to world facing mode, and the biological reason why it makes our daughter be calm super quickly. Here’s my Ergobaby Embrace Baby Carrier Review.
This isn’t an ad, I’m not getting any kickback from this if you buy one, this is a straight up review of something we found useful.
Why We Bought It
I’ll be honest: I bought the Ergobaby Embrace out of pure frustration.
Where we live is a brand-new estate. Sounds good right?
Well, none of the roads or pavements are finished, we’re still waiting 2 years since we bought it, and the nearby cycle paths are barely tarmac, mostly rough, bumpy gravel.
We own the Mamas & Papas Ocarro pram. It looks fantastic, feels super sturdy which is what you want, you don’t want a flimsy pram, and works well on smooth surfaces.
But on unpaved gravel roads?
There is next to no suspension shock absorption in the carrycot.
Seeing our tiny newborn jiggling around while lying in her carrycot wasn’t a good feeling.
We walk the dog twice a day, every single day, so we needed a smoother solution, fast.
Why the Ergobaby Embrace Over Other Slings?
When researching carriers online, I noticed a lot of slings/carriers had massive flaps of excess fabric or required complicated tying methods.
I chose the Ergobaby Embrace because:
- Head Support: It felt like it held a newborn’s head much more securely without suffocating them in fabric.
- Room to Grow: It expands to support babies from birth (3.2kg / 7lbs) up to 13kg (28lbs). She is now around 8kg, and I can still comfortably carry her.
- Buckle Simplicity: It combines the soft comfort of a wrap with the quick-click of a buckled structure, so when you first get it, you will need to spend 15 mins just getting it to the size you need it, making adjustments here and there for comfort, but from then on, and then every time you want to use it, it just clicks together and you can get out the house that bit quicker, which is what you want at 7am when your dog is at the back door wanting to go out.
Visiting a UK “Sling Library” (And What We Learnt)
My wife insisted we visit a local Sling Library.
I didn’t get it before I went. I didn’t understand how it would be helpful.
If you’ve never heard of one, don’t be put off.
They are usually run by someone in a dedicated community space or a home office that is packed to the ceiling with plastic tubs full of every sling you’ve ever looked at online and more.
You can rent carriers, try them on using weighted baby dolls, and get trained on safe positioning.
The Experts Verdict
For the first few months, my wife used a 100% fabric wrap sling that we rented from the library and eventually bought. It was the Love Radius – Basic, if you’re interested.
The sling expert explained that quality fabric wraps for new borns should stretch both lengthways and widthways, but also super soft and breathable, which is why cheap ones from budget sites like SHEIN can be uncomfortable or unsafe if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
When it came to my turn, I admitted I’d already panic bought the Ergobaby Embrace online.
To my relief, the sling expert gave it her full approval!
More importantly, she showed us we had been wearing it wrong.
Despite watching YouTube tutorials and reading the manual, we hadn’t been folding the waistband correctly for a newborn, and the shoulder straps were way too loose. Baby was sitting nearer my belly, rather than my chest where she should be.
The expert gave me the confidence to tighten the toggles more, the sling won’t squash her, just pick her up more. She showed me how to tuck baby into an ergonomic seat position, and ensure her airways were completely clear.
💡 Dad Tip: If you buy a carrier, get a trained sling consultant or local Sling Library to check your fit. OR, find some other couple who are using them to pass on their knowledge. It will make a world of difference to your back and your baby’s comfort.
How Much Does a Sling Library Cost?
Our local sling library cost £15 for a private hour long consultation.
If you go along, try on a few carriers, and decide none of them are for you, it only costs that £15.
If you do find one you like, you can rent it to test out at home before you buy OR you could rent it for 6 months and give it back if she grows out of it.
We rented a fabric wrap sling(Je Porte Mon Bebe, which is the same as the Love Radius, just a different brand name) for a month, which also cost £15.
Now, given you can buy a brand-new Wrap for around £50, paying £15 purely to rent a piece of stretchy fabric and another £15 to learn how to use it, might sound a bit steep .
But when you factor in that the £30 covered:
- The sling rental itself, you know it’s been tested and works.
- A full hands-on safety check.
- Proper fitting advice for a newborn.
- Learning how to adjust everything correctly.
…it was worth every penny.
The expert knowledge you get in that room is priceless, especially when you’re a tired terrified new Dad trying not to break your baby!
World-Facing Mode: Transitioning at 6 Months
As our daughter grew, the Embrace grew with her. We unfolded the bottom strap to give her more leg space..
Then, around the 6-month mark, she started to not want to be faced inward, she got fussy was our first warning.
So once she could sit up unassisted and had strong head/neck control, we switched her round to outward-facing (world-facing) mode.
Suddenly, dog walks became an adventure. Instead of staring at my chest, she could watch the trees, look at the dog, and take in the world.
Oh, and she also loves to take the straps to chew and wave around, they are great fun apparently.
The Science of the “Transport Response” (Why Slings Kill Crying)
Here is something fascinating I learned: when our daughter is in the pram, she can get noisy and upset quite easily. The second she goes into the sling, she goes dead quiet.
It turns out this isn’t luck—it’s evolutionary science known as the Transport Response.
Scientists have found that carrying a baby triggers a survival reflex shared across certain types of mammals (mostly animals born helpless, like humans, cats, dogs, and monkeys).
In the wild, Mammy senses danger and needs to flee, a crying or thrashing baby would alert predators and make escape much more difficult.
So, humans evolved an automatic physiological switch when carried in a rhythmic walking motion:
- Heart Rate Plummets: Studies show an infant’s heart rate drops significantly within 30 seconds of rhythmic walking.
- Movement Stops: They pull their knees up into a compact position and go calm.
- Crying Ceases: They settle almost instantly.
If you are struggling with nap strikes or surviving those tricky behaviour changes, putting your baby in the Ergobaby Embrace and walking around the block is a cheat for getting them to relax and/or go to sleep.
Drawbacks: Weather Limitations
No review is honest without mentioning the flaws.
Here are the two main limitations of the Ergobaby Embrace (or any sling really):
1. Rain Protection
The carrier doesn’t offer much rain coverage on its own. Unlike a pram that has that big plastic transparent mesh you can put around it. While you shouldn’t be taking a baby out in heavy downpours anyway, a surprise shower can be tricky.
We solved this by using a maternity coat extender (zip-in panel) attached to my wife’s coat, which zips over the sling to keep baby warm and dry.
2. Summer Heat
Carrying an 8kg+ baby chest-to-chest generates body heat. Which in the winter is great, but in the middle of summer, both you and the baby will get sweaty fast.
For hot summer hikes, we’ve started testing a backpack carrier (LittleLife Ranger Child Carrier) I’ll post a full review of that once we’ve put more miles on it!
Verdict: Is the Ergobaby Embrace Worth It?
100% yes.
If you live anywhere near rough roads, have a dog to walk, or just want a reliable way to settle a fussy newborn, the Ergobaby Embrace is a fantastic purchase.
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