We relied heavily on baby carriers for the past 16 months with the arrival of our twin girls, now 19 months. After using Ergobaby 360 for 15 months, I decided that a new carrier was long overdue.
We are now babywearing using two different brands, Kol Kol Toddler and Tula Standard, and I thought it is an excellent chance to share my thoughts on these carriers.
Ergobaby 360
I started babywearing when my twins turned three months old. I thought using a double or tandem stroller has its limitations while pushing two prams out of the house meant that I could not travel independently.
As the baby was small when I first started babywearing, I used the baby insert to keep the baby snug and safe. Click here for video training on using the baby insert.
However, in Singapore’s humid weather, the insert has proven to be thicker than I desired. We ran errands outdoor and my baby was usually hot and sweaty by the time we finished our over-an-hour errand. Sometimes, I worried whether my baby would get overheated in the insert.
Once my baby could sit upright, I removed the baby insert. Sitting in the baby carrier is no longer a sweaty event.
As I looked back, Ergobaby 360 worked very well for us during the first year. It was light-weight (lightest weight of all three reviewed herein) and very versatile. I typically wore the baby inward-facing and front-facing. On days I had to carry both twins at the same time, I would add on one more carrier for back carry.
Its thick waistband helped distribute the weight of the baby evenly, and I could go for long walks without feeling any back pain.
As the babies grew beyond 1-year-old, the carrier started to crumble. The thick waistline lost its shape and could no longer distribute my baby’s weight evenly around my waist. Most of the time, the load of the kiddo was pulling me forward. I felt a sharp pain in my lower back after babywearing for about an hour. It didn’t help that the waistband was too big for me and hung around my hip instead.
My babies also outgrew the back panel beyond 12 months old. Often, I worried that they would flip over and fall out of the carrier. Breastfeeding without a nursing cover became impossible.
The below photo was taken when my baby was around 12 months old and the back panel still fitted nicely.
On a minor note, the velcro on the waistband was super noisy when we unstrapped, and would usually risk waking up a sleeping baby.
By the time they turned 18 months, my twins were too big and heavy for the Ergobaby 360. When seated in the carrier, they nearly dangled from the crotch. I decided that we must invest in new carriers.
Kol Kol Toddler Carrier
As compared to Ergobaby, Kol Kol Toddler Carrier has a significantly larger body panel (understandably, since it is for toddler’s use) and cushier shoulder strap. It helps that the fabric used is stretchy and promotes airflow. Further, equipped with stronger gross motor skills, the girls will stretch their hands above and out of the body panel to cool themselves down.
Kol Kol is limited to front and back carry, not as versatile as compared to Ergobaby 360. I back-carried one of the girls to the park for a stroll today. I felt my big baby safe and secure in the carrier. There are many adjustable straps in the carrier to ensure that people with different body shapes can enjoy the best fit.
The hood attached to the body panel is big. It not only supports the head of a sleeping baby, but it also provides privacy with nursing. Now I can hide behind the body panel and nurse in peace.
The heavily padded buckle waistband fits my waist snugly and spreads my baby’s weight evenly around my waist. As I still feel the pressure on my back, my babywearing educator Fion, recommended that I purchase the Lillebaby lumbar support as an add-on to the baby carrier to reduce tension on my back. It works!
Tula Baby Carrier (Standard Size)
I borrowed the Tula Standard Carrier from my sister-in-law. Its features are similar to Kol Kol’s which includes a fit adjuster on the shoulder straps to cater to various body frames.
I like its narrow shoulder strap which is densely padded and does not slip off my shoulder easily. If compared to Kol Kol, Tula may possibly fit a smaller frame person better.
The waistband is also thickly padded and goes well with the Lille Lumbar Support. The fabric is super soft but denser as compared to a Kol Kol. I am not sure if the fabric softness is attributed to frequent usage and laundered by my sister-in-law, so don’t take my word on this point.
On the body panel, the standard size carrier is a little tad small for my 19-months-old girls as they are fully capable of stretching themselves out of the baby carrier. I guess a Tula Toddler will work better for us.
Nursing in a Tula is a little more cumbersome as I still need to bring along a nursing cover to ensure privacy. The width of a Standard/Toddler Tula is 14.5″/ 19″ wide and 15.5″ tall, whereas Kol Kol Toddler is 19″ wide and 18.5″ tall. By the way, while the hood is detachable, I don’t see the necessity to remove it at all.
Want to try out Tula too? You want to rent from Fion’s rental shop.
So which baby carrier would I recommend?
In terms of comfort, Tula and Kol Kol work best for me because of the heavy padding on the shoulder straps and waistband. But that makes the carriers more cumbersome too. Whereas for ErgoBaby, it has a lower price point and is more lightweight.
It is not easy to choose a suitable baby carrier for yourself and you cannot make a choice over the internet. Selecting the right carrier is dependent on your body frame, your little one’s age and needs.
I suggest that you consult a babywearing educator, bring your baby along to try out a few brands before you make your choice.
Hope you find this post useful.
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