My life can be pretty darn hectic at times. Between the babies, the blog, the housework, nurturing a marriage and dealing with a sullen and often cynical  pre-teen, I definitely appreciate anything that can make my life run even the teensiest bit more smoothly.

Take grocery shopping, for example. I have a 16 month old and a 4 month old. My toddler is too little yet to walk everywhere, so she usually sits in the seat of the grocery cart. My 4 month old isn't exactly competing in marathons, either, so he has to remain in his carseat and usually gets pushed around with the stroller.This is an arrangement that works just fine, but it is NOT overly convenient. I hate having to expertly navigate WalMart like a caravan... Dan and Sophie with the cart and me following with Xander in the stroller. It's not convenient at all, and we tend to get stuck in aisle traffic jams if we're there during peak hours. This is enough at times to make the simple act of grocery shopping a rather stressful experience!

And then there's the issue of trunk space. I drive a 2006 Mercedes E350, so my trunk is a very good size for a sedan. But lugging the stroller around makes packing the trunk with groceries quite challenging when we do a larger grocery trip that includes bulky items like toilet paper, cases of beer (the hubby's) and anything else oddly sized or shaped. The stroller simply gets in the way and takes up valuable trunk space that could be used for our food and household items.

I had used a baby carrier to run errands before, but I found that the weight of the baby tugging at my shoulders left me very sore within a very short period of time. Then I found out that not all baby carriers are created equal. Sure, you can buy an economy line carrier, but you may need all that money you saved to finance a trip to the chiropractor! I knew there had to be a better baby-wearing solution out there.....One that was comfortable for baby AND Mommy (or Daddy) that wouldn't cause horrid aches and pains. After looking into this very issue, I stumbled across ERGOBaby Carriers.

ERGOBaby is a name I am sure you're familiar with. This is considered the Rolls Royce of soft-shelled baby carriers. This seems to be the bar against which all other carriers seem to have to measure. I was curious to see what the ERGOBaby difference was all about. Could this carrier allow me to bond with my baby while performing everyday activites without hurting me or wearing me out?

ERGOBaby generously sent me the ERGObaby Organic Carrier in Organic Dark Chocolate Twill with Kona Coffee Lining so I could find out for myself why these baby carriers are all the hype right now. Take a look at this beautiful baby carrier. I love the dark, rich chocolate color. It is simple, attractive, and beautifully gender neutral.

So what's so special about an ERGO? Well, it's all in the science behind the design of these carriers. The expert design team at ERGOBaby found the perfect solution to common baby-wearing woes. Specifically, it's designed to distribute weight to your hips and shoulders, rather than your lower back. The ERGO can be worn in three positions, front carry facing in, back carry facing in, and hip carry. There are two adjustable straps that help with the weight distribution, and also allow for any shape and size person to wear the ERGO. The lower strap, which goes around the waist is very thick and is adjustable, and the upper strap clips at chest-level to keep the shoulder straps in place. This is done to evenly distribute the baby's weight so you won't feel like you have a backpack full of squirming bricks painfully strapped to you! This carrier also is designed to accommodate people of all shapes and sizes. I am 5'4" and weigh 140lbs. My husband is 5'9" and weighs 170lbs. We can both easily wear this carrier, and there is still plenty of adjustment room to spare. So if you're a curvier person or your hubby is built like a linebacker, chances are, you can comfortably wear the ERGOBaby Carrier, too!

Here are the features of the ERGOBaby Carrier I received for review:


Organic Baby Carrier Features:

• Ergonomic design
• 100% organic cotton twill with 100% organic cotton sateen lining and hood
• 100% cotton organic batting in body of carrier to soften edges
• One inch, high density foam in shoulder straps
• Quarter inch high density EVA foam in waist belt
• High Quality buckles tested by SGS
• Waist belt circumference from 25" to 43"
• Fits from 5' to 6'6" body height with adjustable shoulder and chest straps
• Sleeping hood with elastic, adjusts in length for growth of baby
• High quality webbing, matched to carrier color
• Reinforced stitching used at all fabric intersections
• Interior rip-stop reinforcements at critical intersections
• Durability/strength tested up to 90 pounds
• Machine washable - cold, gentle cycles, mild detergent, no bleach. Dry in low heat

**Important Notice If your baby is less than four months old you will need an ERGObaby Infant Insert in order to safely carry your baby in the ERGObaby Carrier.**


MY OPINION?

Overall, I LOVE this carrier! It truly delivers on all of its promises. Since I started using my ERGO, not only have I experienced far less muscle pain and strain, I have also found that I can do chores while "holding" my babies! This comes in especially handy when they're sleepy, cranky, or just want to be loved on. My husband loves this carrier, too. Granted, he probably doesn't feel too macho with a baby strapped to him, but welcome to the wonderful world of parenting, right? With two babies well under the age of 2, this product is an absolute must have. I wish I had two of them now! One for each parent so BOTH babies can be worn simultaneously. That would make family outings to the zoo or park so much more enjoyable for everyone! These awesome carriers are also soft-shelled, so they are super portable and can easily fit in your diaper bag! If you suffer from stiff muscles from constantly carrying your baby around, ERGOBaby can save the day! (And your aching back!)

You have gotten used to my Birthday Event Preview posts by now, so I'm sure you can all guess what's next, right? That's right!! The generous folks at ERGOBaby Carriers are so sure you'll love their carriers that they are offering one lucky follower the ERGOBaby Carrier of their choice as part of my For Baby prize package! (Excluding the new Petunia Picklebottom designs.) How cool is THAT?! See for yourself why everyone is raving about this fantastic product!

In the meantime, here's how you can learn more about ERGOBaby Carriers!

HOW TO CONNECT:

You can see this and all the other great carriers on the ERGOBaby website. You can even buy one there, too!
Or use their handy retail locator to find an authorized ERGOBaby retailer near you!

You can also follow ERGOBaby on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of new products and promotions! FYI: Doing so NOW will put you ahead of the game when my giveaways begin on June 1st!


***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***