I have tried multiple baby carriers/wraps and like most of them for different reasons. Although it is impossible to avoid body heat while wearing baby, I have been looking for a breathable carrier that might be more comfortable in warm weather. There are a couple of carriers with mesh panels to keep baby cool (Lillebaby Airflow and Ergo Performance, for example) but for the most versatility I wanted one that had a zip-open mesh panel to allow for opening or closing the panel depending on the weather. There are only 2 such carriers (that I know of)… the Pognae and the Lillebaby All Seasons. I could not find any direct comparison of the two when I was deciding which to buy, but since I ended up trying both I thought I should spell out the differences between them for anyone else making the same choice.
1. COST: Pognae costs ~$90-100 (depending on design) vs. ~$140 for the comparable Lillebaby All Seasons. Win: Pognae.
2. MAIN MATERIAL: Both carriers are 100% cotton. The Pognae material is not as soft (feels more like starchy cotton canvas) while the Lillebaby material is softer. The Lillebaby material is a lint magnet though. Win: slight preference to Lillebaby.
3. MESH PANEL: The Pognae mesh panel is made of a nice, soft mesh in a single layer. This allows for great airflow when open, and also allows me to rub my baby’s back through it when he gets fussy. The Lillebaby mesh is a bit rougher and the zip-open panel has a double layer of mesh, which is not quite as breathable as the Pognae. Win: Pognae.
4. HEAD SUPPORT: In the Pognae, my 3.5-month old’s head barely came above the top of the carrier (about 1-2 inches) giving him good head support but not much ability to look around. In the Lillebaby, the top of the carrier comes to the nape of his neck giving just a bit of head support and allowing him to look around easily. Both carriers also come with supplemental head support: the Pognae comes with a head-support panel that is a separate piece that velcros onto the shoulder straps and adds another ~2 inches of head support. There is no way to store it on the carrier when not in use. The Lillebaby has an additional ~4 inches of head support that folds down and snaps in place when not in use. With this panel elevated, it gives great head support. It also has cinching cords on both sides if you want to bring the head support in around baby’s head while sleeping, for example. Win: Lillebaby.
5. SUN HOOD: Both carriers have similar sun hoods which extend from the carrier over the baby’s head and buckle to the shoulder straps. The Pognae has a small pocket that stores/conceals the sun hood when not in use. On the Lillebaby, the sun hood can be rolled up and stored under the flap of the head support when it is folded down. Unfortunately this means the head support must be up in order to use the sun hood; and when the head support is “up” and the sun hood is NOT in use, it is no longer concealed and the roll kind of hangs on the outside of the carrier. On the Lillebaby the sun hood is removable, so if not used often it can be detached and you can avoid having to deal with it. Win: Pognae.
6. SEAT: Both carriers have wide seats that support baby knee-to-knee. The Lillebaby also has a “narrow” seat option for smaller babies. In the Pognae, my 3.5-month old seemed comfortable enough, but his legs were definitely spread very widely. In the Lillebaby, the narrow option is wide enough to keep his knees in the “M” position without him doing the splits, and when he gets a little bigger we can go back to the wide seat. Win: Lillebaby.
7. STORAGE: The Lillebaby has one cargo pocket on the front, which is only accessible if the zip-down flap is closed (i.e. in the “cool-weather” position). The Pognae does not have any cargo pockets. Win: Lillebaby.
8. VERSATILITY: The Lillebaby advertises 6 possible carrying positions (front-carry small baby/larger baby/toddler, outward-facing, hip carry, back carry). It can support a newborn without an extra insert and comes with a little newborn strap for extra support if needed (can be removed if not needed). It has stirrups that can be purchased separately for back-carrying a toddler, if desired. The Pognae does not have outward-facing or hip carry options (which you may or may not want). It can support babies starting at 12 lbs but requires an insert for newborns. Win: Lillebaby.
9. HIP STRAP: Both have similar hip straps with elastic bands for extra buckle security. The Lillebaby comes with a lumbar support pad, which I guess is nice if the strap is across your lower back. Since I carry the hip strap low across my hips for comfort, the lumbar pad doesn't really do anything for me. Still, nice to have. Win: slight preference to Lillebaby.
10. SHOULDER STRAPS: The design of the shoulder straps is similar, but there are a couple of key differences. The Lillebaby straps can detach and be crossed, giving the option for parallel or crossed-strap positions in front-carry positions. I haven’t tried the crossed straps yet but know this is much more comfortable for many people. The Lillebaby straps are also longer, which is the KEY difference between them that ultimately led me to choose the Lillebaby. At 5’9” the Pognae straps were just too short on me. When carrying baby on my front, the straps came up over my shoulders and ended just behind my shoulders, leaving the adjustment buckles just below my armpits and making me roll my shoulders forward to avoid extra pressure on my arms. After carrying it for a while, I just felt a lot of discomfort in my upper back. I had seen conflicting reviews on the size of this carrier from other reviewers, but had given it a shot after reading that some people >6ft tall had worn it successfully. Unfortunately, it did not work for my frame. Win (for my frame): Lillebaby.
In the end, I returned the Pognae and ordered the Lillebaby All Seasons. The deciding factor was simply my own comfort wearing the Lillebaby on my tall frame. I could definitely see someone more petite being happier with the Pognae, however, and in the end there are still some features of each that I wish I could combine into the “perfect” carrier.
| Product Dimensions | 14 x 4 x 11 inches |
|---|---|
| Item model number | SC-3S-404 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Target gender | Unisex |
| Minimum weight recommendation | 7 Pounds |
| Maximum weight recommendation | 45 Pounds |
| Material Type | Polyester, Cotton |
| Care instructions | Machine Wash |
| Additional product features | Detachable Sun Hood |
| Number Of Items | 1 |
| Style | Adjustable, one size |
| Batteries required | No |
| Dishwasher safe | No |
| Orientation | Front, Back |
| Is portable | No |
| Item Weight | 1.1 pounds |
