I was given for free an ergo type carrier which LO loves but I don't love it for these reasons:

- I am constantly checking if she is breathing because it pushes her right to my chest

- I can't bend over/go from standing to seated/wash up etc etc without having to still hold her against me while I move like that

- The straps hurt my back, it's not very evenly weight distributed


Soo, yesterday I ordered a MeiTei from ebay but I am really alien to all this. The only reason I ordered one was because I hear them being raved about on here by a lot of you ladies

Did I make the right choice here?
Does anyone NOT recommend the MeiTei?
what kind of knot do I use as I'm really scared of her coming loose in there?
Can I bend without her sloshing around in it?
What else is good about it?
Would you recommend something else? (I hear a lot about Moby?)

Help please!


*** EDIT *** I don't mean bend right over lol I meant like lean forward to get something from a counter or table lol and what I mean about holding her when going from seated to standing etc I mean that small movement if I didn't hold her would throw her from side to side a LOT, which doesn't seem secure. I wouldn't not hold her when doing it I am just saying it moves her seemingly A LOT which can't be good for her neck at such a young age?

Just my opinion-- pretty much any carrier, you're going to have to hold onto your baby when you go from seated to standing and vice versa, and I think most (if not all) advise against bending over...
I think the ergo is supposed to be one of the best for weight distribution... I just got mine a few days ago and I like it better than the moby as far as pain in my neck, shoulders, and back.
I don't have a mei tai but I want one.
I'm not an experienced babywearer by any means... so I'm interested to see what veterans have to say.

I see how I sounded there lol I don't mean bend over properly lol I meant like leaning forward to get something from a counter or table lol and what I mean about holding her when going from seated to standing etc I mean that small movement if I didn't hold her would throw her from side to side a LOT, which doesn't seem secure. I wouldn't not hold her when doing it I am just saying it moves her seemingly A LOT which can't be good for her neck at such a young age?

BTW it isnt an actual ergo, it's a really cheap version of one, I'm sure your ergo will be much better

The ergo has an infant insert to prevent all that moving around before they get better head control... I've heard you can use a blanket to accomplish the same purpose... I still hold onto him when I stand or sit or lean or whatever, but he doesn't jostle nearly as much as he would without the insert.

Ah I didn't know that, I just meant it isn't like a bjorn as it has much wider support for her legs but I just don't get on with it. I see how the proper ergo is much better then. Wonder if someone with experience of a lot of different carriers can fill in the rest of the blanks here =]

BTW I love the pic!

Well I've had a stretchy wrap, woven wraps, mei tai, and soft structured carrier. I like them all for different reasons, but what works for me may not work for you.

I like stretchy wraps for when babies are tiny - they are very close and secure, and you can pop baby in and out as necessary. I used a moby with my son and a boba wrap with my daughter. The issue with these is they start to sag, loosen and generally get less comfortable as the baby gets bigger. I find that by 3 months other carriers are more comfortable and way more versatile (back and hip carries for example)

I had a babyhawk mei tai and though I did like it, I found it a bit hard on my back and neck once my son was over 20lbs. I ended up selling it and getting a soft structured carrier. Lots of women LOVE mei tais though so I would try it and see if you like it. I just double knotted my mei tai - I didn't do any kind of special knot. They're pretty secure in there!

I do love my SSC. I have a manduca which is similar to an ergo and I used it with my son from 6 months on (I can still carry him in it) and I started using it occasionally with my daughter at around 3 months. I mostly do back carries and it is super comfy for long periods (4+hours). Also it is adjustable so you and OH could both easily wear it.

But really my favourite carrier is a woven wrap. It is like a stretchy in that it is a long piece of fabric, but the fabric is woven and doesn't stretch. This lets you do lots of different carry positions (front, back, hip) and there are tons of different carries, so there's a pretty good chance of finding at least one you like. They have a steeper learning curve, but I like them the best. You generally can't pop baby in and out with most carries though - you have to wrap them in.

My daughter has spent most of her life in a carrier of some kind and when she was on the front (she is always on the back now) I always instinctively supported her when leaning forward. I could have tucked her head in (wrap) or pulled up the SSC, but she likes her head out when sleeping! HTH!

Oh and I thought I would mention - SSCs do need time spent adjusting the buckles/straps initially or they won't be comfy. I spent a good hour making sure everything was adjusted well and tight enough - so you might want to see if you can make your SSC more comfy by doing a little more tweaking.

Thankyou this is really helpful! My lo is only 1 month, do you think I will need some insert for the mei tai? I don't know what kind it is because it didn't say on the ebay listing.. It all seems really complex. Everyone keeps saying 'You have 2 pushchairs just use them' but lo is so much happier close to me and tbh so am I and I just think if it makes us both happy and it isn't hurting her then what is everyones problem?

I personaly like to use a ring sling for my tiny newborn then mve on to a carrier later on.

I like wraps, but find them fiddly amd I always need somene to help me. i also found it easy to NIP using the ring sling.

I have a Boba SSC, woven wrap and a mei tai. They all have their place and are great for different reasons. At the moment I love my mei tai best of all as I can get it on quicker than even the Boba but I don't tend to use it if it will mean the tails dragging on the ground in the wet, the Boba gets used then, and that is also DH's favourite. I only got my woven wrap last week and I'm still very much trying to get to grips with it lol.

I always do a reef knot with my mei tai, it's nice and secure and also easier to undo I find.