opinions on mei tai's

Huggles · Mar 28th, 2012, 04:24 AM

Hi,

I'd love to get some opinions on mei tai's.

We currently have a normal carrier (i guess it might be a SCC? - see pic below). The crotch section is fairly wide so supports most of his thigh keeping his legs at a good angle.

I got it when he was about 6 weeks old i think and he's always been really happy in it, but i feel like he's getting a bit big for it now. It says that it can be used until 11kg. He's only somewhere between 7-8kg now (16-17lb) and will be 5 months old on Friday. He is still happy in it though, but i just feel like it's not really right for him anymore.

I don't wear him very much, only really when he's having a fussy day and wanting to be carried a lot, or sometimes if i go out shopping and need both hands. At the moment I prefer wearing him on the front. I'm not yet sure how i feel about back carrying, but i figure i might go that route as he gets older. Dh also likes to have the option to wear him occasionally - in fact i think he quite fancies the idea of wearing him.

I first heard about mei tai's on this thread, and i quite like the look of them. I've found a supplier here in SA, so I know i will be able to get one if i do decide to go that route. Just wondering what people generally think of them and do they really work as baby gets bigger? (i'm unlikely to be wearing him still at 2 years old, but might very well be at 1 year old). Do they hurt your back and does baby feel really heavy when in it?

Rachel_C · Mar 28th, 2012, 04:51 AM

Is there a particular make you're looking at? 'Mei tai' is just the style of the carrier so there can be great variety between brands, the same as there is with other types of carrier. I have a Babyhawk which I can still comfortably carry my 2.5 year old in but she finds it uncomfortable as it's not wide enough to go knee pit to knee pit. It was fine up to about 18 months (or maybe more, I was pregnant so not carrying her at the time) though and she is fairly tall. If you have a good carrier that is right for you, yes it will be comfortable still at a year old and probably a lot longer. But mei tais vary - strap padding, length of straps, width of body and straps, quality of materials and workmanship etc - so it's impossible to say that they're all great, if you see what I mean?

Huggles · Mar 28th, 2012, 05:05 AM

oh, i didn't know there were different kinds/styles of mei tai's!
As far as I know there is only one supplier in SA, so it would be from her. Here's the website.

From the website:

Quote:

Design Features

Comfortable Straps -

Lightly padded shoulder and waist straps offer comfort without being bulky, and distribute the weight of your baby evenly across wide section of your shoulders, back and hips,

The fabric on the straps are made of 100% cotton brushed twill, and does not cut across the shoulder and upper arm like a traditional wrap, so there's no restriction to your arm movement.

After numerous testing, the shoulder straps are set at a slightly more vertical angle, which allows you to snug the baby close to your chest, without the straps dragging on your shoulders and back. This provides longer and more weightless babywearing, providing comfort for both mom and baby.

Versatile Design -

Our carriers are suitable from infanthood to toddlerhood, and can be used in many different carrying styles. You can breastfeed your baby in it. For parents with twins it is also possible to wear them both at the same time (one in front carry and another one in a back carry). The waist straps can be folded over to make the body of the carrier shorter to suit a very young infant, while the padded backrest offers comfort and support, but it can also be folded down for babies who prefer to ride with their arms out.

Beautiful Fabric -

All cotton Om Baba carriers are machine washable on a cold gentle cycle. Occasionally we make limited quantities of special Om Baba carriers featuring luxury Dupioni silk, raw silk, embroidery, or faux fur.

Safety-

Only the highest quality fabric and threads are used in our carriers, and each carrier is further strengthened with a hidden layer of bottom weight sturdy canvas for extra support and to prevent tearing. All our straps are top stitched to prevent twisting; and the waist straps are made from one continuous piece of fabric - offering the most durable and safest support.

Huggles · Mar 28th, 2012, 05:30 AM

Here are some pictures of the kind that i would buy:

Rachel_C · Mar 28th, 2012, 08:52 AM

Ok well the make is Om Baba, I'd just google that for reviews and see what people say

Snuffy · Mar 28th, 2012, 15:45 PM

We have a Babyhawk and it's my favourite of all my slings.

My 3.5yo loves the pretty pattern and asked to have a go in it this afternoon so she hopped on my back and had a go - she was only in it for a couple of minutes but I could lift and walk around with her no problem, which is more than I can say about carrying her in my arms lol.

If Ollie is as tall as his sister (and I think he will be) I can see us needing a Toddlerhawk when he is older and at the moment I won't hesitate to upgrade to one. They are lovely carriers

Rmar · Mar 28th, 2012, 21:01 PM

I've just preordered a Mysol and can't wait for it to get here.

From the look of those Mei Tai's, they could safely be worn for at least 4 years. But unless you were regularly wearing, it might get uncomfortable for long distances at that age. For just an every now and then thing, you could probably get away with it being comfortable for 2-3 years.

oread · Mar 28th, 2012, 23:06 PM

I have a Mei Tai, and wish I would have gone with an Ergo instead! It gets really annoying to tie it all the time, from everything I have read it is much easier and quicker to get them in and out of the Ergo.

Tacey · Mar 29th, 2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oread

I have a Mei Tai, and wish I would have gone with an Ergo instead! It gets really annoying to tie it all the time, from everything I have read it is much easier and quicker to get them in and out of the Ergo.

I have a friend who feels like that too, but I'm the other way. Having tried to wrestle Alice into an Ergo on my back, I far prefer the mei tai! I can never get the buckles just right with SSCs, whereas tying makes it perfect each time. It's funny how different our preferences can be!

mamawannabee · Mar 30th, 2012, 13:59 PM

I like my mei tai but have just ordered a baby boba ssc that I think I will like better! The mei tai can be hard to get just right and I prefer my wrap, but it is a pain having to wrap when I'm not home so I keep the mei tai in the car. I have an ergo also and since I don't have the infant insert, LO doesn't like it as she's still kind of small for it, but I don't like it much.

Mar 28th, 2012, 04:24 AM	#1
Huggles Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22,242	opinions on mei tai's Hi, I'd love to get some opinions on mei tai's. We currently have a normal carrier (i guess it might be a SCC? - see pic below). The crotch section is fairly wide so supports most of his thigh keeping his legs at a good angle. I got it when he was about 6 weeks old i think and he's always been really happy in it, but i feel like he's getting a bit big for it now. It says that it can be used until 11kg. He's only somewhere between 7-8kg now (16-17lb) and will be 5 months old on Friday. He is still happy in it though, but i just feel like it's not really right for him anymore. I don't wear him very much, only really when he's having a fussy day and wanting to be carried a lot, or sometimes if i go out shopping and need both hands. At the moment I prefer wearing him on the front. I'm not yet sure how i feel about back carrying, but i figure i might go that route as he gets older. Dh also likes to have the option to wear him occasionally - in fact i think he quite fancies the idea of wearing him. I first heard about mei tai's on this thread, and i quite like the look of them. I've found a supplier here in SA, so I know i will be able to get one if i do decide to go that route. Just wondering what people generally think of them and do they really work as baby gets bigger? (i'm unlikely to be wearing him still at 2 years old, but might very well be at 1 year old). Do they hurt your back and does baby feel really heavy when in it?

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Mar 28th, 2012, 04:51 AM	#2
Rachel_C Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11,827	Is there a particular make you're looking at? 'Mei tai' is just the style of the carrier so there can be great variety between brands, the same as there is with other types of carrier. I have a Babyhawk which I can still comfortably carry my 2.5 year old in but she finds it uncomfortable as it's not wide enough to go knee pit to knee pit. It was fine up to about 18 months (or maybe more, I was pregnant so not carrying her at the time) though and she is fairly tall. If you have a good carrier that is right for you, yes it will be comfortable still at a year old and probably a lot longer. But mei tais vary - strap padding, length of straps, width of body and straps, quality of materials and workmanship etc - so it's impossible to say that they're all great, if you see what I mean?

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Mar 28th, 2012, 05:30 AM	#4
Huggles Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 22,242	Here are some pictures of the kind that i would buy:

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Mar 28th, 2012, 08:52 AM	#5
Rachel_C Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11,827	Ok well the make is Om Baba, I'd just google that for reviews and see what people say

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Mar 28th, 2012, 15:45 PM	#6
Snuffy Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,599	We have a Babyhawk and it's my favourite of all my slings. My 3.5yo loves the pretty pattern and asked to have a go in it this afternoon so she hopped on my back and had a go - she was only in it for a couple of minutes but I could lift and walk around with her no problem, which is more than I can say about carrying her in my arms lol. If Ollie is as tall as his sister (and I think he will be) I can see us needing a Toddlerhawk when he is older and at the moment I won't hesitate to upgrade to one. They are lovely carriers

Status: Offline

Mar 28th, 2012, 21:01 PM	#7
Rmar Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,483	I've just preordered a Mysol and can't wait for it to get here. From the look of those Mei Tai's, they could safely be worn for at least 4 years. But unless you were regularly wearing, it might get uncomfortable for long distances at that age. For just an every now and then thing, you could probably get away with it being comfortable for 2-3 years.

Status: Offline

Mar 28th, 2012, 23:06 PM	#8
oread Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 259	I have a Mei Tai, and wish I would have gone with an Ergo instead! It gets really annoying to tie it all the time, from everything I have read it is much easier and quicker to get them in and out of the Ergo.

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Mar 30th, 2012, 13:59 PM	#10
mamawannabee Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: United States Posts: 1,652	I like my mei tai but have just ordered a baby boba ssc that I think I will like better! The mei tai can be hard to get just right and I prefer my wrap, but it is a pain having to wrap when I'm not home so I keep the mei tai in the car. I have an ergo also and since I don't have the infant insert, LO doesn't like it as she's still kind of small for it, but I don't like it much.

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