Help with Mei Tai Brands!

[mzminty]

So I decided to get a mei tai, and now I'm having a hard time deciding which one. I looked up about Kozy's and Babyhawks on this site and decided that I didn't like the idea of "extra fabric" with the Kozy, because I'm a small person and don't want to be engulfed. Then I looked on ebay and saw that there are also Ellaroo, Picara, Catbird, etc., not to mention some homemade varieties.

So it seems like the more I research this, the less I feel able to make a decision and just buy one! If they weren't so expensive, I'd just place an order and be done with it, but now I feel like I need it to be "perfect"!

I've seen a lot about Babyhawks, so to start, what makes them so great? And does anyone know anything about any other brands?

Thanks!

[cotopaxi]

There's a whole forum at thebabywearer.com dedicated to mei tais, basically - the Choosing and Using an Asian-Inspired Carrier section. There are at least a hundred brands on the market!

Is the mei tai for your new little one that's about to arrive? I am also petite and really liked Babyhawk for that stage. Catbird is supposed to be good for little ones too. Freehand is another one very similar to the Babyhawk except it doesn't have a headrest.

Another one to consider is Ball Baby Overall (BBO). It has wrap-style straps, which I think are nice for newborns because they can help position the baby and provide better neck/back support ime.

Mei Tai Baby is another one I hear good things about for little ones. I think the bottom is adjustable so you can put their legs out sooner. (Of course you can do that with any mei tai by cinching it with a scrunchie or whatever, but it's nice to have it built-in.)

[mzminty]

Thanks. I'll have to look that up on babywearing.com!

[AnnR33]

It can be really overwhelming with so many choices! Since you're smaller you might want to focus on a mei tai with a body that is 15 inches or narrower. I'm smaller framed and have always needed a smaller body width so I don't feel swallowed up with fabric.

As far as Babyhawk, she uses absolutely stunning fabrics and the strap fabric is soft and sturdy. The quality is very good and they are a safe and gorgeous carrier. They also have the option of the flip up headrest which is good for little babies. You can often find them used at the above site for about $50-$65.

Another option to check out is Freehand mei tais. You can find them used for around $50 at above site and they are another good quality carrier.

I've used both the above and while the Babyhawk straps were a little overstuffed for my taste-they are both great carriers.

Napsack is another option that has a narrower body and wrap type straps that aren't too wide to be overwhelming. Again, look for a used one.
http://www.napsackbaby.co.uk/shop/in...ry=NapsackBaby

I would try to get 2 different mei tais at used prices so you have options to try when the baby comes. Try for slightly different body shapes and strap types (like a wrap strap as mentioned with the BBO and a regular 4 inch wide padded strap).

Good luck.

[wendypf]

i love my mei tai baby! The quality is great and there's a lot of fabrics to choose from. I am also petite and found the size to be just right.

[mzminty]

AnnR33, do you mean I can find them used at thebabywearer.com? I went to that site today and looked around a little, but couldn't seem to navigate it that well. I need a username, I guess.

I will try that, though, because $100 for a baby carrier is a little scary...

[AnnR33]

If you scroll down towards the bottom of the forums there is a "For Sale or Trade" or FSOT board. There are tons of carriers listed every day!
Don't get discouraged when you see lots of carriers for over $100....there are still lots for less money too
Good luck
Ann

Originally Posted by mzminty

AnnR33, do you mean I can find them used at thebabywearer.com? I went to that site today and looked around a little, but couldn't seem to navigate it that well. I need a username, I guess.

I will try that, though, because $100 for a baby carrier is a little scary...

[rmzbm]

If it's a smaller body you're looking for and it's for a newborn I'd get a Sachi. I like mine alot for just starting a babe in a MT. My fave is Kozy but it's a touch "too much" for a little babe. Sachi is perfect for the beginning.

[mzminty]

Thanks, everybody! It's looking like Peanut will arrive before my carrier does, but that's ok, because hopefully I'll be doing a lot of sitting down for a while anyway!

[cotopaxi]

Originally Posted by AnnR33

If you scroll down towards the bottom of the forums there is a "For Sale or Trade" or FSOT board. There are tons of carriers listed every day!

yep! And if you need help over there feel free to PM me (same user name). I can point you to specific FSOT threads even if you know which brands and price ranges you are interested in.

[mzminty]

Originally Posted by cotopaxi

yep! And if you need help over there feel free to PM me (same user name). I can point you to specific FSOT threads even if you know which brands and price ranges you are interested in.

Thanks. I looked a little yesterday, but the acronyms and such were a little overwhelming, and I didn't see that much that seemed like a really good deal. Honestly, If I'm going to buy a used carrier that's not in colors that I like, I need it to be a lot less money than buying one new, KWIM?

[AnnR33]

Originally Posted by mzminty

Thanks. I looked a little yesterday, but the acronyms and such were a little overwhelming, and I didn't see that much that seemed like a really good deal. Honestly, If I'm going to buy a used carrier that's not in colors that I like, I need it to be a lot less money than buying one new, KWIM?

That's the hard part, you have to search to find good deals. When I'm looking for something specific I tend to check the board 2x per day for about a week and I almost always find what I need. It takes a little patience though.

I do watch things and will offer the seller $5-$15 less than her asking price if it's been for sale for a few days or more. Most will deal with you. It's better to sell for $50 than let it sit for weeks at $60 KWIM?

Just FYI-Babyhawks tend to be listed as BH or Freehand as FH in the subject line

It's also good to subscribe to the thread to keep an eye on something so you don't have to spend forever to search for it later. You do that with the "thread tools" (or something like that) option at the top of the thread.

[AnnR33]

This happens to be a thread that I bought something from last week:
http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/s...d.php?t=305964

She has some good deals.

[mzminty]

Thanks Ann! I've actually been over there and saw that post but wasn't completely "sold" on anything, because the more I keep reading up on babywearing, the less I feel like I know what I want. I thought I was just going to get a BH, but then I was reading this really long thread about best babywearing options for petite moms (which I am), and now I'm not so sure. Some moms said that the padded shoulder straps were overwhelming (I hate padding), and some said that they couldn't see over the top of the head support part.

So now I'm thinking about a wrap again, and currently am sitting on my bed with a pen and a notebook so I can start taking notes and stop trying to remember all of this stuff and forgetting it!

I want to know exactly what I want, what size (also hard on the FSOT website, because a lot of that stuff seems to be in larger sizes), how much it sells for new, and then I'll feel like I can do some serious shopping.

Thanks so much again for your help!

[sarahloughmiller]

Wraps are great, especially for newborns. Really, different types of slings and carriers work at different times (I loved the wrap at first and used a ring sling a lot in the early months and then switched to pretty much only the mei tai once they got a little older) and for different uses (wearing around the house all day or going on errands). I have never only had one carrier, I like variety! If you buy something used and don't like it you can re-sell it for about the same price too.

[AnnR33]

mzminty, depending on where you live there might be a babywearing group within driving distance that you can go and try things on. That was so enlightening to me years ago. I had no idea of all the options! I think there is a forum at TBW with this list....

Another option is your local La Leche league mtg. They usually have some babywearing moms and you might be able to try a few things.

Good luck!