Why cant I do this?

[chase_mommy]

That is, getting my 14 month old DD into the back carry, in a Mei Tai on my own? I have been, almost daily, for the past 3 months working on this and I just can't seem to get it down.

First of all DD doesn't seem to love the MT like her ringsling. However, I cant do the RS for long periods of time anymore, she kills my shoulder. I can get her on my back fine until she decides to sit up and ride me like a pony. Fun for her, nerve wracking for me! Then I struggle to get the body of the MT over hers. It seems to get caught up on her butt or one part of it is over the other is under, I have no clue to what I am doing wrong here. After much struggle I manage to get the carrier over her body, only for her to want to stand up in it. I have to fight with her to get her legs out so her butt slides down. Not fun for her or myself. Thats one scenario. The other, DH helps me get her in. He pretty much just *attempts* to slip her in while I hold the top straps lose but she arches her back and screams. She much rather be held on the hip. Anywho... either time, I/we get her in she is fine for about 30minutes and then she is done and ready to get out and sit on out hip. I dont get what her deal is. I put her as High as I can on my back but that doesn't matter to her. When it is time for me to get her off of my back, that is equally hard as getting her on. I cant get a hold of her to get her off. I dont know if my arms are to short or what but I struggle and struggle. Eventually I get her off but it is not getting any easier. I know it cant be this hard because if it was there wouldnt be anyone using the MT. I cant scoot her back around to my hip, I can barley get a hold of her period. The majority of the time I end up sitting down and then lowering her with the top straps. Luckily, I have a van but it is really inconvenient and annoying especially when I watch all these mommas on youtube who just whip their little one on and off again. So frustrating! I have watched videos, read tutorials and instructions... I/we cant get it. Any suggestions or ideas? Have any idea what I am doing wrong here and why she is hating this MT? Should I just give up on the MT?... but it is so comfortable for me. Maybe I need to make a wrap and give that a go? I don't know, I am at a loss here. Please help!

[MommaShark]

Have you tried it in from of a mirror? At that age my LO would hold on piggyback style while I supported his butt with the back of the carrier and pull it up over his back then get it on my shoulders......but looking in a mirror helped when I was learning. Also, when my LO was learning to walk - he didn't want to be carried until he was tired....

[chase_mommy]

Originally Posted by MommaShark

Have you tried it in from of a mirror? At that age my LO would hold on piggyback style while I supported his butt with the back of the carrier and pull it up over his back then get it on my shoulders......but looking in a mirror helped when I was learning. Also, when my LO was learning to walk - he didn't want to be carried until he was tired....

I have not tried it in front of a mirror, will do after her morning nap! DD isn't anywhere near walking yet. She just isn't interested in it. She really likes being held most of the time. DH literally carries her around all afternoon after work. I feel bad for him, you know his arm has to be hurting him so* bad!

[alegna]

Which MT? I find it much harder with a non-cooperative kid if the MT is a smaller body (baby hawk) vs larger body (kozy)

Here's how I do mine. Putting on back- Tie bottom of mt (Mine are kozys), leave hanging down (important) but make sure straps are untangled, grab baby, put on right hip, rotate to back while bouncing a touch. MAKE SURE legs are fully straddled around you in this step- wide apart. Leaning forward, reach down and grab straps, bringing them as far away from your body (back) and baby as possible. Bring up and over shoulders, bounce and tighten and tie. I can get even a fully non-compliant toddler up there this way, though sometimes there's a moment that looks really scary to on-lookers

Getting down- easiest method- untie top and bottom, while holding tension, swing around to hip and down to floor or couch or whatever. Baby ends up on the floor WITH the carrier still around them.

hope that helps a little!

-Angela

[MittensKittens]

I do mine similar to alegna, but make sure that the MT is in position already while on the hip, that is baby legs on either side of the body. Without doing that, I found I'd "miss" the legs sometimes, kwim? Then I rotate to the back, bounce and tie. Looking in a mirror while tying is pretty useful too, I think!

[Otidea]

I might do a poor job explaining this but here goes;

Tie the waiststraps a little loose and have the body of the MT hanging in FRONT of you. Put the baby in as you would carry in front. Grab both shoulderstraps, tilt baby a little from your body and swing baby and MT onto your back, then tie. No scary moments

Herehttp://tettinntil.no/forumet/showthr...ighlight=pyser's pictures to explain it properly.

[Curlyfry7]

I've always done the santa toss, or whatever you want to call it. I can do it with my toddler even when he is full-on protesting mode, although as alegna said it can be scary to observers. Since I have the straps under his arms and held tightly, his upper torso is kind of pinned to me, preventing falls. I could never master the "scoot around your hip" method-my shirt always got bunched up or whatever.

For getting down, I do the same as alegna described.

But I DEFINITELY learned in front of a mirror. Now with my DD who is almost 5 months old and a bit young to really protest physically (vocally is another story!) I still check the mirror if I am at home to make sure her arms are in a good position, etc.

Good luck!

[Devaskyla]

Where are you tying it on you? Until ds2 was about 2, i tied the "waist" straps just below my breasts for a back carry. Then I'd leave it hanging down, pick him up & slide him over one shoulder & down my back a little. He loved hanging on that way. Then I grabbed the shoulder straps and used them to pull the carrier over him. Once he was standing, to get him off, I'd undo the shoulder straps, grab his arms & slide him down my back to the floor or kind of swwing him around in front & put him down. To get ds3 down, I bend over, totally undo the carrier, grab him bum and pull him down & around until he's cradled in front of me in the carrier.

[chase_mommy]

Originally Posted by alegna

Which MT? I find it much harder with a non-cooperative kid if the MT is a smaller body (baby hawk) vs larger body (kozy)

Here's how I do mine. Putting on back- Tie bottom of mt (Mine are kozys), leave hanging down (important) but make sure straps are untangled, grab baby, put on right hip, rotate to back while bouncing a touch. MAKE SURE legs are fully straddled around you in this step- wide apart. Leaning forward, reach down and grab straps, bringing them as far away from your body (back) and baby as possible. Bring up and over shoulders, bounce and tighten and tie. I can get even a fully non-compliant toddler up there this way, though sometimes there's a moment that looks really scary to on-lookers

Getting down- easiest method- untie top and bottom, while holding tension, swing around to hip and down to floor or couch or whatever. Baby ends up on the floor WITH the carrier still around them.

hope that helps a little!

-Angela

I made my MT. I would say it is a larger body, more along the lines of a Kozy.

Question: When you pull the straps as far away from your body and baby and then up and over baby.... How is baby secure? Do you do them both at the sometime? When I do them its one at a time but I still seem to get them hung up on the CD booty on the second strap. I absolutely LOVE your suggestion for getting baby down. Thanks and you rock!

Originally Posted by MittensKittens

I do mine similar to alegna, but make sure that the MT is in position already while on the hip, that is baby legs on either side of the body. Without doing that, I found I'd "miss" the legs sometimes, kwim? Then I rotate to the back, bounce and tie. Looking in a mirror while tying is pretty useful too, I think!

I have never been great at the hip scoot. However, I practiced some more with your suggestion of having the MT is position while baby is on hip and scoot both around. That works wonderfully now that I can hip scoot a bit better. Now the MT is in place. Just if I can get the body of the MT up without getting hung on the booty. Thank you, your awesome!

Originally Posted by Otidea

I might do a poor job explaining this but here goes;

Tie the waiststraps a little loose and have the body of the MT hanging in FRONT of you. Put the baby in as you would carry in front. Grab both shoulderstraps, tilt baby a little from your body and swing baby and MT onto your back, then tie. No scary moments

Herehttp://tettinntil.no/forumet/showthr...ighlight=pyser's pictures to explain it properly.

This link wasn't working for me. All I got was a log on page and it was in a different language.

Originally Posted by Devaskyla

Where are you tying it on you? Until ds2 was about 2, i tied the "waist" straps just below my breasts for a back carry. Then I'd leave it hanging down, pick him up & slide him over one shoulder & down my back a little. He loved hanging on that way. Then I grabbed the shoulder straps and used them to pull the carrier over him. Once he was standing, to get him off, I'd undo the shoulder straps, grab his arms & slide him down my back to the floor or kind of swwing him around in front & put him down. To get ds3 down, I bend over, totally undo the carrier, grab him bum and pull him down & around until he's cradled in front of me in the carrier.

I have tied it at waist and up under my breast. It really doesn't matter, its still a small struggle... well I am getting better now with all of these wonderful suggestions. I have tried to grab her arm or bum and slide but I have come to the conclusion that I have short arms. Just not something I can do for some reason?


Thank you everyone for your suggestions. You all are really great. Now, does anyone know how I can get her to love this carrier? She still wants out after 30 min or so. Not to be put down,only so she can be held on the hip. Thats ok sometimes but other times I am doing things that little hands need to be out of the way. Thanks again ladies!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by chase_mommy

I made my MT. I would say it is a larger body, more along the lines of a Kozy.

Question: When you pull the straps as far away from your body and baby and then up and over baby.... How is baby secure? Do you do them both at the sometime? When I do them its one at a time but I still seem to get them hung up on the CD booty on the second strap. I absolutely LOVE your suggestion for getting baby down. Thanks and you rock!

I lean forward so baby is kind of laying on my back, and keep one hand on them if they're not big enough/in the right frame of mind to help I'll pay more attention, but I think I kind of flip the body (of the MT) up and away from my body to avoid getting it hung on the cd butt

-Angela