Ergo or Mei Tai?

[DevaMajka]

I am woefully undereducated in the babywearing department.
I'd like to get a good carrier, and was planning on getting an Ergo because I've heard great things about it.

Mei Tai's seem to be a tad bit less expensive though. How are they different/the same? Are there others that I should consider?

I have a ring sling, and I can only get one more. Help me figure out which one to get!

[dawncayden]

If I could only have 2 carriers it would be a sling and an Ergo.

A Beco is like an Ergo and might be better for you because you are small.

Mei Tai's are great front carriers and ok on the back. Ergo's are great back carriers and ok on the front. Once a baby is 6 months or so, you can start wearing them on the back, so you'll get a lot more use out of the Ergo from infant to age 3+years.

Ergo's are a bit more daddy friendly too. My dh has used them all, slings, wraps, mei tai and ergo...and he likes the wrap and Ergo best.

[dachshund mom]

I've got a Pikkolo that is soooo great. It's kinda a cross between them I think.

[JessiFish]

If it's at all possible, try them both first. I made my own mei tai and I haven't used the Ergo once since. I love the mei tai for back carries.
I think the Ergo was just too bulky for me. I'm pretty small. I think I would like Beco better just from the pictures.

[Drummer's Wife]

Personally, I love both a good SSC and an MT. I have a couple of each... but if I had to suggest one I would say get the Ergo. It's pretty much all I use at this point with my 30+ lb 2 yo. I found that after he got heavier a MT wasn't quite as supportive.

[mama in the forest]

I have both, and while my mei tai is just the most gorgeous beautiful thing, it hurt my back and shoulders after 20 minutes of wearing, and it wasn't as secure as my Ergo.

My Ergo was fabulous all the way around. It isn't very pretty, but it's a hardworkin' carrier. It's also an amazingly secure back carrier. I love it & it doesn't hurt!

[HikeMama]

LOVE my mei tai! I am 4'11", 95 pounds. It's hard to find anything that adjusts to my size. The mei tai is totally adjustable and grows with your babe! You can let anybody else wear it and not have to worry about readjusting it because you just tie it. LOVE IT!

[indigosky]

I love my Ergo (although I think it's ugly) and use it a zillion times more often than my mei tai. For me, the dealbreaker is how easy it is to pop on and off without having to tie and untie knots. The MT would drag on the ground when DD wasn't in it, so I'd have to take it off -- I like how I can leave the Ergo on my waist when she's out for a short time.

[CindyCindy]

Mei Tais are much more adjustable than an Ergo. A Mei Tai can do a "high back carry", whereas most Soft Structered Carriers are meant to go on your hips. If you are petite or larger, you really need to try out the SSC first before purchasing, they don't quite fit right on those body types. Mei Tais will fit anyone and are easily switched between wearers because you tie them each time. However if you are the only wearer, a SSC is faster. I would pick out whether you want a Mei Tai or a SSC, then do some research on the brands. I can't do Ergos, they dig in under my arms. Becos are by far the worst for switching wearers and adjusting while baby is in. And most men can do Ergo's, but I just had a dad come in who hated it and would up borrowing a mei tai instead. Let us know what you decide to get!

[DevaMajka]

Thanks for all the advice! It seems like ergo's are pretty well liked.
I didn't realize that the Mei Tai tied- I'm sure I'd get tired of that pretty quickly.
One thing I hadn't thought about is that my back hurts quite often, so I should get something that has lots of back support and is positioned to be supportive. I'm guessing the Ergo would be a good bet in that regard?

[ChickyMama]

If you are smaller built as some others have mentioned the ergo may not be for you. Some soft structured carriers don't cinch down enough in the waist. I have an Angel Pack and love it.



Diana, Loving Wife to DH , Mama to my two sweethearts, DD born 7/05, DS born 10/07

[DevaMajka]

I'm probably average, but maybe look like I'm on the small side of average, I'd guess. I'm 5'3" and weighed 125 before I got pg.
I'm about 10lbs over that atm, so I figure I'll be back to my pre-pg weight relatively soon.

I've been checking out the Pikkolo, but it will end up being $40 more than the Ergo (the Ergo gets free shipping). hmmm...

[alegna]

I MUCH prefer a MT to a SSC. I think the ties are easier than the buckles too.

-Angela

[Lauren710]

We have an Ergo that has worked very well for us. I'm about your size and tried on both the Ergo and Beco before buying and I didn't have a preference. The Ergo has plenty of room left when I cinch it down, I think you'd have to be really petite to have a problem with most carriers. The only thing I don't like about the Ergo is how hot it gets - it's really thick and DD is a sweaty baby to begin with, I have a couple other MTs on the way (yeah birthday money!) that should be better for summer BWing.

I would absolutely suggest looking at the trading post here and the FSOT forum over at TheBabyWearer before you buy a brand-new carrier. You can find some great deals on gently used carriers and maybe you'd be able to get both an SSC and a mei tai that way. If you can only get one I'd go with an SSC and look for a MT later, but maybe look for something less bulky than an Ergo (there's an ABC on FSOT right now super cheap, it's twill instead of canvas, so very light). We use our Ergo a ton just because it's so easy to get on and off, it was a great way to get used to wearing DD. I think if I had gotten a MT first I wouldn't have used it so much and DH definitely wouldn't have used it at all.

[sweetcheeks]

Originally Posted by indigosky

I love my Ergo (although I think it's ugly) and use it a zillion times more often than my mei tai. For me, the dealbreaker is how easy it is to pop on and off without having to tie and untie knots. The MT would drag on the ground when DD wasn't in it, so I'd have to take it off -- I like how I can leave the Ergo on my waist when she's out for a short time.

Ditto that. If DS is out of the Ergo, I can have it on my waist still and hanging down w/out having to worry about anything dragging on the ground.

[RasJi7]

Loved the moby for long walks until ds got heavier. The sling was perfect for quick trips to the corner store or just to keep in the diaper bag. I made a MT (because I thought I wanted an Ergo but didn't have the budget) and really love it with my 25# boy. I tie the straps of my MT around me just like when ds is in it when he is down and running around.

[MommaShark]

I have a MeiTai (Freehand), Pikkolo, Ergo, Moby and slings.....

If I had to choose just one I go with the Pikkolo - I wear my newborn comfortably in it and DH wears my 3.5 year old in it comfortable with the support belt. I love that the straps crisscross in the back for a front carry the front carry - in the Ergo is harder to get on because it's hard to adjust.

I couldn't choose between the Freehand Mei Tai and Ergo - the mei tai is GREAT for this stage and the Ergo is great for on the back.

Yes the Pikkolo is more - but you don't need another carrier.

The mei tai straps are not for me when I'm not in the house - they drag about and the knots in the back aren't great for sitting and hit some pressure points so you have to get them just right.

BTW, I'm usually 5'4: and 115 and DH is 5'10" and 175. Right now I'm dropping pregnancy weight

[marimara]

I has this same decision almost, only it was ssc or mei tai. I went with mei tai because it was cheaper, more adjustable, and easily packable.

[Quirky]

This is for your new baby? I'd vote Pikkolo. It's actually a hybrid between a buckle carrier and a mei tai, so you get the best of both worlds in a lot of ways, plus some advantages over either a MT or the Ergo:

• double-adjuster buckles allow straps crossed on the back for front carries, like a MT
• better padding in shoulders than a MT
• toggle drawstring at base to narrow it allows legs out at an earlier age than MT or Ergo, and also allows forward facing out position
• the fact that the support belt is separate means that it's not bulky for front carries
• easier to adjust more quickly than a MT, very easy to drop baby down for nursing
• no straps dragging on the ground
• support belt added on later gives support of an ergo but a little taller body

[DevaMajka]

Thanks for the info! I was wondering if the Pikkolo would be our best bet. Sounds good

eta- yes, it's for my newborn. He's 2 weeks old, and is gaining weight FAST (close to 10lbs now). My older ds was 20lbs at 6 mos old, and I'm guessing this lo will follow the same path.