putting 7mo old in mei tai backcarry

[sassycat]

i could use some help on this one...

i had my mom help me get dd on my back in the mei tai, just to see if she was big enough for it yet, and we loved it! i could do so much with my hands (and didnt have to worry about burning little feet while cooking, or little hands grabbing the sharp garden fence, or little fingers typing for me ) !

now if i could only figure out how to get her in it without help. i tried a few different ways, and it just wasnt happening.

i would love some ideas!

[_betsy_]

I have no idea! But I love the mai tie and can't wait until DD2 (8 months) and I can figure out how to get her in a back carry myself!

Just commiserating!

[tpintsch]

Here is one way to do it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfck0...eature=related

Here is another way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-BuGMve4so&NR=1

This way is good too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgxvs...eature=related

I personally put the baby up on my front like I was going to do a front carry then I grab the straps at the top and the knot in the front and swing her around to my back. But I can't find a video like that.

[sassycat]

ooh thanks tpintsch for the links! they made it look so easy. the first two, seemed like the babies are bigger than mine, dd is about 16lbs. that last one with the little baby, i think id have to watch a few times.

maybe lots of practice, and a mirror next to the bed or something. looks like i have a lot of work ahead of me! im determined to figure this out though

thank you!

[baturay]

Here you go!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qfj48x0sYA

My little one is 5 mos in that video and about 16 lbs.

[KristyDi]

I love the Superman Toss. (1st one in that video)

When people ask I always say it's like putting on a coat when you were in preschool.

[medicmama]

I found watching you tube videos the best way to learn. Also I started kneeling on the floor and bending over so my back was flat was a good way to get Livi relaxed, she got to the point she would just han out there relaxed till I got the mt or wrap just right. she was about 6 mos when I stsrted.

Good luck and happy babywearing! :

[medicmama]

Oh and also I would tie the mt on like an apron then put the flap in the back. place baby on your hip and scouch to back useing both hands,lye flat like a table,and bring straps up 1 at a time and drape strap on shoulder.(holding baby with the other hand.) Now grab both straps and pull up. Now you can cross in front of chest and bring behind baby bum cross again,and bring around front and tie in front. ( if your skinny enough to do this...I am not.)or you can bring under the armpits and cross in back ,bring around front and tie.

Now X ing in front gives me unsightly boobage,so I don't do that!

Hope that helps,and I did not confuse you alot.

[sassycat]

thanks everyone for the replies.

did it take you guys a while to learn how to do this? i dont know why, but i just cant get it right. i frustrated myself almost to tears and had to give up and put her back in the front. ill try again later.

i feel like i cant reach my arms around my back and dd? i have long arms though, and aside from my last 15 lbs of baby weight, im generally slender-ish, so it doesnt seem like an anatomy issue. maybe im just lacking in dexterity haha

[GoGoGirl]

Originally Posted by tpintsch

I personally put the baby up on my front like I was going to do a front carry then I grab the straps at the top and the knot in the front and swing her around to my back. But I can't find a video like that.

I started out doing it like that too. I tied the bottom straps of the mei tai like I was doing a front carry. Then I put DD in, and pulled it up around her so she was sitting in it. Then I grabbed the top straps in one hand (either at her chest with the straps under her armpits or above her head with her arms in). Then I hip scooted her, while sitting in the mei tai, to my back and tied it. I got this idea from a youtube video, but now I can't find it!

Now I tie the mei tai on my back, and then do a superman toss to get DD on my back. But when I was starting out and trying to get comfortable putting her on my back, the first way felt more secure.

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by sassycat

thanks everyone for the replies.

did it take you guys a while to learn how to do this? i dont know why, but i just cant get it right. i frustrated myself almost to tears and had to give up and put her back in the front. ill try again later.

i feel like i cant reach my arms around my back and dd? i have long arms though, and aside from my last 15 lbs of baby weight, im generally slender-ish, so it doesnt seem like an anatomy issue. maybe im just lacking in dexterity haha

Yup it took me a while to get comfortable with it. Just keep practicing and if it doesn't work, don't worry about it and try again later.

I think I've gained dexterity since I started. I used to feel like my arms wouldn't do what I needed. I don't know if I got more flexible, or if I just figured out different ways to do what needed to be done.

[littlemizflava]

when you are trying to do a style that you are not comfortable with it will take long to learn. try different ways and see which way feels comfortable to you.

these all look calm to how fast i have always put my kids on my back. i know they are out there but i cant remember what carrier they were demoing. the idea is always the same no matter the carrier.

the style she call the airplane is the one i use from when a child can hold their head well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb5rgzOGy1I

here is when they are standing up (or sitting)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNsnnuX1Ccw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsewka-UpkA

[gillibean]

Yes, it does take some time to get comfortable with it. Before you know it, it will become second nature.

[Prisca]

Hang in there. It does take time and practice, but you'll be able to do it. Practicing in front of a full size mirror helped me a lot. It'll get easier for you!

[jenneology]

This is a timely topic for me! I just discovered that my 3 1/2 month old (and almost 16 lbs!) is really happy on my back, which my 2 1/2 year old also really appreciates. I've been practicing how to get her on to my back without help, so thanks for the good advice and resources!

[bedheadmaestro]

I've just tried to do this back carry with my 7mo DD in my babyhawk, and I CAN NOT get her head up to where she can see. She gets buried with her head mashed against my back deep in the babyhawk. I try rolling up the bottom, no luck. The bottom tie also always sinks down to my natural waist, and DD is nowhere near looking over my shoulder. Or is she not big enough yet (she's really small, 15 lbs)? The problem is the tall and stiff neck support, obviously, but it doesn't stay folded over.

[sassycat]

Originally Posted by bedheadmaestro

I've just tried to do this back carry with my 7mo DD in my babyhawk, and I CAN NOT get her head up to where she can see. She gets buried with her head mashed against my back deep in the babyhawk. I try rolling up the bottom, no luck. The bottom tie also always sinks down to my natural waist, and DD is nowhere near looking over my shoulder. Or is she not big enough yet (she's really small, 15 lbs)? The problem is the tall and stiff neck support, obviously, but it doesn't stay folded over.

yeah, my dd isnt high enough to look over ,y shoulder either. i like the stiff neck support of the babyhawk when shes on my back cause she can sleep andet her head rest back.

im not havin g much luck either getting this figured out on my own I tried a bunch of times sitting on my mattress on the floor, and goo thing we were there cause she fell off me twice (dotn worry, she fell on pillows and thought it was Hilarious! )

Wish i knew someone in real life who has babywearing experience

[baturay]

To do a high back carry with a little one, you have to tie the waist straps and the shoulder strap high...not on your waist. Tie them right below your breasts. In my avatar you can see how high I have my straps (of my woven wrap) tied on me.

[Adasmommy]

What Giselle said--for a little one to look over your shoulder, tie straps right under breasts.

Also, to get a little one up that high might be easier if you start that high, so I would think that setting them over your shoulder would be more helpful than doing the hip scoot.

And it does get easier faster. Find the method of putting baby on your back that works best for you, and the positioning and tying that you like, then practice that exactly the same every day and I'd say in a week it will be MUCH easier.

[sassycat]

thanks for all the advice ladies! i think weve almost got it

i figured out which way is most comfortable for me (i like backpack style shoulder straps - tried xcrossed straps, but at 34ddd i look a little obscene ) and how its easiest for us to get her up there (we like wrapping straps tight under her arms and hoisting her over my shoulder. the easiest way for me to secure her, is to double the straps back around my waist (since i was having such trouble getting the straps around her butt.)

like Adasmommy said, im just going to keep practicing! you guys are the best, i love this place!