Mai Tai question

[ears73]

Getting ready to put it on while out is sort of a pain because the straps are so long - does anyone have a trick?
I see the MT as a long term carry rather than a pop on/off one... Is that right? I love it but have only used it once at home to try it out and once out for a quick jaunt to a friend's house and back w/a sleeping baby.
Also, what do you do with the long straps when the carrier is not in use - is there an easy way to tie it up to stash in a bag? I just rolled it and wound the straps around it, but maybe there is a better way?
Thanks Mamas!!

[staceychev]

As far as pop-in, pop-out, I used my Maya Wrap for that. The Mei Tai was for longer periods (think a full grocery trip versus just dropping in for milk and eggs...).

I lay it out and fold the straps on top of the square, and then roll it.

I think that the more you use it, the less cumbersome it'll seem. The straps honestly never bugged me.

(Oh, and once DD was mobile, I would occasionally wear it without her in it just to carry it, if I was somewhere that I wasn't carrying a bag, like at our local nature preserve. That way, it was always there for her to get back into.)

[AlishaLukesMom]

I can get ds in the mei tai quickly, but last night the straps ended up in a mud puddle in the parking lot! Gross :P I usually use it at home, where I don't have to worry about the straps getting messy and use something like a maya wrap or a beco for out and about shopping

[ears73]

Yeah, that's what I was wondering about. When I used it out, I draped the straps into the car so they would stay off the ground. It was raining out and it took a little bit to get my son into it, etc. Usually I have a gauze wrap pre-tied. I find the wrap easier in that situation, but in the future think the back carry will be easier in a MT. I'll have to wait and see I guess.

[milk_maker]

Are you talking about dangling straps while you are tying it or while you're wearing it? If it's while you're wearing it you can just wrap the straps around your waist an additional time and tie them. That should help take up some of the slack.

[lalemma]

I pre-tie the waist strap before I leave the house and leave the rest piled in my lap while I drive to my destination, and then I leave them in his car seat while I put it on. (If that makes sense.)

But I agree, it's a lot of strapping to keep off the ground.