Baby K'Tan or Mei Tai? « Back to Group Discussions

[shastalily]

I'm thinking one of these two would be the best fit for me for baby wearing.  With a May baby, I'm thinking the Moby or Sleepy wraps will be too hot and I'm not sure I would like having all that fabric to mess with.  And I have some back and neck pain issues so I don't think a sling would be a good idea...using both shoulders would be better.  Does anyone have experience with the K'Tan or a Mei Tai?  Or is there something similar you liked?

[mlovesj]

Hi Shastalily, I will break my anonymity and tell you that I work for Moby Wrap (so I am a little biased) but I can tell you that all carriers are warm.  Anytime you have two human bodies together, there will be warmth.  A breathable, all-cotton wrap is among your coolest options and the nice thing about Moby is that is not sized, so it can be shared by all the caregivers in the family. :)

[babycatcher12]

I made my own wrap (similar to a moby) except I used crinkle cotton. It's much more lightweight and was great for my August baby. I have a Moby and a Mei Tai (along with several other carriers) they all have their own advantages and disadvantages. I personally don't think the MeiTai is as comfortable for long term wearing as a wrap. But there is a little steeper learning curve with a wrap, but it really didn't take me too long. 

[Astraia]

Crinkle cotton is totally the way to go. I wear my November and January babies in a crinkle cotton style wrap in the summers and was... well, mostly comfortable. I would have been hot naked, though, so the only way I would have been actually comfortable is sitting in the shade with a cold drink in my hand :P

I've tried both the baby K'Tan, the baby hawk, and another mei tai that someone lent me. I didn't like any of them. They were irritating enough to tie on that I felt i should have been just wrapping, because then I'd at least have the adjustability of a wrap. The back on the K'Tan was too night, the baby hawk was too wide through the legs and I couldn't get them comfortably froggied when they were smaller without them sliding out (eek!), the shoulder straps weren't padded enough or weren't wide enough or some other problem. I had issues getting it on without having pressure points. I borrowed both the K'Tan and the Baby Hawk from a baby store in town for 5 days and tried them multiple times through the day.

Could just be me, though.

[cristeen]

Personally, I don't care for a MT with a NB.  It feels like they're gonna fall out to me.  I don't think you can beat a wrap - although like the pps have mentioned, you're not limited to a Moby or a Sleepy.  I will be using my Moby, but if this one follows the same pattern as DS, it'll be retired before the hottest part of our summer. 

I'm eyeing a woven wrap this time around though - a more open weave, more breathability and more versatility, since it doesn't sag with the added weight like the stretchy wraps do.  I could even do a back carry with my toddler with a woven. 

[shastalily]

Thanks for the feedback!  I've been doing more reading and on a couple review places they are saying the K'Tan isn't all that great and not as long lasting.  It also seems like the ring slings may be possible to use without too much back pain and they seem pretty easy to use.  Maybe easier for me than the Moby style wrap with less material hanging.  Has anyone had that style and what did you think?

[cristeen]

I do have a RS, but I couldn't figure out a comfortable way to use it until DS was about 5 mos old.  The cradle hold was scary to me, but by about 6 mos, I could comfortably do a tummy to tummy with him.  I still far preferred my Moby when he was really little, but the RS I still use sometimes, and he's 2.  It really can't be beat for quick in-and-outs, poppability and the like.  And when they're a toddler, and they want you to hold them all the time, but they're too heavy, the RS in a hip carry is a savior. 

One warning though, if you're fluffy, make sure you get an XL RS.  I didn't, and in order to get it on, I have to thread the rings with the tiniest bit of the excess through them, slide it on and then tighten, and I have a very short tail.  I cannot just loosen it to get him off again, I have to take the RS completely off, there's just not enough length in it.  It's much easier to work with a longer tail. 

[PNWmama]

My favorite newborn carry is a high tummy to tummy in a ring sling with their little legs tucked in.  Like this video shows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljl_Nw_41ns

It's a very secure carry and I love having that sweet little fuzzy newborn head close enough to kiss all the time.  My second favorite is tummy to tummy in a stretchy or woven wrap. But I prefer the tummy carry in the ring sling for the newborn days simply because it is so quick and convenient.

[Maggie22]

I have a K'tan and we love it. it's much easier to use than a wrap and you can wear it all the same ways. it's also less fabric, so easier to deal with and not quite as hot. they also have a mesh version that is supposed to be cooler.