Infants and carriers...

[BlueIrises]

I really like the Mei tie wraps and have one picked out to order, but can I use them with a newborn? I don't like the slings/pouch type carriers...they may be right for some but they just are not what I am looking for. I plan to eventually get a Ergo but want to know if I can use a Mei tie in the beginning?

[sweetfeet]

I've been using a mei tei for the past 2 weeks, so from a month old. It works wonderfully. You'll need to keep the baby's legs frogged up and not try to spread them out and you'll need to tie the knot behind the baby's back instead of under the bum. It's actually quite secure.

http://www.kozycarrier.homestead.com/instructions.html Keep scrolling down and you'll see pictures of how to use it with a newborn.

[s_kristina]

I used a ring sling with my ds when he was 2 days old and we were still in the hospital. I tried a mei tai with him when he was a week old and did not feel it was secure enough for him at just under 8 lbs. By the time he was a month and over 11 lbs I was carrying him in the mei tai regularly. Then by the time he was 6 weeks I was carrying him on my back in the mei tai on a regular basis. For me the mei tai is a very useful tool part of my babywearing wardrobe, but I could not see having it be the only carrier for a newborn.

[samantha546]

I wasn't that comfortable using my Mei Tai with a newborn. If you're planning on getting an ERGO maybe you can try something like a wrap so that you'll have a variety.

[fenwickmama]

used my MT as soon as home w/babe, so 4 days old. if you are getting an ergo later, i know an option is the infant insert for the early days but i don't have personal experience with ergos....

[mommystinch]

I've been using my MT with my son since he was in his first week. I loved it It held him very nicely against my chest. As someone else mentioned, their legs need to be inside at that point. Also, the straps come behind their back to tie them in nice and snug. You don't tie under their butt until they are a bit older. Many carriers are tall enough so that the body will come up enough to support baby's head. If there is much of a gap between the back of their head and the MT, you can put a folded receiving blanket or the like behind their head to fill the gap.

[rzberrymom]

My DD didn't like the MT when she was a newborn because she preferred to be be lying down in the cradle carry position. But, after about 4 months, she didn't like that position anymore and wanted to be upright (like in a MT or Ergo). Other babies hate the cradle carry position and prefer to be upright right away.

It's hard to know ahead of time if your DC will have a preference--one solution is a wrap, since you can vary the hold depending on what your DC likes.

[New Mexico Beach]

We used the MT from birth, but made sure to tie it at his back rather than under his bottom so he wouldn't fall out the side. He'd just ride in a froggy type position and loved it. But he was 9-5 at birth, so not tiny.

[lizabird]

I would love to use my new mei tai with m 9 wk old babe but every time I get him in it he just cries until I take him out. He LOVES the pouch sling, though, and falls asleep happily every time in there. It's not the most comfortable for me any more, with all the baby weight across my shoulder. I think ds#1 hated the sling at first amd preferred to be upright (probably would have loved the MT if I'd had it then). So I guess all babies have their comfort zones, but you can certainly use the MT with a little baby and tie it nice and securely.

[Rowan Tree]

I'd say a wrap for very new babies and then a mei tai.

[samantha546]

I too had tried a Mei Tai with DD in the early stages but failed miserably. We loved our Hotslings pouch and Moby wrap until DD was big enough for the ERGO. I'm an ERGO enabler. It rocks!