a mei tai.

Remember the soft-structured carrier?  Well, basically, a SSC is the modern version of the mei tai.  No buckles, no snaps, no webbing on this carrier.  Just soft cotton and long straps.

I introduce you to a mei tai, aka Asian syle carrier, aka Babyhawk:

It should definitely remind you of the SSC but rather than the buckling shoulder strap you have two looong shoulder straps, rather than the big hip strap you have a shorter set of straps and rather than the sleeping hood you have a head support.

The shoulder straps:

See how loooong the shoulder straps are?  The shoulder straps do most of the work holding your baby tight in a mei tai.  With most carries, these straps crisscross your chest or back to create a hands-free hold. The top part of the shoulder straps are thick cushiony cotton to help distribute baby's weight evenly across your shoulders.

The hip straps:

Depending on what carry you choose, the hip strap will either tie across your hips (duh.) or across the top of your chest like in the secure high back carry.  With most carries, you start out by tying the hip strap like an apron so it dangles down.  That way, when you pull it up a comfy little seat is created for baby to sit in a natural hip-flexed position.  Or if baby is too little to sit with legs spread, she will simply sit in the seat with her legs in a froggy position.  No crotch-dangling, remember?

 Head support:

The head support is designed for little babies without neck control.  This is not a sleeping hood and it really wouldn't be very helpful if a toddler fell asleep in the mei tai.  It is solely designed to keep a little baby's head from flopping back.  A good thing.  A very good thing.

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The best way to learn how to wear your baby in a mei tai is to watch youtube tutorial videos a million and five times.  I would link some good videos but my current laptop is 10 years old and doesn't support videos.  Yes.  10 years old and I'm proud of it.  Practice with an empty carrier, practice with a stuffed animal and finally, practice with your baby.  By the time you actually have you baby in your arms, it will be second nature to you.  And, don't be afraid of the back carries.  If I can do it, you can do it.  Seriously.

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I bought this Babyhawk off Craigslist when I was pregnant with Liza.  I used it quite a bit when Liza was resisting the ring sling but not quite big enough for the Ergo.  I really like it and I appreciate the traditional design but it's not my favorite carrier.  For me, the biggest drawback is that storage is a pain.  I like things to neatly hang on our coat hooks but the Babyhawk just doesn't cooperate with it's long straps.  Actually, I've been thinking about selling it because I haven't used it in several months.  If you are interested, send me an email at lmd328 at gmail dot com and I'll send you some pictures.  The reverse side is a super sweet pink and brown damask so it is perfect for either gender.

This is the second post in a series all about babywearing.  If you have a question, let me know and I'll try to help you out.  Thanks for reading!

1. a soft-structured carrier.

Do you have a mei tai?