Ergo or Mei -Tai back carrier? And where's the best place to buy one?

[bohemianbint]

Can anyone help? I can't decide which one I like best!

And actually, has anyone tried a patapum carrier? They look similar to an ergo but are about £20 cheaper...

please help, my brain is frying here...

And do you think a back carrier is more practical for festivals than a pushchair?

I prefer the Meitai. Bigmamaslings.co.uk does a great range. they also have a sale on at the moment. the range from Kozy and Babyhawk are excellent.
I don't do festivals but I can't see how a pushchair is easier than a babycarrier. We have taken dd on 16 mile hikes in a babycarrier when she was 14 mo old.

I also preferred the Mei Tai, never got on with the Patapum style. I have an Ellaroo Deluxe Mei Tai, bought from Lily Slings. They do sling hire too. When trying to decide what to buy myself I phoned the woman there and she was really helpful, she also sent the sling out to me straight away as I needed it urgently!

Do you have any Baby Wearing groups near you? They are a good opportunity to try out different slings and get advice.

right, I borrowed an ergo from a friend and it seemed ok when she helped me but I had a nightmare trying to get DS in it on my own. I finally wrestled him into it but it seemed like the whole thing was too short and he was swaying about a bit. Plus it squashed all my fat so I looked like a string of sausages. I presume I'm just not doing it right?!

Am now thinking I hate the ergo and want a mei-tai. Going to brave the sling meet again and see if I can borrow one before I do my usual trick of spending loadsa money on something and hating it!

How old is your DS?

i love my mei tai and have also found it extremely useful when on holiday and eating out.
with a bit of ingenuity you can tie baby into it on any chair when highchairs are not available.

DS is 10 months, and I'm looking for the holy grail of slings (I keep buying the damn things and going off them!)

you can get a MT second hand. the process of securing the straps are simpler than that of the ergo and are wider too.

thre is a yahoo group called UKbabywearingSWAP where you can get good prices on pre-loved carriers.

have you thought of searching youtube for videos of real people putting on a MT?

Well, I managed to get DS in the Ergo for an hour and made the bed and did some other domestic crap. I was quite impressed, but not 100%.

Are they supposed to make you look so damn FAT?!

bohemiambint - I put the belt of the ergo under my not insignificant belly, and then pull my t-shirt out to hide the belt, and hopefully not look quite so fat

i weigh less than 8st and the reason i rarely use mine is that the waist belt is too big and i have to artifically hitch it up. only dh wears it - very occasionally as he's got this he-man big rucksack thing where teh baby sits on top. i may consider selling my ergo soon. will put pics of it on my profile tonight of my dd in my new mei tai if you fancy a peek.

currently the pics on my profile features the ergo.

i've now added a picture to my profile of my latest sling - a mei-tai. can't wait for a weekend with nice weather to take dd out in it.

Kiskidee your pics are lovely

aaahh. thanks. i wish more people would look and make more nice comments. i am feeling v. tired and worn tonight.

Oh, are you ok? Anything specific or just the usual life with a 2yo?!

everything ok with the 2yo. just effing knackering with a f/t job too. i wish it (the job) would go away sometimes..

Get the ergo--I used it until dd was 18 mo!

Ah. I take it you have no option but to work?

Bohemianbint, I love my Ergo, I used it daily from ds being about 4 months to 12 months, now less often as he is huge - but I've never tried a mai tai... And Kiskidee, your pics are lovely and the mai tai is just gorgeous

chuffed when anyone comments on my slings. you need to try a MT. easy to put on and come in mouthwatering fabrics. If fact, you could get one for every outfit.

the only option to not working is to downsizing our lives significantly. in truth i do enjoy my work and colleagues. just that yesterday i felt like i hit a brick wall. (I was asleep by 8.45 last night) Part time is a dream.

Can I add as well please?

I would love to get another carrier and had a look at the Babyhawk Mei Tai and the Beco. Anyone who has used both and can tell me a bit about them please? Or used the Beco and can tell me about, please?