Mei Tai? Which one? Or Ergo maybe?

[AliceTheCamelHasGotTheHump]

I really fancy a Mei Tai I think. I'm getting a bit confused by the different sorts of Mei Tai available. Can someone in the know advise?

Or would I be better off with an Ergo? I've heard good things about them. But the Mei Tai is sooo much prettier!

I want to use it to carry my enormous 10-month-old on my back. What would be best?

a sleep hood is a Very Good Thing in a back carrier.

I have the Babyhawk and I do find the headrest is quite low down and probably wouldn't be very supportive if my 12mo fell asleep on my back. I think the Toddlerhawk might be better although it is sold as being for 18m+

I can't get on with the Ergo at all. I really rate the Beco Butterfly and it comes in some nice patterns.

toddlerhawk woudl prob be a good bet as its taller but dont discount the kozy or napsack either. There are loads of Mei tais out there

I have a Toddlerhawk and a TaiTasi (toddler size).

DS hates sleep hoods but both come up high enough on a big 2.8 year old for him to sleep happily.

I did have an Ergo when DS was 1, and really didn't get on with it.

Try the UKBabywearingSwap group on Yahoo for a Babyhawk initially and see how you both fit into it. You can roll the waist of a Toddlerhawk to downsize it, but they really are pretty big

Are there any slingmeets local to you? They're the perfect place to try slings out before buying.

I tried an Ergo when DD was little, but found it rubbed so didn't keep it. I've now got a napsack and a ball baby overall (and a Didymos wrap). I've also tried a mei tai baby but didn't get on with it so well.

The problem is there are so many variations on a theme - the shape of the panel, the width of the straps, the angle of the straps, the padding on the straps... They all have pros and cons and fit different parents and children in different ways. If you can get to a slingmeet it really is worth while. I've got quite narrow shoulders so expected to get on well with the narrow, padded straps on the MTB - but I actually find wider, unpadded straps more comfy.

If you can't, or once you've decided what to look for, the 2nd hand market is well worth considering - try:
UKbabywearingSWAP, natural mamas (previously rumblebums) or, if you're really feeling brave, the baby wearer (you'll get just about EVERYTHING coming up 2nd hand, but the boards move very fast and now the $ rate is so bad the bargains aren't so good - can be worth a look though).

Happy shopping (just be prepared to have trouble stopping at one )

Lots of posts! Thank you

Unfortunately I'm not in UK so can't take advantage of a slingmeet or swap group.

What is a sleep hood exactly? He does like to fall asleep on my back.

A toddlerhawk doesn't seem to have padded head support. It does seem a good option.

Am also now wondering about a Patapum.

Perhaps I should have asked a different question: "Do you have a rather enormous 10-month-old who you carry on your back? What do you use?"

I'm about 5'4" and a size 12 / 14, not particularly petite across the shoulders I don't think. Just average build.

a sleep hood folds out of the way when baby is awake but pulls up and over to keep their head from flopping side to side when they fall asleep. i have a kozy which comes up pretty high, but because it's not tight to the head it doesn't provide support when they fall asleep so you have to stoop forward slightly and push your shoulders back to try to keep their head centred when they fall asleep, not much fun.

I have a 2st 2 yr old that I carry on my back - but mainly using a wrap. Doesn't do much (anything) in the way of head support, though.

Don't let the fact that swap groups are in the UK put you off looking - its usually more selling than swapping, and many sellers will happily ship abroad. Depending on where you are the exchange rate could work in your favour and mean you'll still get fantastic bargains. I'm in the UK, but I bought 2 of my MTs from US sellers off The Baby Wearer - while it was 2 US$ to the £.

Sorry - what exactly do you mean by a wrap? I currently tie him on with a kanga like so but was thinking that a mei tai or ergo or patapum might be easier or better in some way.

Sorry - you're link doesn't seem to work. What's a Kanga?

I tend to use a "rucksack carry" as shown here now, although I used a front wrap cross carry a lot when she was younger - my wrap is also made by didymos, but there are many manufacturers (and more fabrics, colours, weaves, lengths and widths than you could possibly imagine) to choose from.

What's "easier" and "better" are personal choices - I think I find a wrap easier as its what I did first and have so practiced most. Also, some children have very strong view on what they're prepared to be carried in. You really need to try a sling with your child to see whether it will be easier and better for the two of you. Which is no help whatsoever, really, is it?

That link again.

Another, in case that one still doesn't work.

Or this.

Okay. Now I'm just getting carried away looking at cute babies all cosy in kangas.

A wrap is just a long piece of material, right? So I can have a go without spending £££ on a specific product.

Re 'easier' or 'better'. I want to improve ease of putting on. I want it to be more uniformly successful. I want something a bit comfier for both ds and me. I wear him in a kanga when we're having a bit of a bad day or he wants to be carried through the supermarket shop or his sister insists that she needs the pushchair. I fancy something that isn't a last resort.

Right. I just need to make a decision and it might be wrong. Patapum, Mei Tai or Ergo. Or none. I think Patapum.

"A wrap is just a long piece of material, right? So I can have a go without spending £££ on a specific product."

Yes, if you take a simplistic view. But the composition of the yarns and the weave can have a dramatic impact on how easy you find it to tie and how supportive it is. You can certainly make your own to try fairly easily, though, and get a handle on whether you like the concept. I'd suggest woven rather than stretchy given your DS's age and weight, but either would give you an idea and stretchy is easier () to get to grips with when you start wrapping.

I think you're right - get one and try it, otherwise you can sit and dither for ages (especially if you're anything like me ).

Let us know how you get on

How does a Kanga work then? Is it adjustable? Tieable? What takes the weight?

I haven't come across them before and I'm intrigued

A kanga is just a piece of floaty cotton about 1 X 1.5 meters. Like this. You knot it twice, once around your waist and once above your bust. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6ICsaGzxAM I tie it like this. There are various ways though.

A kanga is just a piece of floaty cotton about 1 X 1.5 meters. Like this.

You knot it twice, once around your waist and once above your bust.

I tie it like this. There are various ways though.

OK - so a really short wrap. Mine's about 1 x 5.2m! (although that's a bit long for a ruck really - I'm trying to persuade DH I really need another one )

The Toddlerhawk does have a padded head support - you might be able to see it in the pic of DH wearing DS on my profile