Are Mei Tais easy to put on?

[Cydonia]

I have a stretchy wrap for my 8 month old DS which I really like. The only problem is that it's so long and fiddly to put on, especially if I'm outside as the ends trail all over the floor as I'm doing it.

I've seen a mei tai for sale locally very cheap, so just wondered if this would be better? Ideally I'd like a SSC like an ergo or manduca but never see these for sale at an affordable price. Is a mei tai similar to these or not really? I want something that I can just strap on and go, and if it also turned into a back carrier that would be a bonus.

I did not find a Mei Tai very hard to put on, it does have long straps but they are fairly easy to tie. I did not find mine comfortable however and couldn't get DS comfy in it at all. It seemed to ride up my waist and feel unsafe. My friend has one though and gets on great.

Have you considered a Patapum as an SSC as they are usually quite good value, not quite as all singing as the Ergo but I loved mine.

I find a MT easy but I also wrap lots. It does sound like you want a full buckle carrier. If you are on Facebook then join the group Slings and Things- FSOT. It is a busy selling board and among the expensive wraps you will often find very reasonable full buckle carriers being sold. Connectas usually sell fairly cheaply but you can pick up ergos, boba carriers etc too.

For instance I've just looked and there is a Beco on there for £50 at the moment.

As Indith said - the fb group is very good. Someone will be able to connect you with your local consultant or slingmeet

Isn't 8 months a bit big for a stretchy anyway? I'm expecting mine to go to 6 months...

Thanks for the replies, I'll have a look into those other suggestions.
I have joined that Facebook group, but to be honest I found it a bit baffling! From what I've gleaned from here I thought I knew a little bit about slings etc but I've never heard of most of the ones on there! Although if I post specifically asking for certain makes I might have more success.

I'm sure my stretchy wrap says it can be used up to 1yr +. It's a sleepy wrap, still works well for DS though he is getting a bit wriggly in it!

Oh, and they're all still so expensive, despite being second hand! :(

Cydonia if you post that you want a full buckle carrier and state your budget then people will comment with what they have for sale and perhaps make suggestions, they are a very helpful bunch behind all the manic buying and selling of very expensive bedsheets wraps.

I used a stretchy wrap up to a year, then a Mei Tai. I like it. The straps on a Mei Tai are as long as a wrap, so I still get a bit of trailing on the ground. There's much less fabric, and no folding, though, so it's easier to manage. You can use it on your back - you need to be bold, though.

Thanks Indith, work out a budget and give it a try.

Thesurgeonsmate, thanks for the reply, sounds like a mei tai probably isn't what I'm after.

You could probably stretch(!) a stretchy wrap out to a year but they're not really comfortable to be used that long. I gave up on mine at 10 months and DS was a small baby.

I think Mei Tais are pretty easy. If you've used a stretchy wrap then presumably you've done all of the winding around etc? It's similar to that but you do it with the baby already in place. The straps are a lot thinner than a wrap so much less cumbersome to do as well.