Come and tell me all about Mei Tai slings please

[Tobermory]

DC2 due in a few short weeks and thinking about trying some kind of sling when he/she arrives. Making life 'easier' with a newborn and 3 year old!

Did try something with DD1 but didnt work out, it was the 'continual band' type that you slot baby into as opposed to a big scarf that you tie. Having seen the Mei Tai style wonder if that might work better for us.
So with that in mind.....

What do I need to know?
Are they really suitable from birth as stated on a few websites?
Have found the Ellaroo and Babyhawk brands, any more that I should know about?
There are also many on the internet who seem to sell customised ones, any to be recommended?

anyone?

I am as clueless as you but need to get something as will have a 22 month old when DC2 arrives.

I have got as far as deciding that I want a mei tei (I think?) type sling but don't want to wrap it up, want something with buckles.

Apparently the Ergo, patapum and connecta are all mei tei types that buckle up.

I have a babyhawk, but didn't get it until DD was 4 months, so can't say how it would be for newborn.

I used a kari-me from birth which I loved. Although it looks daunting as it's a long length of fabric you can tie it on first and then slot the baba in as it's made of stretchy stuff.

DS was 2.5 yrs when DD arrived and she pretty much lived in the sling in the early months, so much easier to get on with stuff.

Oh and I have an ergo too which if I had to have only one, would prob be the one I would choose as it is most versatile. Not used the newborn insert tho...

DH likes the ergo as it is more manly (!)

tbh although you can use a MT for a newborn, i never got on with them. I have a couple and just found that baby wasn't that comfortable, it wasn't as supportive as something like a wrap and it just didn;t feel "right"

i think you'd be better off with something like a moby or other stretchy wrap. you can tie it on in the morning, and because it's stretchy you can pop baby in and out

I have this,admittedly quite irrational, fear that the tie ones will come undone!

withorwithoutyou, didn't know they did mei-tai styles with buckles... Interesting.

Thanks for the info, will go and google all these brands.

you need to google SSC (soft structured carriers)

the babyhawk oh-snap is nice if you want a buckle one

a mei tai is just as likely to come undone as a wrap lol

Try Rose and Rebellion website for clippy one's. You could start wrapping with a 'Closer' baby wrap as I did, or go straight for a wrap. Loads of stuff on You Tube on how to wrap here. It looks harder than it is...honest! Its all about tightening the fabic bit by bit and bouncing at the same time...try Natural mama's website for second hand one's. You can get old one's for £30 but usual price for a wrap is £60 up...Closer is £50, maybe £25 second hand, Mei tei's £30 second hand...and ring slings £30 second hand.

Mei tais are probably good to start with but I did find a wrap snuggles the baby close to you and holds their head well when young. Ring slings were better for me when dd2 had some head control, good for quick ups and downs, but have to say now I'm preferring a wrap.

Ties get loose...but never undone with me and you would notice the fabric loosen around you before anything happened to baby

Wrapping your baby is meant to be better than a baby bjorn as less pressure on spine, natural position for legs (akimbo rather than dangling) and not fwd facing (which puts pressure on spine). They are held in a very natural position, and snug to you. Apparently they should not be allowed to be scrunched in a position for hours ie like in a car seat...well those are the bits I can remember, dd2 looks fine anyway!

Loads of brands...too many to mention...but I have a Melkaj mei tai, girasol wrap, kalea ringsling, just do a search on those names and you'll see what comes up (often in another language!)

You can get them customised but often you have to queue to do so...easier and quicker to get a pre-loved one from natural mamas.

By the way...its addictive...

Ax

I used a mei tai from birth with all 3 of mine.... i quite liked it. I always held them upright on my front though even when not in a sling iyswim. I think it had a bit to do with the size of my bosoms... if they had been any bigger it would have been v uncomfortable i think, as i was they could rest their head in them without being suffocated
I never got on with wraps.... i felt a bit claustrophobic with all the fabric. and i get a bad back so anything assymetrical like a ring sling made things worse
like anything the very best way is to try it out an see how you get on with it, my favourite sling was actually the cheapest ( second hand)