What do I look for in a Mei-tai?

Hedy - posted on 05/16/2011

I love my BabyHawk for all the reasons Sofia mentioned. I also like that it is very adjustable. I wish that it did have a hood, though I may play around and make one. Often, I just throw my nursing cover on and she is shaded that way and will often fall asleep when I put that on. Head support is an issue though, now that she is taller, so the hood would be helpful.

Sofia - posted on 10/30/2010

I love my baby hawk with padded straps, head support, plenty of size options and they are stylish! sooo comfy and baby loves it

Rebekah - posted on 09/19/2010

I have a number of types of slings, including MT, and this is what I've found. MT's are much more comfortable than the ring side type slings, just because they distribute the weight evenly. The only thing I don't like about them is that they are harder to get baby into, so if baby wants to get in and out it's more annoying, and also, if baby is sleeping and you want to put them down, the side ones with a clip are great cos you can put them into bed in the sling. Also, MT's aren't so good for new babies, as they need to lie down...
Pouch slings (mine's a nature's sway) are all good, but I've found they don't last long for me as my babies are huge, and there is a three or four month spell from about 2 months (when they are too long to lie down in them) until they are sitting up when I can't use them. But that's mainly cos my babies are giants.
I tried a 'Manduca' sling the other day, kind of like an expensive MT... It was rather good! Very comfy, easy to put on, lots of ways to wear it, good zipped pockets... But also very costly. I have been lucky to be given all of the slings I have, they seem to find their way to me. They all have good and bad things about them, and seem to serve slightly different purposes, for example, if i'm going to be walking somewhere I use the MT, but if I'm putting him to sleep, I use the Natures Sway.

Jenn - posted on 09/12/2010

You definitely want wide straps with decent padding, especially on the shoulders. If the straps are too thin they don't distribute the weight enough and your shoulders/back will hurt quickly. A pocket and/or hood are always nice additions, too. Make sure you look for reviews, I'm always hearing horror stories of straps not being sewn securely to the body. If you're feeling at all crafty, I suggest making your own. That way you get to pick exactly what fabrics and accessories it has, and you can make sure the straps are sewn nice and tight.
All in all, have fun. MTs as the only carriers I've really loved. I've probably made 20 of them in the past 2 years for myself and friends and they've worked wonders for all our body types and babies.