What's a Mei Tai?

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A mei tai (pronounced may-tie), also known as an Asian Baby Carrier, (ABC) is an ancient way to carry your baby. The basic design is a square or rectangle-shaped piece of fabric with straps at all four corners. The bottom set ties around the babywearer's waist and the top set goes over the shoulders and ties around the baby. This allows the weight of the baby/toddler to be well distributed over the babywearer's shoulders, back and hips. Though all have the same basic shape and will generally have a similar fit, there are many different features that make different brands of mei tais unique such as the presence of a sleeping hood, the size of the body, and the angle of the bottom straps. It can be worn on the front, back or hip. As you can see, you can even wear two children at once!

When I discovered a mei tai for the first time, I thought I had won the lottery! My daughter was 8 months old and already 21 pounds. I had finally found a way to carry her for hours without my back hurting! My husband, though he has and will wear the ring sling, loves the mei tai because, as he puts it, "you really can't screw up putting on a mei tai." He also has back problems and the mei tais don't bother his back at all because the baby's weight is so evenly distributed. What's nice about a mei tai is that is can be used with a newborn all the way up until the preschooler who needs some love and a 5 minute ride with mom or dad. I've done everything you could think of with a baby on my back - even delivering babies! I was able to wear my 36 pound daughter on my back while I was 9 months pregnant for an hour with no back pain. My son will now only take a decent nap if he's in a mei tai - and I can go about my day. As I mentioned on the ring sling page, it's my personal opinion that between a ring sling and a mei tai (or buckle carrier), you'll be set for any carry you want to do from newborn to toddler and beyond.

Pros

  • Two shoulder carrier distributes baby’s weight between both shoulders, the back and the hips
  • Great for toddlers
  • Excellent for back carries        
  • Great for walking, hiking, and chores in the house           
  • Same carrier can be used by both parents
  • No learning curve – just tie on and go!
  • Can be used for newborns up to toddlers
  • Can be used for a newborn back carry

Cons

  • Long straps can be cumbersome and can get dirty from dragging on the ground
  • More bulky than a sling or pouch
  • Harder to nurse a newborn than a sling, though possible
  • Can’t put it on while holding the baby

Check out each brand of mei tai below for their unique features!