How to Wear your Mei Tai:
Getting Started
Common Positions
Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Breastfeeding in your Mei
Tai
Sleeping in the Mei Tai
No matter which style of Asian Tie Wrap you ordered
(Pocketed, Reversible or Solid), it will arrive with and obvious front and
back. I place my label on the top center of each carrier (sometimes offset
for pattern allowances) to mark the outside. The strap seams will also be
facing the "inside" of the carrier.
You will have 2 straps at the bottom edge of the
carrier. They are the shorter set and are tied around your waist. Each
waist strap is 30" long, giving most people enough room to tie comfortably.
There will be another set of 2 straps at the top edge of the carrier. These
straps are used for tying your baby into the carrier and each shoulder strap
is 60" long to allow for all sizes of adult.
When tying all knots always use a double square
knot instead of tying a bow. A bow may slip loose and leave your child
unsupported, and could cause a fall. Please be safety aware at all times
when using ANY baby carrier.
If it seems to you that your baby is too deep in the
carrier or the child wants to put his/her arms outside of the strapping,
fold up the bottom of the tie wrap the desired amount towards the INSIDE of
the carrier (2 or more times) before tying on the waist straps to shorten
the amount of wrap. Make certain to tie snugly (which you should do anyway!)
so that it does not come unfolded. Folding in this fashion allows for the
wide age and size range that can be carried.
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Front Carry
1. Tie the waist straps around your waist
snugly, and secure with a double square knot so that the inside of
the carrier faces out, and the panel of the carrier is down the
front of your legs
2. Hold your child so that they almost
sit on your belly. Newborns can have their legs tucked in froggy
style.
3. Pull the carrier up over your
childs back, placing a strap over each shoulder.
4. Place a hand on the child to
support them while you bring one strap down over your back and
around to the front again.
5. While maintaining the tension on this
strap, use your other hand (there should be enough tension to hold
the child in the carrier. If you are not comfortable with
this get a spotter or someone to help you tie!) to repeat the
same procedure with the second strap.
6. You can cross the straps like an X across
your back, or just over your shoulders like a backpack.
7. Bring these straps together either
under the child's bum or across their backs and tie again snugly
with a double square knot. 8. Older
Children may like their arms out. Newborns should have the
panel fully up their backs so it supports their heads.
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Step 2/3 |
Step 4 |
Step 5/6 |
Finished! |
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Kangaroo Carry
1. Tie the waist straps around your waist
snugly, and secure with a double square knot so that the inside of
the carrier faces out, (this position may require some shortening of
the carrier by rolling the bottom) and the panel of the carrier is
down the front of your legs.
2. Place your child in with his/her back
against your chest, and their legs crossed yoga style.
3. Pull the carrier up so that the top
catches them no higher than their shoulders, and their arms can be
left out or tucked inside the carrier.
4. Place a hand on the child to
support them while you bring one strap down over your back and
around to the front again.
5. While maintaining the tension on this
strap, use your other hand (there should be enough tension to hold
the child in the carrier. If you are not comfortable with
this get a spotter or someone to help you tie!) to repeat the
same procedure with the second strap.
6. You can cross the straps like an X across
your back, or just over your shoulders like a backpack.
7. Bring these straps together either
under the child's bum or across their backs and tie again snugly
with a double square knot.
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Step 2 |
Step 5 |
Finished! |
Side View |
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| Back Carry (from seated position)
1. Spread the carrier out on the couch or a big
living room chair so that the waist straps com off to the sides, and
the back straps go up the curve of the chair.
2. Place the child in the center of the
wrap, and tie the waist strap on snugly (Alternately, you can tie
the waist strap and then place the child.)
3. Reach back and grab both shoulder
straps from the couch while pulling them up and over your back, and
the child close to you. You can cross the straps across your
chest in an X or just over your shoulders like a backpack.
4. Tie your straps snugly together
under the child's bottom, or across their back.
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Step 1/2 |
Step 2 |
Step 3 |
Step 3/4 |
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Back Carry
(from standing
position)
1. Tie the waist straps around your waist
snugly, and secure with a double square knot so that the inside of
the carrier faces out, and the panel of the carrier is down the back of your legs.
2. Older children can be put on your back
from squatting and telling them to hold like a piggy back (Shown).
Younger children can be lifted on to your back by a spotter, or for
the more advanced, simply lean forward and place the child on your
own back.
3. Reach down (Carefully! A
handy tip is to tuck the long straps into your waist band for ease
of grabbing) and pull the carrier up between the legs of the child,
and over their backs.
4. Still bent slightly forward, pull
the straps up over your shoulders, crossing at your chest (or
backpack style) and tying under the child's bottom. Some find
it more secure to go under the child's knee before tying under their
bottom.
5.Older children will like their arms out
while sleeping children can have them tucked in.
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Step 2 |
Step 2/3 |
Step 4 |
Finished! |
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Hip Carry
Coming Soon!
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Coming Soon! |
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Multiple Children,
Multiple Carriers Coming Soon!
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Coming Soon! |
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Backpack Straps
Criss-Cross Straps |
You can tie your straps across your front or back
like an X, or just over your shoulders like backpack straps.
- You can securely tie your child under their
buttocks, or across their back.
- Keeping your straps flat will prevent digging,
pinching and pain! A light ironing of the straps may help to keep them
flat after washing and drying.
Q: How long will it take me to learn to use my Tie Wrap?
A: There is a learning curve
with every carrier, but by the 3rd or 4th time you use the carrier you should
be confident in how to operate it. Please always practice with a spotter
when trying new positions!
Q: Can I wear more than one wrap at a time?
A: It can be done. However, the amount of ties you have can be confusing.
See the positioning table above for more details. You do not want to cross the carrier straps of one over the
second child. It could be painful for the child.
Q: How do I care for my tie wrap carrier?
A: Like all Slingtastic
products, 90% of our tie wraps are machine wash and dryable! Some of
the brocades and silks may require a delicate cycle or hand washing,
but you will be informed of all care instructions when you receive your
wrap.
Q: How strong is the fabric?
A: For all of our tie
wraps we
use very heavy weight canvas or twill strapping and bases which will hold up to a
45lb child (your average 4 year old).
Q: What if my baby doesn't like the tie wrap?
A: Occasionally it takes a few tries for the baby to get
used to the carrier. Choose a time when your baby is happiest (try just
after a nap and a feed) and try to get your baby in quickly and comfortably.
When your baby is in, it is best to start moving or rocking right away, the
motion will help them calm down. If you are having difficulties, please
feel free to contact me:
rae@slingtastic.ca and I will help where I can.
Breastfeeding in your Mei Tai:It is possible to nurse in a tie wrap style carrier!
Place your baby in a front carry so that their face is right at breast
level. You may have to lower or bring them up higher in the carrier by
rolling or unrolling the bottom as mentioned above. Then simply latch the
child and let them nurse. If you are worried about being discrete, you
can put a receiving blanket over the top for a privacy screen.
Sleeping in the Mei Tai:
If you are out and about, your child will be
rocked to sleep by the warmth of your body, sound of your heartbeat and
your movements! Some parents wear their tired children around the house
as a soothing device. There is no position change necessary when
your child falls asleep except if their arms are outside of the carrier.
Then all you want to do is tuck them back inside, and make sure their
heads are supported by a strap or the back of the carrier. If you
are worried still about floppyness, you can tuck a prefold or a
receiving blanket in (making sure the child can breathe) for support.
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