Mei Tai Wearing Instructions

Mei Tai Wearing Instructions - Front Carry

Start off by taking the short straps and tying them around your waist. (Some people find this easier to tie in the front then move the knot to the back, especially when you are just learning.) Tie the straps snugly as your waist will hold the bulk of the baby's weight (I usually tie to where I feel it is a tad ‘too tight’ because the straps around the waist seem to loosen just a touch when baby's weight is added).

Pick the baby up and hold him with his legs on either side of your stomach.

While supporting the baby with one hand reach down with the other to pull the carrier up between baby's legs and over his body. Place the shoulder straps over each of your shoulders, (with the wider strapped Lovey, these straps will fit best over the ball of your shoulder). With the padded narrow straps the best place to put the straps is the top (flat) part of your shoulder.

Hint: if you can't get your Lovey with the wider straps straight right now, that’s ok. Just lay them flat on the top of your shoulder; you can straighten them up later. Check to see that the carrier is smooth against baby's legs for his comfort. You will not want it to be bunched at all, because if it is the baby will fall slightly when tied.

While still holding your baby with one hand, reach around and grab both the straps with your other hand. At this point you have the baby's weight secure with the shoulder straps and the waist straps you already tied. You can now let go of the baby and reach around with your other hand to grab a strap. Cross the straps, trying not to let the straps twist, as it is more comfortable with them flat.

Hint: MOST people find that in the front carry having the straps crossed in the back is best. However you can also wear them just around your shoulders (We feel wearing with them crossed is best and most comfortable).

Once you have the straps positioned comfortably for you bring them back around to the front to tie either under the baby’s butt or around their back.

Hint: Tie preference here varies from person/baby to person/baby. We find that wearing the strap under the baby's butt is more secure, however with smaller babies tying behind their back gives more support.

If you are wearing the wider straps, you can straighten them by simply pulling on the bottom of the strap.
 

Extras: Your baby should not be hanging low on your stomach but sitting up higher on your chest. This may require you to pull on the straps a bit and give a little wiggle to get the carrier up higher. Or push baby and carrier up a bit with the one hand before reaching around to the back to cross the straps. To ensure that baby is up high enough and that the carrier is tight enough to be extra comfortable, I have found it helpful to give a little bounce as I pull the straps together. Then to tie the knot, actually lean back just a bit and tie right under the butt.

 

Mei Tai Wearing Instructions - Hip Carry

To start, tie the Lovey Mei Tai waist straps around your waist. Then move the knot over to the opposite side of the hip you want to use in the carry.

Put the baby on your hip. Then pull the body of the mei tai up like you would with the other carries. The strap on the front side of you should cross over your body and go over your opposite shoulder. Make sure you are holding the baby snug with your other hand.

Hint: I just usually ‘throw’ the strap over my shoulder. Leave that front strap draping over your shoulder. Then reach around and grab the strap on your back side. This strap should go under baby's arm and cross your back.
You should now be able to let go of the baby to grab the other strap.

At this point you can do one of two things. My preference is to bring the back strap across my waist to meet up with the front strap to tie over the baby's legs and either under the bum or behind the back.

Or you can bring the back strap back around your opposite shoulder with the front strap and bring it across your front to meet the other strap to tie under or behind baby. The baby has now probably dropped down a bit, before tying. Hold the straps with one hand, and re-lift up the baby’s bottom with the other hand, to be sure she/he is in the right position.
Done!

 

Mei Tai Wearing Instructions
Back Carry

There are several different ways mommas use to put their baby on their back. This is just one of them (if you do it differently, please stick to what you prefer, as long as your baby is safe and secure that's all that matters). By the way, I find this the easiest carry there is, so YES it is do-able anywhere, anytime. When you first get your Lovey Mei Tai, it is my recommendation that you practice with a couch or bed behind you, until you are more skilled and can do it eyes closed.

To begin, tie the carrier around your waist with the body hanging down behind you (note, place the fabric you want to show, when your wearing the Lovey, towards your legs and not facing up.)
Now pick up the baby.
While leaning over slide him around to your back.
Make sure he is positioned correctly, with a leg on each side of your body. Be sure to keep your hand on your baby's bottom. Continue bending over and with one hand on your baby use the other hand to pull up one of the straps, and lift up the carrier.
Then drape this strap over your shoulder. Now switch hands. With the other hand, grab the other strap. Remember to keep bending over and remember to pull the Lovey up between the baby's legs (this will happen naturally when you pull up on the straps). Drape the second strap over your shoulder.
Now grab both straps, and let go of baby. Keeping a tight hold of the straps, pull them up to take up any leftover slack in the carrier. This step will also help make sure there are no folds or creases under the baby or behind his legs. Stand up while still holding the straps tightly over the top of your shoulders. At this point I like to bounce a couple times. This will help insure the baby is placed correctly.
You can either cross the straps across your chest or bring them down under your arms like a backpack (which is my preference).
There are a several ways to tie: over the legs and under the bottom, under the legs and butt or behind the back. Each of these ways works well and provides support in different ways. My preference is under the legs and under the bum. To tie the straps, I feel that bending over helps. That way you can get the knot right up under the baby’s bottom.

Mei Tai Wearing Instructions
Front Carry Facing Out

While I don't think this type of carrier was designed to use with your little one front facing out, it can be done with the Lovey Mei Tai in one of two ways.

The first way:
Start the same way you did with the front facing in position.
Pick up the baby, in the facing out position.

When putting him in cross their legs or put them into a froggy position. This will be trial and error to see what works best for you and your baby. Hint: You might also find that folding up the bottom of the Lovey will help to keep the extra fabric from being in the baby's face.

 

Bring your Lovey Mei Tais the legs and baby's torso.

Then place the straps up over your shoulders (as you do with the Front Carry).

Bring the straps around front.

 

You might want to tie the straps in front of baby; in this carry they tend to be a bit top heavy, so this will prevent accidents and make the carrier more secure. Of course you can tie under them as well, see picture.

Once they are tied, you can then reach in to ‘adjust’ baby so they and you are more comfortable.

The second way:

With the Lovey Mei Tai we offer a drawstring bottom. If you ordered your Lovey with a drawstring and want to wear baby facing out:

First pull the drawstring tight in the bottom of your Lovey. Then you will tie as in the front carry above, around your waist. When picking up your baby, place him/her facing out, putting one leg on each side of the drawstring closed panel. Pull up the straps and place them on your shoulders as with above.

With this carry I would also recommend that you tie the straps in front of baby, for the added security. However make sure to tie the straps under her arms. You can also tie the straps under the baby's bottom, but do not tie the straps on top of the legs; in this position always tie the straps under the legs.