Mei Tai for Baby

I decided to tackle the most challenging thing on the "baby crafting list" last night. This Mei Tai (a traditional Asian style) carrier was surely it, given that I had no pattern to go by and did a lot of guessing. I'm very pleased with the result though! I know it looks like a simple piece of fabric with ties on the end, but wow, it felt a lot more complicated than that. The whole body piece is padded (cotton quilt batting), and the straps are padded as well. It was a bit tricky to figure out how to get the straps sturdy and strong enough to actually hold a baby (or child, as you'll see in a second!). I'm not sure I could ever remember how to do it again (nor want to!), which is a bummer, 'cause wouldn't it be cool to have this in a bunch of fun fabrics?
Here it is in trial action this morning (forgive the quality--it's a dreary day here with little batteries left in the camera!). It seems like with each babe, I've had a carrier that I was really attached to--with Calvin it was the New Native Carrier, and with Ez, it was the Maya Wrap. Perhaps this is the one for baby #3!

Yes, I'm wearing that over my belly--he's kind of on the side like a hip carry. In the last picture you can see Calvin who insisted on trying it out too (and look at sad Ez in the background that his turn is over!). I wasn't exactly thinking 45 pound child when I sewed my seams, so let's hope they're strong!

Comments

[bellablue]

What great fabric! Looks awesome!

[amanda8]

I love it! I had a sling that I loved with both of mine, and I could not have lived without it. I have never seen a carrier like that, but it is beautiful and looks to be functional. Great job.

[millenniumhippies]

gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! i used an otsbh with my oldest. with my second, i used the otshb along with two maya-type slings i made myself. (a solarveil waterproof/spf one for summer and a fleece one for winter) when i was pregnant with my third, i wore my second babe in a sling almost the whole time, to the side, when the belly got big, and she was a year and a half at that time. with my third babe, i used an official maya wrap and loved it so much...it was absolutely perfect for nursing. i always wanted to try a didymos & kangaroo korner pouch also...perhaps if i have another baby. ;) but this one you made is absolutely gorgeous, such talent!!

[Stephanie]

wonderful use of that cool fabric! I love that style of carrier, looks great for a toddler.

[lk]

I used a carrier and sling with both of mine for as long as I could. Handy for nursing, handy for living!!! We all loved it!

Yours looks wonderful and I love the fabric! You are quite talented!!!

[kelly]

Wow! That looks amazing! And I'm so impressed that you were able to fit Ezra and Calvin in it... How much weight do you think you could comfortably carry in it (i.e. before your back/shoulders give out)? Brynne weighs about 35 lbs, and I'd love to find something that I could carry her in that wouldn't break my back!

[patricia]

beautiful! The fabric is perfect, matching very well with the stripes colour. i'd like to try to do one, in a couple of months maybe...
congratulations!

[Lisa]

love it--so gorgeous--and looks so comfy for both mom, dad, and baby! wow!

[Katie]

Love the last picture of Ezra crying in the background!! I am guessing he didn't want to share with Calvin!

[Sarah]

Yay! you did it! This is waay better than any store bought one! Gorgeous fabric. I love my sling like that, it's great for long walks (not so great for nursing in though) but I use my maya wrap for in and out of the car/sling trips. The mai tai is great for winter too, how nice it is to have a snuggly babe all bundled up next too you in a sling! Very pretty!

[Sue]

LOVE the mei tai!!! I've made several (some ramblings on my blog talk about it). Good instructions here: http://thosemartins.com/bmt/index.htm and http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/index.html?Baby/asian.html

I'll post some more pics of my little (25lb@6 mos!!!) guy in the mei tais on my blog one of these days.

[abbyjane]

It came out so well! I loved my kangaroo korner sling - I don't think I would have made it through those first six months without it. I'm really impressed with the strenght of the seams on the one you made! And the fabric is really beautiful.

[filambulle]

It's wonderfull! I must try to do one for my baby-to-come, though I like very much the simple carrying-scarf I used for Benoît (17 month). (http://www.amazonas-online.de/images/produkte/kinder_baby/Tragesysteme/tragetuecher/tragetuecher_detail.jpg) For Plume, I used a Baby-Bjorn, that I still have. My husband find it easier to use. Maybe one of the instructions posted by Sue (thank you sue) could be The perfect solution for both of us!
Anyway, I like the fabric you used. Bravo!

[Nichola]

You did a fantastic job. Well done!

[marjorie]

This is indeed very Chinese. Haven't seen anyone using this in ages though. Yours is very pretty.

[mrspilkington]

what a great job you did! that fabric is a lot of fun. i love, love, love my kozy carrier (http://www.kozycarrier.com) and use it all of the time even though people think i'm crazy to be carrying a very tall 19 month old. whatever! :) it is so comfortable and light and easy to use.

[Kim]

Oh my goodness, that fabric is made of awesome.

[Kim]

(and so is the carrier!)

[amy k.]

these photos are so funny, I love them. and good job on the carrier!! you are full-bore nesting, mama!

[Nicole]

Great work! Love the models.

[kathreen]

i love all these shots of your family.

[caliope]

uau...what a great idea :)

[KayKay]

There are instructions for this type of carrier in a 2005 issue of Piecework! (I think the one before the current issue.)

I've got it around here somewhere, email me if you're interested. One of the versions they show is patchwork.....xoxo Kay

[Lizette]

It's really cute. I love it.