Babyhawk Mei Tai Carrier Review
Some of you will have read my review of the Hanababy stretchy wrap, which mostly amounted to an Ode to Babywearing.
I still love wearing my baby, but she’s grown heavier now, and when I put her in the stretchy, she’s down by my tummy in an hour! It’s time to say good bye to my Hana wrap (so sadly) and look for something sturdier.
It might seem like the natural successor to a stretchy wrap is a woven wrap, with all the possible ties, but a woven wrap is significantly more work than a stretchy. With my Hana, I could tie it up and pop her in and out all day. With a woven wrap, you have to tie the baby into it, so you have to redo it all if the baby wants out and then back in.
My feeling right now is that I have enough work already. I need something easy.
The Babyhawk (Mei Tai carrier)
Mei Tais are very popular. The original Babyhawk style is a panel of fabric with arm straps and a waistband, which are tied in various positions depending on how you’re carrying your baby. You can also get “half-buckle” versions of Mei Tais, like the Babyhawk OhMei which has a buckle for the waistband. I prefer the flexibility (and look) of the tied straps, so I’m reviewing the more traditional version.
My first impression was that it came in a far smaller package than I had expected! And after a while of using it, it wraps up even smaller now that it’s broken in and the fabric is softer, so it’s really convenient to have with you, in a backpack or even in a changing bag.
It comes with an excellent instruction book. The instructions are thorough, clear and easy to follow.
I was a little nervous that the Mei Tai would prove too small for me.
Since having my daughter, I’ve put on considerable weight and would be a size 18 easily, but the straps were definitely long enough to tie comfortably around my waist with plenty of material to spare.
With the Babyhawk Mei Tai, you can carry your baby at the front, on your hip or on your back. Back and hip carries are fantastic for a nosey baby like mine who gets tired of looking at your chest. A back carry, especially, frees you up to do things made awkward by having a baby attached to your front!
I thought the back carry would take some serious practice but it really didn’t. I was so suspicious of how easily it worked that I refused to carry her that way until I’d been to a sling meet and had someone tell me I was actually doing it right. I was.
I couldn’t recommend the Babyhawk Mei Tai more. It’s wonderful to have your baby so close, and so secure, while you’re able to move freely and use your arms. It’s quick and easy to tie, so you’re not spending ages getting it right. It’s small and easy to carry around when it’s not in use, and super supportive, so even with my bad back, I could carry her for a good 90 minute walk without any discomfort or pain, and my daughter finds it easy enough to fall asleep in, too, and that’s always a plus.
