Babywearing: Woven Wraps and Mei Tais

While I love baby wearing and have blogged about my baby wearing journey on this blog, I don't know much about woven wraps and mei tais (I totally keep wanting to write mai tais!). For my own quest for knowledge and curiosity I've asked Heather of WovenWraps.com to write a guest post for my readers on exactly that! Thanks, Heather, for a wonderful and insightful post. I cannot wait to pick out my first woven wrap when I save up enough money!
 

With so many different carriers on the market, I think it’s important to remember the three things we’re all looking for when it comes to babywearing:

1. It’s easy to use
2. It’s comfortable for mom and baby
3. It matches what we wear (yes)!

It’s easy to shy away from Woven Wraps and Mei Tais, writing these carrier styles off as too difficult to use, but this is merely a common misconception. The basic carries that go along with these cute and functional types of carriers are nearly as easy as tying your shoe.



Woven Wraps

First, a Woven Wrap is similar to a stretchy wrap - like a Moby, Sleepy Wrap or K'tan - except it is woven on a loom, as opposed to being a jersey, tee-shirt-like stretchy fabric. This difference in material has three main effects on your carrying experience:

1. Breathable fabric for a less sweaty mom and baby
2. Material stays right where you wrap it, so you don't have to periodically re-tie it due to stretching
3. Comfortable and supportive to use until 2-3 years, rather than just 4-6 months

For the most simple, every day way to wear your baby on the front, I recommend the Front Wrap Cross Carry (FWCC). This can be done from day 1 with a newborn's legs tucked in, gradually moving toward a “legs out” position when it seem as though they are ready for it. Below is a link to a video tutorial. Try this just a few times and you'll have it down, and feel free to add your own methods of putting it on for optimal comfort!

FWCC Tutorial



Mei Tais

A Mei Tai is an Asian style baby carrier known to be extremely convenient for carrying your little one on your front or back. Because of its similarity to a backpack carrier, some moms choose to start here; they can "understand" it just by looking at it.

Below is a quick tutorial for the front:

Mei Tai on Front



Not to be left out, here is a video tutorial for the back:

Mei Tai on Back



Finally, a few quick tips:

Babies might have a day when they don't feel like being in a carrier - just like they might have a day when they don't want to be in the car seat or stroller. It doesn't mean they will always hate it! Give carrying another shot, rather than forcing it or giving up.

Babies may also sense your mood of uncertainty in knowing how to put the wrap on right. My suggestion for this: a few practice runs around the house will go a long way. The more confident you are with babywearing, the happier your baby will be. The end result: this will make everyone happy because now you'll have your hands free!

Happy babywearing!



This is a guest post from Heather Moreau of WovenWraps.com, a recently launched online boutique. Woven Wraps promotes the health-conscious practice of babywearing, and offers a range of babywearing products in high quality, natural fabrics and fashion forward colors and prints. 



In conjunction with Woven Wraps' retail site, founder Heather Moreau, who is passionate about sharing her discovery of babywearing with others, has also created CarrierClassifieds.com, which offers the resale of gently used wraps at affordable price points, and The Willow Tree, a forum for discussing the how-to's and benefits of babywearing. 
Perhaps most helpful of all, Moreau also offers detailed video tutorials on her site at www.wovenwraps.com/thewillowtree/category/tutorials/.

Do you Babywear? What do you use to carry your child?  
  
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

8 comment(s) with love:

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

I love my woven wraps! My fav is my Vatanai and I couldnt' go without it!

Danielle S said... Reply To This Comment

I love the first video. I always wanted to learn how to do that. I also prefer the Mei Tai on the front and not on the back. I would be too worried that I would drop the baby.

Myrah - Coupon Mamacita said... Reply To This Comment

Neat! Loved the videos. If I would to wear one of these awesome wraps I would go with the Mei Tai on the front too!

Kecia | From Mom's Desk said... Reply To This Comment

I never wore my son...in fact, I didn't know much about all the wraps or the best to use. Thanks for this post though...and I think if we have another child, I will try it out!

Darcy said... Reply To This Comment

I didn't like my moby at all due to the stretching and I'm short - it was so much material to try and work with. I've wanted to try a Mei tai though because I like our ergo & Boba carriers. I also want to try a ring sling with the new baby!

Unknown said... Reply To This Comment

I wore a baby wrap when my daughter was tiny. when she got bigger she didn't like it as much, but I enjoyed having my hands free that i could do other things yet still have her with me.

Mom Caboodle said... Reply To This Comment

I never used one with my kids but I think it is something I would have enjoyed!

Shopping Tips and Tricks said... Reply To This Comment

They didn't have baby wraps when my kids were little, but I definitely would have gotten one if they did. Great videos!