Freehand Mei Tai Baby Carrier Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a mother of 3 and have gone tried many different types of baby carriers, and this is by far my favorite one.To be fair, I did not buy from Amazon, but directly from BabyHawk.Their website is awesome & I was able to design my own.If you don't mind waiting a little longer, its the way to go.

I have used, the ring sling, the Baby Bjorn, the pouch sling, to name a few, but the Mei Tai is by far my favorite.My first child LOVED to be in a carrier, but the ring sling started to really hurt my back once she was a few months old.I couldn't carrier her in it for more than half an hour or so.My second child HATED all carriers - but I hadn't tried the Mei Tai - I bought a pouch sling (Hotsling) which he screamed whenever I put him in.So we tried a Baby Bjorn, which he liked for a week, then screamed.With my third, I decided to wait & try out all those above.The Ring Sling was too bulky to take anywhere (its a padded style).The Baby Bjorn was just plain hard to put on.The pouch sling he outgrew in a few weeks (or maybe we outgrew together - I am 5'10 and the Hotslings are NOT adjustable).

I researched carriers & read many reviews before deciding on BabyHawk Mei Tais.IMO the pros & cons are as follows:

PROS
ADJUSTABLE: Unlike the pouch sling the design of the sling allows for growth of the child & variance in size of the wearer - one size really does fit all
MULTIPOSITIONAL: Unlike the Baby Bjorn - and the pouch sling to an extent - the Mei Tai can be worn many different ways - front, back, different ways to tie.There is a way that will feel best for you.
STYLE:If you decide to design your own - you have hundreds of options to suit your style - This can be a fashion statement as well as a baby carrier
SIZE:This can be folded down to a small carrying pouch (included) that can be tucked into a diaper bag or stroller.Not much larger than a folded Hotsling.
EASE OF USE: The first couple times are tricky - but after 3 times, I can put in a cranky screaming baby & put down a quiet sleeping baby no problem - much easier than the Baby Bjorn IMO.
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION:I have big babies - my six week old is 14 pounds - this carrier distributes weight better than the other 3 types IMO.
HANDS FREE:Unlike the pouch sling or ring sling, you can free up both hands with this carrier.So you can puch a shopping cart & hold onto a toddler at the same time.Or maybe hold your baby & eat?

CONS:
EXPENSIVE: The Mei Tai is more expensive (relatively) than a ring sling or pouch sling.You can spend extra if you design your own & add pockets & toy rings.I find the expense worth it.
EASE OF USE:I put this in the CON category as well because the first few times are difficult - practice at home in front of a mirror.Also because the ties are so long, I would not want to put this on standing in dirt, or someplace with dirty floors.The straps will drag - there is no way around this.
REPOSITIONING:You will need to check your baby & positioning of the straps every so often.As our weight shifts, I usually adjust mine about 30 minutes afterputting it on.Its like your favorite pair of jeans - they loosen up some minutes after putting them on right out of the wash.

SUMMARY:I found this Mei Tai to be very versatile, simple to use, & stylish.It distributes weight nicely & is small enough to pack around.I would highly reccommend this to anyone with a baby that likes to be held a lot.

UPDATE:I have owned this carrier for over a month and I use it EVERYDAY.My infant HATES his infant carrier unless its in the car and we are moving - so I put him in the Mei Tai for all trips out of the house - the mall, the grocery store, my older child's school.I have mastered the art of putting it on in the parking lot - I just stand in front of the van door, and carefully drape the long ties in the van before securing my baby.This leaves my hands free for my toddler/shoppin cart/latte.I also wear this at home at least once a day.My son is 2 months old and 15 pounds - I can handle about 2 hours at a time - even my husband is starting to wear this now after seeing how much our baby enjoys being in it.I get compliments on this all the time, and all my expecting friends want to borrow it.We love it!

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Product Description:
The FreeHandTM borrows it's design from an asian style carrier that has been used for centuries. Versatility is the key. One size will work for both mom and dad (gramma, uncle, aunt, etc), and the FreeHandTM will carry a child up to 35 pounds comfortably. In addition, it can be worn safely on your front, back or hip. The Mei Tai design consists of a main panel of designer fabric, two long padded shoulder straps and two waist straps. What will you do with your Freehands?

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Snuggy Baby Prestige Ring Sling Baby Carrier in Turquoise Dream Review

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(More customer reviews)My wife uses SnuggyBaby products including this matching Wet Bag:
XL Wet Bag - Turquoise Dream which is GREAT for anything messy.It's been a lifesaver.

This is a GREAT RING sling.We are attachment parents, and have carried both of our Daughters. This SnuggyBaby sling is wider than other 100% cotton slings we found on the market.At 29 inches wide, it's about 7 inches wider than any other double layer cotton sling we could find on the market.You can find 40 inch wide cotton slings out there, but single layer not doubled up material, and I can't imagine carrying the love of your life in one single layer of Cotton.

The pleated shoulder allows for long wearing with no discomfort.We have tried other shoulder designs, and they become painful after a short while.My wife has worn her SnuggyBaby for up to 6 hours straight without pain.

The tail is nice and long.It is open, not sewed shut like so many are.This nice wide tail allows it to be used as a nursing cover when out in public.It's great because we saved money not having to buy a nursing cover, nor do I have to carry around more dead weight in the diaper bag.

It is an incredible feeling to be able to ditch the stroller!As a Dad, I am the one that had to fight it out of the car, and mess with all the buttons and such to get it up and usable.Then anywhere you take the stroller it's too wide, or people are blocking your path, or you run into things.I can't tell you how great it is for my wife to throw on her SnuggyBaby sling, I grab a backpack set up as a diaper bag, and we are mobile and ready for any adventure.We do more as a family because it's so easy to get around now.I don't even want to remember the pain and awkwardness of of the car seat baby carrier.What Dad doesn't hate lugging that thing around?

The rails of the sling are an accent color of Cotton, and make it very easy to find the edge for adjustments.It makes the sling STUNNING as well!

So many Ring Slings are ...well...UGLY.They are, you already know they are ugly if you are researching Slings.Plain solid colors, not attractive, well...Ugly.This SnuggyBaby sling is Gorgeous, and my wife wants to wear it.It matches so much of her wardrobe.

There is a learning curve for a ring sling, so the DVD with all the carries that is included was a nice touch.An experienced baby wearer can thread the sling, throw it on, and be on their way in seconds.

All in all, This SnuggyBaby Sling is the best ring sling we could find on the market, my youngest daughter lives in this sling.

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Product Description:
Carry your baby hands free and in style with this beautiful ring sling baby carrier.Snuggy Baby slings are completely adjustable so every person gets a custom fit in every position every time.

Snuggy Baby prestige ring slings have a pleated shoulder for lasting comfort. They are made with 2 layers of cotton fabric to provide additional strength and security.The 2 layers also ensure that you get an uniform print. No matter which side of the sling is showing, you always see the beautiful design.They are made with strong, lightweight aluminum rings that have been weight tested to 250 lbs.

These slings measure approx. 21/3 yards long by 27" wide, which is large enough to fit all body types.This is a wider sling and perfect for larger babies. It provides a deep secure pocket for newborns and still provides plenty of support for a wiggly 3 year olds.

Ring slings allow breastfeeding moms to nurse discreetly and hands free.The sling can hold your baby in the correct position and the open tail can be used as a discrete nursing cover so no one will know that you are nursing.The tail also makes a great sun/wind/rain shade, so it is like you are getting several products in 1.

All Snuggy Baby slings come with an instructional DVD that will show you the correct, safe way to carry your baby in 4 different positions; cradle position, tummy to tummy (AKA snuggle position), kangaroo carry, and hip carry.

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ERGO baby Carrier Galaxy Grey/Galaxy Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I started using this carrier right after received it in the mail.My one month old baby was crying hard at the time. Few minutes after I put him in and started walking, he became quiet and fell asleep.Since then, I use it quite often.It's not a magic spell that will always put the baby to sleep but at least my hands are free!As long as I don't have to suffer with souring arms I am happy.The only complaint that I have is that the straps are not very easy to adjust.

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Product Description:
ERGObaby Original CarrierThere is no better feeling than holding your baby close!Using the ERGObaby carrier gives you continuous connection, fabulous feeling of freedom, and security knowing your baby is safe.This is the all-in-one soft baby carrier, assisting you through all the stages of your baby's growth and moving from front to hip to back position easily.Parents tell us the ERGObaby carrier is the best of all the baby carriers on the market. It was designed by Karin Frost and has undergone

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Infantino Balance Baby Carrier, Spindles, 8-35 Pounds Review

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(More customer reviews)This review is part of a round of reviews of baby carriers my wife wrote, including her takes on the BABYBJ?RN Baby Carrier Original - City Black (4 stars), the Ergo Baby Carrier Black with Camel Lining (5 stars), the Infantino Ecosash Baby Carrier, Bloomin Vines, 8-35 Pounds (3 stars), and the Boba Classic Baby Carrier, Glacier (4 stars).Here's her general intro:

"I'm 5'5" and around 130 lbs.Husband is 6' and around 170 lbs.Our children seem to grow quickly, both over 15 lbs by 3 months of age, so a good carrier is vital to the health of our backs!There are many features to each carrier that I will try to touch on, and most of them have both pros and cons associated, so I might say one feature is a benefit, but I may also mention its drawbacks, or vice versa.We all have differently tempered and built babes and toddlers, differently shaped bodies, and different needs, so please take these reviews for what they're worth: my humble opinions.

And here's her take on the Balance:

"Infantino really put some thought into this soft structured carrier, but just didn't get it quite right.It offers some different and new features that I haven't seen from Ergo or Boba, but overlooked some obvious ones too. The price is nice though!

PROS:
* As the other reviews suggest, it is a great value for the money.
* It is well-built with soft material.
* Infantino really tried to think of everything:
- It comes with a plastic bib type attachment to save your clothes from spit-ups (though there are no directions for it and it is not advertised).
- Its straps connect to the belt itself, instead of the body of the carrier (as on the Ergo and Boba), so it has an extra buckle from the straps to the body - I believe this design is so that it can accommodate the 8-pounders.
- All of the straps have elastic at the end for consolidating the extra length. It feels very sturdy on due to the comfortable and sizable waist pad.
- The padded strap runs a nice long length down the back (in front carry position), which makes the carrier very comfortable for mom.
- There is a small pocket in front for carrying phone, keys, wallet.
* It's $50 less than its competitors!!Yay for cheaper baby-wearing!

CONS:
* There is no hood/flap for sleeping baby or weather protection, which is really the biggest disappointment in my opinion.I was very surprised Infantino left that out.
* There are a lot of buckles (two more than the Ergo or Boba), which makes it harder to get on alone (but we moms can get used to anything).
* It is way too small for my 34-lb, 3'3" son.
* It holds the babe pretty close to the body, which some babies only like when sleepy.
* The straps that come out of the side of the body of the carrier are held on with elastic bands, which in time will lose their elasticity.
* The nylon straps themselves are of a cheaper quality than other carriers in this review making them stiffer, stick out more, and harder to tighten with one hand.
* While there is a pocket, it is just a sewed on extra piece of fabric, forcing whatever you put into it to stick into the back of the child.

OTHER:
* I have tried this on a 12 pound infant, an 18 pound infant and 35 pound toddler.It works best with the larger sized infant.
* This carrier was made in China, designed in California.

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Infantino Ecosash Baby Carrier, Bloomin Vines, 8-35 Pounds Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all, I should say that I have a very, very low opinion of Infantino because of their "bag sling" the slingrider, which they left on the market for years after moms in the babywearing community warned them repeatedly that it (as well as all bag slings) was dangerous.In fact, they never recalled it voluntarily, the CPSC had to issue a recall.

That said, I actually liked some things about this carrier, although I don't recommend it overall.It's a mei tai ("may tie"), which is a very common and popular kind of baby carrier.I've owned a few of them, as well as ring slings, pouch slings, structured soft carriers (like the Ergo), and wraps of all kinds.Mei tais are my favorite for extended wearing, when the baby is not in and out of the carrier often, because they are difficult to get into.

This carrier in particular has some pros and cons:

Pros:
- very supportive of a heavier, larger baby.My baby is almost at the max weight limit (35 lbs.) and we enjoyed it.
- nice, neutral color
- detachable hood - very helpful!
- the PRICE!it's super cheap
- booklet that comes with it is somewhat informative

Cons:
- the method of tying is uncomfortable.See below.
- the detachable/reversible panel is annoying.So much bulk and fuss for such an unimportant thing (to me) just got in the way.
- there are "instruction" panels in a stiff satin fabric ALL OVER this thing.There are panels identifying which is the top, which is the waist, how to wear your baby, the weight limits, etc.It makes the carrier uncomfortable if the panels touch your skin or your baby's, and it's totally unnecessary, in my opinion.
- very large and bulky for a small baby
- no pocket!I really appreciate the pocket in all my baby carriers that have them.

The shoulder straps are only long enough to tie around the body of the carrier, as seen in the picture.I am pretty petite in the ribcage and waist, so even with a big baby, I was able to tie it properly (see below) but not in a bow, only in a very unsafe double knot.A petite woman with a small baby MIGHT be able to tie it properly, but that's clearly not how it's meant to be tied.

The instructions have you cross the straps over your shoulders and then bring them around under your arms and tie them there on the baby's back (if you are carrying baby on the front, facing in).I find this method of tying uncomfortable for me and the baby.

I've almost always seen mei tais tied around the back, with the straps going under baby's legs for extra support.That is, if you're wearing your baby on the front, you cross the straps over your back, bring them around under your arms and cross them over the front panel of the mei tai (where the picture above would have you tie them, instead you cross them or twist them), then tuck the straps under baby's legs and tie them on the small of your back where the waist straps are tied.

All in all, I would invest more money in a better mei tai, or find one used for a comparable price with better features.The annoying labels and the length of the straps really make it unusable for me.Maybe it be a good starter mei tai to learn, but I think YouTube videos and thebabywearer.com, combined with a quality WAHM-made carrier would be a much better and safer way to learn.Infantino is behind the curve on making baby carriers, and I would avoid buying from them in the future.

note: I received this carrier for free with the Amazon Vine program.

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Original Maya Wrap Sling (Not Padded)-Bright Stripes Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love thi sling for many reasons but the top three are the following:
1) my baby calms down right away when she's carried in it.

2) she doesn't get scared of strangers when we visit new people or go to a party (she's in the middle of the stranger anxiety phase).

3) Most of all it helps nursing really discretely in public without ovrheating my baby. Before Itried to use all kinds of blankets and scarves but my baby was getting so swaty and hot. instead the fabric of maya wraps is very breathable and my baby remains at a comfortable temperature, even in Texas.

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Product Description:
Versatile-Your baby or toddler can be carried in front, hip, back, reclining, nursing, and kangaroo carry positions. The Maya Wrap Sling can be used as a lightweight blanket, shopping cart safety strap, or as a "leash" while your toddler explores. Each Maya Wrap Sling has a handy pocket in the tail for carrying an extra diaper or wipes. Great for both Mom and Dad-The tail of the sling is long enough to allow large people to wear it, while lack of padding allows it to be tightened enough for smaller people. Adustable- Each edge of the Maya Wrap Sling can be adjusted independently, allowing a perfect custom fit. Perfect for Nursing-Mom can drape the tail over her shoulder for complete coverage. Safe- The fabric and rings have been tested and can withstand in excess of 100 lbs. (35 lbs. is recommended carry weight limit)Long Lasting- The Maya Wrap Baby Sling can be used while your child grows from infant to toddler (35 lbs.).

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