The realm of popular Asian-influenced baby carriers includes two major styles; the mei tai, a traditional Chinese carrier that first became popular in Australia and a recent hit in North America, and the podegi, a similar method of wearing your baby that stems from Korea. Most Asian style carriers have a basic and effective structure, and they offer comfort and simplicity as well as product longevity – all valued and crucial features for us parents and parents-to-be. They also provide easy breastfeeding access, as well as the closeness and calming effects offered by all popular baby wearing methods.
The mei tai, Chinese baby carrier, or ABC (Asian Baby Carrier), can be a bit intimidating at first, but once you’ve practiced with it a few times, it’s remarkably easy to use. The simple baby carrier consists of a rectangular piece of fabric with four straps. Two of these straps are tied around the waist, while the other two go over the shoulders. The straps are very long and designed to be criss-crossed for extra comfort and support.
The Benefits of the Asian Baby Carrier
Because this baby carrier can be adjusted so easily, it can be used as either a front pack or back pack method of babywearing. The alterable straps also allow you to experiment with different tying styles and cross patterns to find a configuration that’s comfortable for you. Despite the numerous benefits of using a baby carrier, it can sometimes be hard on your back and shoulders, so it’s important to get that right fit when wearing your baby.
The long straps and sturdy design also allow for an even weight distribution over the hips and shoulders – this can be critical as your baby grows. Because of the adjustable fit and durability, an Asian baby carrier can be used right up to toddler-hood, or at least up to a weight level that you’re still comfortable carrying. The one drawback is that it’s not recommended for newborns as there is little support for the neck and the head, a crucial factor to remember when wearing your baby, especially if you’re using it as a back pack style carrier.
Picking a Quality Asian Baby Carrier
A quality mei tai style baby carrier will come with padded top straps. This should prevent strap burn, caused by that digging feeling of wearing weight supported by your shoulders. You may remember this uncomfortable sensation from your now-long-gone days of toting huge purses and shopping bags. You should also look for reinforced stitching and a box or x-stitch pattern where the straps meet the fabric. If you’re planning on wearing your baby for a couple of years, you want a baby carrier that’s going to be strong, durable and washable.
Tips For Wearing and Tying an Asian Baby Carrier
You want to practice a few different knot styles. One common drawback of the fabric tying methods of babywearing is slippage. This is when the knots you’ve made begin to loosen and you feel the whole apparatus becoming less tight or secure. While there’s little danger of the knots coming undone completely, especially since the mei tai or podegi styles allow for criss-cross reinforcement, this feeling can be uncomfortable and cause the straps to rub against the skin. So, try out a few different front pack and back packing tying configurations – your product manual or DVD that came with the carrier will show you how – and wear them around the house at first until you find a baby carrying formation that’s comfortable for you. Remember – babywearing, like riding a bike, is remarkably easy, but you need to practice first to be confident and comfortable.
