Which carrier - 11 month old bub?

[battlecrumpet]

Well I'm hunting for a different carrier for Caelan, who's 11 months old. I'm using an onbu ATM but really feeling the pull on the shoulders so am thinking I'll need something with a waistband from now on.

Number one priority for me is to get a good weight distribution over longer periods, and the comfort factor. So I'm thinking either a mei tai or an Ergo / Patapum type jobbie. Have already tried the baby Patapum which was OK.

So - does anyone know how the mei tai's compare with SSC's for weight distribution / comfort? Are there any other types of carriers worth considering, apart from these types?

BTW Caelan doesn't like anything too constricting or lots of fabric, and he loves to have his arms out and waving about, which is why I'm not considering a wrap at this stage.....

TIA

[~sequoia~]

Well, I have a mei tai, and Patapum and I feel the Patapum is more comfortable. It distributes the weight better. (I ultimately prefer a good wrap though ) I guess it depends on what kind of mei tei you have though, I know there are better ones than others.

[lucky_mummy]

Agree with the Mei Tai, there are some better than others. I like the ones that have padding right through the straps so it goes right accross your back.

But comparing an Ergo to a Mei Tai, I think the Ergo is more comfortable. I can wear my 12mth boy all day without a bit of pain, and can put my 3.5yr old in for ages without a worry (not sure how long because she won't let me carry her long now). Haven't tried the Papatum, but apparently it is a cheaper mock up of the Ergo, and for the amount of use you get for an Ergo it is so well worth it. You may even find one second hand even cheaper.

Linda.

[RubyRoo]

I love my Ergo, but then I haven't tried a Patapum or a mei tai, so can't give a comparison. DD is 13kg now, and I still can wear her for hours in the Ergo, and not get a sore back / neck, even though I have back & neck problems. The other thing I like about it is that you can convert it slightly for a hip carry- have only done this once, but nice to know the option's there if I want the change. Have fun deciding!

[sling_dad]

ITA, it depends on the Mei Tai and also on your body type. I find some MTs more comfy than Patapum/Ergo. Do you want it primarily for back carry or also for front carry? What was it about the Patapum that you didn't like? (too bad I didn't get a chance to meet you when you borrowed it)

[Bronnie]

i wear josie and xanthia in my baby patapum, and is very comfy. not pretty though, so i'm getting an angelpack once mr tax man gives me some money back. i'm too short for an ergo. i tried a mei tai yesterday that felt pretty good but very exy (what is it called carmen?) and quite, um, bright

[battlecrumpet]

Originally Posted by sling_dad

ITA, it depends on the Mei Tai and also on your body type. I find some MTs more comfy than Patapum/Ergo. Do you want it primarily for back carry or also for front carry? What was it about the Patapum that you didn't like? (too bad I didn't get a chance to meet you when you borrowed it)

I'll be using it for both back and front carries. With the onbu, DH and I both use it for back carries when out and about. When Caelan is sleepy or grumpy I put him round the front.

There wasn't anything wrong with the Patapum as such, it was better than my onbu and DH liked it, but did start pulling a bit after about half an hour. (Can't remember where, maybe down the sides??) Not sure if this was because I couldn't get it tight enough or because I just needed to build up different muscles.

I read the comparison you did of the Patapum and Ergo, they both sounded good. But I'm really the type of anal retentive who likes to explore all my options before making a decision about something, especially because I have to be really careful about the carrier causing upper body pain.

And because I'm used to an onbu and like its portability, I thought a mei tai would be worth considering as well. Re fitting a mei tai, well my I've got a medium height and build I guess. And Caelan likes to have his arms out so the mei tai's body shape would need to allow for that.

Also wanted to find out if there were any other options e.g. isn't there some sort of thing that's a bit of a cross between a mei tai and a SSC, is it a mei tai deluxe or something? Don't know if anyone's tried it....?

I want to come to the next sling meet but wasn't sure if all these types of carriers would be there to try, so thought I'd do some advance research

[sling_dad]

Yes, the best thing for you (since you're the anal type like me ) would be to come to one of our sling meets or schedule a private consultation. Then you can try *everything* - Mei Tais, buckle tais, SSCs, and anything in between. I can also usually suggest things once I see your body shape IRL.

The Mei Favorite might be an option for you - it's got the structured waist like Ergo/Patapum but tied straps like a MT for flexibility. Mine should be coming back soon from a loan if you want to try it. I've also got a few MTs that could fit your criteria well.

[battlecrumpet]

I was just looking at some pics of the mei favourite on the Babies Beyond Borders website.

Does it distribute the weight to the waist / hips better than a standard mei tai or does that depend on body shape?

Just wondering whether it'd be really hot in summer (especially for the bub) as it seemed fairly enclosed and the materials looked dark and heavy...?

[sling_dad]

It does distribute weight better to waist than unpadded-waist MTs, especially in back carry, but fit can be quite individual because of the panel size/shape (as is the case with all MTs and SSCs). I haven't found it to be any hotter than other MTs or SSCs I've used.