Tummy-to-Tummy Carry: Appropriate position for newborns, infants and toddlers.

Holding the front of your carrier flat against your waist, arm straps pointing towards the floor– take the two bottom waist straps and tie them securely behind your back around your waist or slightly higher. Strap shoud feel secure.

Lift your baby and hold him/her tummy to tummy with you– baby should be slightly higher than you would normally carry them with his/ her legs straddling your waist. Holding the baby with one arm, pull the carrier up around their bottom with his/her legs sticking out either side (newborns should have legs in).

With one hand supporting your baby and the other hand on your straps, hold your baby’s body snug towards yours and begin criss-crossing your straps bringing the strap from the top of one shoulder around your back to your opposite hip. One hand should always be supporting your baby while your making adjustments.

Fro newborns, you will want to tie your straps behind their back for support. For older infants and toddlers feel free to tie them under the baby’s bottom, over their legs or underneath. Please always double check that the straps are secure.

Back Carry: Appropriate position for infants and toddlers.

*Please do not attempt this carry for the first time without help.*

Start by laying your mei tai carrier out flat on a chair or sofa with arms. Placing the center of the carrier front side down in the corner of the chair where the cushion meets the arm. Make sure straps are not twisted and laying out flat.

Place baby’s bottom down on the couch in the center of the carrier. Quickly, while keeping an eye on baby, sit down in front of the baby with your back in front of them.

Reach around and grab the two bottom straps tie them around your waist.

Next grab the two shoulder straps and place each under the babies armpit, so that when  you go to pull them up around your shoulders they support your child’s weight. Pull the straps up carefully to your shoulders, if this is the first time you are attempting this, please have assistance. Take each strap and either criss-cross it like you would do in tummy to tummy position across your chest or take each strap and pull it over the shoulder and under your armpit around your back.

Now that your straps are around back, give the baby a bounce or two and pull the straps tightly. Cross them around one another, across the baby’s back or under the baby’s bottom and tie them securely.

Quick Tips:

· If mei tai feels uncomfortable it could be because the baby is too low. Try bouncing the baby up higher and tightening the straps.

· If baby feels uncomfortable, they may not be positioned properly– try rotating their hips towards you.