Anyone have a Mei Tai hip carrier?

I bought this carrier for ds as he seemed to like being carried on the hip in the shop and it was really comfy but since we got it home he screams in it constantly and i cant get it on properly. Does anyone have any tips on how to get it on when on your own? I have problems getting the backstrap on while holding a wriggly worm of a baby. Is there a knack to it that im not getting as when i do it as per the instructions i dont get the back strap straight and as a result it doesn't sit properly on my shoulder and i get a sore shoulder. Any tips?

There are quite a few videos on youtube showing how to do it, and it's something that will take a little bit of practice to get used to doing it on your own.

Do you have one of the Mei Hip carriers (an actual brand of dedicated hip carrier), or are you using a mei tai in a hip carry?

Its a dedicated mei tai hip carrier by ellaroo

Ahhhh, that's different then LOL. It has a clip on the top strap, so can you leave that done up and then pop him into it like a sling?

I don't own an ellaroo, but i made my own meitai and used a hip carry when DD was smaller. I used to tie the hip bit, then arrange the back strap so it was straight and hold the upper edge (with it flat across my back, but very loose so i had room to get bubs in) in my mouth. Then i picked DD up, put her in, held her against me with one arm and pulled the back strap tigher with the other hand and fastened it (mine ties in a knot, i guess yours clips?). You could get some one to help you one time, mark the fabric so the clip is in th right position and then you can always get the cip sorted before you putit all on, rathe than trying to tighten it with bubs in it (can't be easy pulling the tail back over your shoulder to tighten!).

Any help?

Bx

BX, the mei hip is different - you don't tie the top straps, it is more like a sling Mei Hip

Iv tried doing it up and then trying to get him in Trillian but it didn't really happen lol! It was too hard to get his legs in the right position. I had a look at You Tube but there is nothing on that particular style of carrier that I can see.

BX I like the idea of getting the strap right and then holding it in my mouth. That may work as the strap is pretty long. Hopefully it is just long enough. Just tried it then and i think we may just get there. Ill try it with ds tomorrow as he is in bed now.

Any other hints would be appreciated especially if you have this particular style of carrier. I am so tempted to go out and buy a ergo or something but need to show dh that I have made a real effort at trying to get DS into it lol. I think most of his frustration of being in the sling comes from me trying to get him in there in the first place. I know that practice makes perfect but i really cant work out how to do it so it is comfortable for me too as i have worn him in it once and thought my shoulder would drop off as it wasn't cupping my shoulder right coz the back strap was twisted grrrr.

ME ME ME!!!!!!

Right this is how I do mine (we have a left hip sided Mai ellaroo)

make sure L is at a height that you can just grab him and you wont have to move, eg carseat or a highchair
Put the waist bit on and let it hang on my 'left' side
I put my leg up so its bent at the knee's and have the sling layed out over my top part of my leg
Put M on thast leg with his legs either side on my leg
Pull the back support up and while I am "cuddling' him I grab the long strap and fling it over around my back to my right shoulder, then click it round the front

I absolutely Love mine...i wish I had it earlier.....and M is 14 kg now :( but its still going strong

hope this helps

OK, you could try doing it from the top down - pop the top straps over your shoulder and then pop in on your left hip and hold him with your left hand (I know he's a pretty heavy bubba so you may need to jut your hip out a bit of help keep him there) and with the right hand pull his arms over the top of the strap, then swap the hands that you are holding him with and use your left hand to toss the strap around your back - you may need to lean forward a little to get it to stay there. Then swap hands again so you are holding him with your left hand again, use your right hand to grab the strap from behind your back and pull it to the front and meet it up with the other strap. Give a little bounce to make sure he's in there properly and then pull the straps around to the back, one in each hand holding them tight so he doesn't fall out. Again it will take a bit of practice doing it on your own but you will get there

I dont know if that would work hon :( cause its only one strap over one shoulder while the other sits under around your shoulder...its bloody wierd but it works

Maz how do you fling the long strap around without getting it all twisted and so that it sits nicely against your back :lol: Bet your going to say its just practice!!!!

no no not practise..Is till stuff it up if im not careful

While my leg is up and M is in with the back up, I grab the strap and with my right arm, sort of put it behind me back and run my fingers over the strap to make sure its straight while flinging at the same time....lol im trying to do it while writing this and i look like im having a fit :ROFL:

I wear the strap from the the carrier under my arm on the left side to...I find it fits be better this way

You think you look silly, DH and i are standing in the living room practicing with a teddy bear. Mind you Lachy weighs 9kg more than the teddy and squirms around a hell of a lot more :ROFL:. I think i have the idea though so will try with L tomorrow. Dunno if he would appreciate it if we woke him up now to practice he he. Ill let you know how we went. Wish us luck!

:ROFL: we did the same..

LUCK hon

I have a tutorial i typed of how to make and use a meitai and it has a number of photos of me and a big teddy to show you how to tie (because i was on my own and i couldn't freeze with DD balanced half way through the process and then set the timer on the camera without dropping her on her head) :redface:

Bx

Bx, what Isobel has is not actually a mei tai, it's a dedicated hip carrier, with a single cupped shoulder that buckles at the front. It's called a Mei-Hip (that's the brand name) because the body is based on a mei tai body, with a padded waist that can be either buckled or tied and that is worn apron style.

Isobel, have you read the PDF instructions on the Ellaroo site? There are pictures that may help.

I have a different type of hip carrier (a Scootababy) which doesn't have the buckle on the shoulder- it is much easier to use as a result, as the shoulder strap can be loosened and lifted into position over the wearer's and the baby's head then tightened (without having to actually undo and redo any buckles), but some of what I say might still be of help to you, even with a slightly different carrier.

On the Mei-Hip, can the shoulder strap be loosened enough so that you can bring it over your shoulder with the buckle already done up? If it can, this would really help (although from looking at the instructions, it doesn't look that way). Once you have the carrier on, you can then tighten it enough to suit. If that's doable, then it might make it much easier. If it's not, sorry that I've suggested something completely useless :lol:

Oh Suse..you might be onto something there hon.......you could loosen the buckle, slip it over your head then tighten it back up...hmmmm im going to try tomorrow now.

Thats an idea Suse. Ill give that a go too. I have those instrustions on the box and although it tells you what to do it doesn't tell you how to do it iykwim....

I got him in your way this morning maz and it didn't go too badly. It was easy to position him by having him sit on my knee. He was just sitting a bit low so I need to get the hang of tightening the buckle with him in the sling. I have done it before but for some reason i couldn't do it this morning.

I think i am on my way! Now to see if he can get used to it and enjoy being in it :doh: My boy is a bit too independant i think lol

Im so gald to hear that it helped hon....je dhas my carrier in his car so I cant try Suse way until he gets home and M is awake again :doh: