Babyhawk Mei-tai vs. Ergo vs. Beco Gemini

melody921 · July 2012

So yesterday I posted about the Ergo and whether people love it. Now, in my research of that, the Beco Gemini and the Babyhawk Mei-tai, I think the Mei-tai is leading the pack. So, not to be redundant, but what are your experiences with these? Pros and cons? Other carriers I must look at too? And is the Mei-tai easy to put on if I'm by myself with the baby?

damabo80 · July 2012

No experience with the others, but if you are going to get an ergo, get the ergo performance. I had both a regular and a performance. I got rid of the regular.

melody921 · July 2012

damabo80:
No experience with the others, but if you are going to get an ergo, get the ergo performance. I had both a regular and a performance. I got rid of the regular.

What is it you liked better about the Performance?

mrs.kapow · July 2012

You should ask the AP board. They should have a few people who can weigh in on the pros/cons.

I had the Ergo, but friends of mine swear by the Mei Tei or Gemini.

melody921 · July 2012

mrs.kapow:

You should ask the AP board. They should have a few people who can weigh in on the pros/cons.

I had the Ergo, but friends of mine swear by the Mei Tei or Gemini.

I asked over there too, and that's where the Mai-tei first got mentioned, but their boad is slower.

danabsd · July 2012

No experiance, I will be getting an Ergo based on reviews and recommendations but I have also heard great things about the Gemini. I have not heard anything about the Mei-tai so I cannot weigh in there.

Grins04 · July 2012

I was going to get a Mei Tai until I watched You Tube videos. Just seemed like it was more work (though still looks easier than a Moby, which I also plan on using). I ended up getting an Ergo.

jbergs · July 2012

I have an Ergo and a BabyHawk. DH will wear the Ergo, but doesn't mess with tying the Babyhawk. I love both, but prefer the Babyhawk for the newborn stage.

someso · July 2012

Are these your only carriers? I have 9, but I'm ridiculous. If I could only have 2 I'd go with a moby wrap (most useful first 5 months) and the beco Gemini (best long term carrier).

damabo80 · July 2012

melody921:
damabo80:
No experience with the others, but if you are going to get an ergo, get the ergo performance. I had both a regular and a performance. I got rid of the regular.

What is it you liked better about the Performance?

More breathable, softer fabric (the regular ergo was like a rough jean fabric), the head piece is higher on the performance (great for back carry so the baby's head doesn't lull back at a weird angle when they fall asleep, and I'm a size 16. The regular ergo was too tight, the performance has 5 extra inches on the waist band, so I fit into it better.

Oh, the performance comes with a little hood for the baby and more pocket space than the regular.

Its a bit more expensive, but worth the extra coin. I got mine on eBay for about $100 (new in box)

pixieprincss · July 2012

Do you have a babywearing group near you where you can try stuff on? That is a great way to figure out what works for you. Here are some: https://babywearinginternational.org/pages/celebratingaroundtheworld.php

Personally, I only use woven wraps, but my DH uses a woven wrap or a Kindercarry MT (the cadillac of MTs). I like that MTs are so versatile and I find them more supportive than soft-structured carriers (SSCs). Plus, you and DH can switch between you without having to futz with buckles, adjustments, etc. If I HAD to get an mass manufactured SSC, I would get a Beco because the internal harness is supportive. Also, I am 5'1 and Ergos are known for not fitting short mamas quite as well as a Beco. Someone above mentioned purchasing carriers on Ebay. FYI, Ebay has a terrible reputation for attracting carrier sellers who are selling VERY convincing knockoffs --even down to duplicate packaging--that are low quality. Because of some trickiness in international law, nailing these folks isn't straightforward.

If you want to save money, buy used and try CL, local consignment, thebabywearer.com, etc.

.

punkrockabye · July 2012

The decision was kind of made for me when we found a perfect Babyhawk at a garage sale for $20. I had planned on getting a woven wrap (Wrapsody Bali Baby Breeze) and later on, and Ergo. I may very well still get those at some point, but with finances how they are and how much I love the Babyhawk right now, I think I'm going to hold off on more purchases.

I was a size 24 when I got pregnant although I have lost 19 pounds now and am considerably smaller, somehow, although my stomach is now filled with baby and sticking way out. The Babyhawk actually, truly fits me, and that's crazy. I tested it by wearing my cat. I am lucky to have a very chill, tolerant cat who has been handled by people since day one, since he was so sick in his early weeks. So putting him in the carrier was a non issue and he purred while I walked around (I got some great pictures). But it was very comfortable and tied around me perfectly. Of course it will be different with a baby than a 16 pound cat, but I wanted an idea of what it would be like with something in there.

I tried an Ergo in a store, without a waist extender and it JUST fit around me; it would be too snug to have had a baby in there, but that just tells me that with the little extender they sell, I would have no problems with it. To me, the Babyhawk seems much more simple than an Ergo, but I don't find the Ergo to be too complicated or anything. My first thoughts are that the Babyhawk might just end up fulfilling the same purpose as the Ergo in terms of how the child is carried, but I'll see

LER091811 · July 2012

I got a Mei Tai but found it so confusing and complicated to put on I never even attempted it. The instructions say to practice putting it on while over a soft surface.. um no thank you. If I'm risking dropping her while putting it on, it's not for me.

So I got a Boba 3G, which is like an Ergo but you don't need to buy a newborn insert. I love it!

Mrs.Reyna2008 · July 2012

Love my beco gemini. It is easy to put on, comfy, I feel like baby is safe and secure, it has a lot of different carry options, and it comes in all types of fun prints!

Krista123105 · July 2012

DH used an Ergo with DS (and will use it again with this LO), I used a Babyhawk Mei Tai with DS (and will use it again with this LO). The Ergo is a little easier to put on, given that it just has buckles, but I prefer the MT and can easily put it on by myself. I think the MT is better for infants, but that's just my opinion.

melody921 · July 2012

pixieprincss:

Do you have a babywearing group near you where you can try stuff on? That is a great way to figure out what works for you. Here are some: https://babywearinginternational.org/pages/celebratingaroundtheworld.php

Personally, I only use woven wraps, but my DH uses a woven wrap or a Kindercarry MT (the cadillac of MTs). I like that MTs are so versatile and I find them more supportive than soft-structured carriers (SSCs). Plus, you and DH can switch between you without having to futz with buckles, adjustments, etc. If I HAD to get an mass manufactured SSC, I would get a Beco because the internal harness is supportive. Also, I am 5'1 and Ergos are known for not fitting short mamas quite as well as a Beco. Someone above mentioned purchasing carriers on Ebay. FYI, Ebay has a terrible reputation for attracting carrier sellers who are selling VERY convincing knockoffs --even down to duplicate packaging--that are low quality. Because of some trickiness in international law, nailing these folks isn't straightforward.

If you want to save money, buy used and try CL, local consignment, thebabywearer.com, etc.

Thanks! Good info. I'm going to checkout thebabywearer.com.

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Babyhawk Mei-tai vs. Ergo vs. Beco Gemini

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