Mei tai vs. ergo

Marie0627 · August 2012

I have been wearing my babe in the moby but she's starting to get a little heavy in there and am tryi g to decide what to get next. Shes 7 months old and about 17 pounds. I love the ppb print ergo but it looks a little bulky. The meitai looks like more what I'm used to and they both look like they can be used up to toddlerhood. Any thoughts or advice on which one to choose?

Thanks so much ladies!

ncbelle · August 2012

Which mei tai are you considering? There's a lot of variation in mei tais and lots of buckle options besides the Ergo to consider. My siggy has some info that might help you choose. I personally like MTs over buckle carriers as I feel like I get a more comfortable carry. If you like the moby, you might also consider a woven wrap which is far more supportive and versatile than the moby ;-)

michellepeanut · August 2012

We have a Babyhawk and an Ergo. I think the Babyhawk is more comfortable and it's my husband's favorite - but I find the straps a pain in parking lots or when we're hiking (they always touch the ground and get dirty) so we like using the Ergo for places where we will trade her back and forth. Oh I also really like the pocket on the Ergo for storing things like her hat and a spit up cloth (we have a pocket in the Mei Tai too but it's not as usable).

aglenn · August 2012

I agree with pp. I have the ergo and an ellaroo mei tai and the mei tai is my favorite, but if I'm going to be in and out of the car or in an airport or something I will use the ergo so the straps aren't dragging on the ground when I take baby in and out.

tcu_2003 · August 2012

I love, love, love my Ergo. I tried a Mei Tei at a class last weekend, and still like the Ergo better, but I've never used a Mei Tei other than that. The Ergo is super easy to use and baby loves it. I also like the pocket on it for storing stuff, and the hood to cover baby's head when he's sleeping or it's too sunny out for him.

00jennifer00 · August 2012

I've made several of my own mei tais, but I hated the whole ties on the ground thing too (especially when #2 and #3 were babies, we lived in a super rainy/mucky place). I got an Ergo Sport when #4 was a few months old, and I LOVE that thing! I really like the buckles. Dh does not bw, but I think he'd prefer the Ergo too. I also never liked the knots of the MT digging into my body.

blu-eyedwife · August 2012

I have a Babyhawk and an ergo and I prefer the Mei tai. I think it goes on faster, it's easier to adjust, and we're both really comfortable in it.

DH prefers the Ergo, but for stupid reasons. He thinks the blue and green pattern on my Babyhawk is "too girly." But he's jealous of how quickly I can get it on and ready to go (nothing to adjust).

I will say that the one plus to the Ergo is the sleeping hood - which helps keep the babe sleeping if we put him on when he's already out.

desdemona39 · August 2012

I have an ellaroo mei tai and an ergo performance, and I prefer the ergo. The mei tai is more difficult and time consuming for me to get on and the straps drag on the floor.

The ergo is much easier to breastfeed in, all I have to do is loosen the straps (no untying and re-tying like with the mei tai), and the hood helps me nurse more discretely. Plus it's quick up and down for my toddler.

fwiw, my DD is 16 months and 23lbs.