Mei Tai baby carriers seem to be the least common carrier style, but we love their simplicity and extreme comfort.
You have to shop around to find a good Mei Tai carrier because they are not as common as soft structured carriers, baby wraps, or ring slings. As our team consists of moms, we understand how limited your free time is, so we’re here to lighten your load and make your Me Tai selection process much easier.
We’ll explain how Mei Tai carriers work and compare them to other carrier styles. We’ll also review the best Mei Tai baby carriers to help you narrow down your selection and find the perfect carrier for wearing your baby or toddler.
- Easy to breastfeed
- X-shaped back for additional comfort
- Lightweight and easy to travel with
- 100% soft brushed cotton twill
- Adjustable seat width
- Wide straps for comfort
- Machine-washable organic material
- Supports little spines regardless of age
- Can hold up to 33 pounds
- Fits babies to preschoolers
- Washable organic cotton
- Stimulating fabric print
- Multifarious designs
- Adjustable strap
- Machine washable
The Best Mei Tai Carriers of 2024
Here are our favorite Mei Tai carriers on the market.
Momcozy Baby Carrier
Best for Newborns
This baby carrier is slightly different from the Mei Tai carriers in that it has a more structured feel. It is made from 100 percent cotton and is designed to grow with your baby. It has three adjustable positions, so you can carry your child from the newborn stage until they’re a toddler.
The carrier supports babies from seven pounds up to 44. It also supports the ergonomic “M” position, which ensures your child’s hips and spine are in a healthy position.
For parents, you’ll be grateful for the ergonomic waist support that ensures comfort to the lumbar and alleviates stress on your back. This allows you to wear the carrier for long periods, making it great for traveling and day trips!
This baby carrier is also available in four designs: starry nights, black, gray, or leopard print. The carriers have padded leg support for the child and padded shoulder support, ensuring comfort to the parent, too.
Pros
- Easy to use and adjust.
- Comfortable for baby and parent.
- Soft 100 percent cotton fabric.
- X-shaped back for additional comfort.
- Lightweight and easy to travel with.
- Babies find it great for napping in.
Cons
- Waist band is a little stiff.
- Babies under 10 pounds might not be super comfortable.
- The fabric has minimal stretch and flexibility.
Our Ratings
Suse's Kinder One and Only
Best for Summer
This beautiful Mei Tai is made of 100% natural cotton. This means it will stay cool and breathable, even in the summer months, while still being supportive due to its finely woven and supportive twill fabric.
The finely brushed fabric is soft enough for your baby’s delicate skin, ensuring their contentedness as you carry them.
The undyed fabric keeps this carrier from absorbing the sun’s rays. However, if you prefer a more interesting design, this Mei Tai is a blank canvas. You can dye or tie-dye it however you like, making it a one-of-a-kind carrier your mom friends will covet.
Suse’s Kinder carrier was designed by babywearing experts and educators with decades of babywearing experience, so you can trust that your little one will be safe and supported.
The straps on this carrier are longer and wider than most, making it more adaptable and suitable for moms of all sizes and offering extra shoulder support and comfort. You can adjust the width at the bottom of the pouch to fit your narrow newborn’s bottom. The unique style allows it to grow with your little one until they become too heavy to wear.
With the added tactile stimulation on the waist fabric, you can easily distinguish between the shoulder and waist straps, which will help you remove your baby from the carrier safely.
You can roll the hood panel up to protect your little one from the sun or support their head while resting, or you can button it down to fit a smaller baby.
Pros
- Made with machine-washable, cool, comfortable, and natural cotton.
- The undyed fabric stays cool, or you can dye it to suit your style.
- Adjustable seat width makes it suitable for newborns to toddlers.
Cons
- Hip straps are a little wide, making them harder to tie.
- Torso length can be hard to adjust for shorter babies.
Our Ratings
Personal Perspective
Liliput Mei Tai
Best for Plus Size Moms
If you’re a plus-sized mom, this Mei Tai should be on your shopping list. It has extra-long straps, so you can secure your baby comfortably, regardless of your size.
It has an adjustable panel height and width to grow with your little one. Similar to other varieties, its waistband is padded for your comfort, and the spreadable shoulders support weight distribution.
This Mei Tai is especially comfortable for wearing your baby on your back. However, this can be a complicated maneuver (speaking from experience) and is best for older babies or toddlers who can hold their heads up and support themselves somewhat.
This Mei Tai may seem simple compared to other slings on the market. It only allows for two carrying styles. However, simple does not necessarily mean less useful.
Despite my problems in mastering a back carry position, this sling comes with an easy-to-follow instruction guide and has a good reputation for its ease of use. It keeps your child close, and they’ll love being up on your back and seeing the world from your perspective.
Pros
- Machine washable
- It can be ironed — if you feel the need to give yourself an extra chore!
- The hood cover protects your baby’s head from the sun.
- Organic material.
- Supports little spines, regardless of age.
- It can hold up to 33 pounds.
Cons
- Although advertised for newborn use, the product recommendation is from six to eight weeks old, depending upon personal judgment.
- Shoulders are not padded.
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Ocanoiy Baby Carrier With Hip Seat
Best for Toddlers
Toddlers get super tired, especially on long day trips. But the Ocanoiy baby carrier is excellent for children up to 66 pounds heavy! It also suits newborns, too, so you can use this carrier for years to come.
Made with 100 percent premium cotton, this carrier is breathable and comfortable, ensuring comfort for your baby. The 6-in-1 design allows you to hold your baby in six different ways, including facing in, facing out, facing on the back, or sitting on the waist stool, which is great for toddlers who like to switch between running around and being carried.
The additional storage is also great for parents. There is enough space to store your phone, keys, snacks, and diapers all at once. It also includes a backboard to protect your child’s head from the wind and sun. Last but not least, it consists of a reflective strip, keeping you illuminated in low-light situations.
Pros
- Storage pockets for carrying extra stuff.
- Comfortable for parents and babies.
- Six ways to carry your child, including a hip stool.
- Thick and cushioned waistband.
- Suitable for children up to 66 pounds.
Cons
- The material is not super comfortable for everyone.
- Takes trial and error to figure it out.
Our Ratings
Sigzagor Baby Doll Carrier Mei Tai
Best Kids Doll Carrier
The growing popularity of babywearing means products are appearing to suit all budgets and all age group- including kids!
If you are looking for your kids’ first baby carrier purchase, you’ll probably want to have something simple and functional. If that’s the case, this carrier will be an excellent choice for your little one.
When you start your babywearing journey, your child might wanna get the feel of it too. Since this is a budget option, you can can consider this one for his or her pretend play.
The Sigzagor carrier is made from 100% cotton terry fabric and is comfortable and supportive for your kids and her baby doll. It functions like a hybrid carrier as it includes an additional strap to more evenly distribute the dolls weight across the midsection.
Like with most Mei Tais, you can wear your baby in two carrying positions — back and front.
Be warned though that while it may seem like a real carrier, this is just a toy.
Pros
- Multifarious designs.
- Adjustable strap.
- Machine washable.
Cons
- Used only for pretend-play.
Our Ratings
The Benefits of Choosing a Mei Tai/Meh Dai
With the growing popularity of babywearing in the U.S., the market can be confusing. There are many different types of baby carriers available, of all shapes, materials, and sizes.
If you want a simple carrier that is easy to put on, comfortable to wear, and safe for your baby, you’ll love the Mei Tai. It’s a minimalist design, a cross between a wrap and a conventional buckle carrier.
Mom and baby will love the comfort of a Mei Tai as it’s less rigid than a conventional buckle carrier but easier to use than a baby wrap.
One of its best features is that you aren’t limited to using it in one position. The Mei Tai is versatile and adjustable enough to carry your baby on your back, hip, or front.
Your baby simply sits in the Mei Tai’s body panel, and you tie the straps around yourself. You can carry young babies and small toddlers comfortably and safely, with even weight distribution for your comfort.
With a bit of maneuvering, it’s even possible to nurse your baby discreetly and hands-free. However, this may be more difficult if you have larger breasts.
With a Mei Tai carrier, one size fits (almost) all. You can easily adjust the Mei Tai to alternate between carrying a baby and a toddler. Or, when daddy wants to take a turn, the Mei Tai will fit him too.
How to Choose the Best Mei Tai
If you choose to sling your little one, knowing its features will help you select the right one. These are a few points worth considering when shopping for a Mei Tai:
Ease of Use
Is it easy for you to tie on yourself, or will you need someone to assist you?
Cleaning
Is it machine-washable? This was the clincher for my Mei Tai — especially after being puked on with my previous sling!
Material
When choosing a Mei Tai, you need to think about more than how it looks — although there are some really great prints, patterns, and solid colors to choose from.
Choose a Mei Tai that comes in a fabric suitable for your conditions. You don’t want your baby (or yourself) to be too warm or too cold while wearing it. As Mei Tais come in a wide range of fabric types, including organic options, it shouldn’t be hard to find one that suits your situation.
You want your carrier fabric to be durable and breathable and provide ample support to both you and your child while still being gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin.
Comfort
Consider whether the carrier is structured or made of a soft material, allowing your baby to sit in as natural a shape as possible. How will it support your child? Will it support you in the right areas to counteract your child’s weight? Are ergonomic versions available?
Safety
“Close enough to kiss” is a mantra for baby wearers. Learning how to use your carrier to ensure your child is secure is important.
Ability to Carry Other Stuff
As a Mei Tai has wide straps that cover both shoulders, if you have narrow shoulders like me, you may find it hard to carry a diaper bag across your shoulder while wearing your little one. You may find it easier to use a backpack diaper bag while wearing your little one on your front.
FAQs
What Is a Mei Tai Carrier?
A Mei Tai carrier is a baby carrier that looks similar to a backpack. They can be worn on your back, front, or hip.
Mei Tai carriers are comfortable for you and the baby, and they’re known to provide great support.
Where Did the Mei Tai Baby Carrier Originate?
The Mei Tai baby carrier was invented in China. This style of baby carrier has a very old history, and Mei Tais have been proven to work effectively for generations.
Even though the original designs were usually simple, now you can buy Mei Tai carriers with many different designs.
What Age Is Mei Tai Baby Carrier for?
The age requirement and limit for your Mei Tai is specific to the baby carrier you own. It’s best to read the instructions that came with your carrier or look online to see what ages your carrier is meant for.
