Whenever my husband and I know someone with a new baby, we always tend to give the same present: a mei tai. We’re both very aware of the advantages of babywearing and want to share the love. It has been our observation that a mei tai is a good gateway to the babywearing world for a number of reasons:
- A mei tai is a two shouldered carrier. It’s comfortable for longer wearing than one-shouldered slings and most large-scale commercial baby carriers
- It can be used from birth until the family is ready to stop babywearing
- It’s easy to put on and adjust
- It’s easy to learn
- It can be used by parents of different sizes
- A mei tai is Dad friendly. Some Dads are put off by the flowing tail on a ring sling and aren’t interested in tucking it out of the way (ask me how I know!).
If you’re interested in spreading the babywearing love, then a mei tai is simpler to learn than a wrap and can be less overwhelming. Unlike moby wraps, pouches or mass-produced commercial carriers such as the ubiquitous Baby Bjorn, however, they aren’t easily available in retail shopfronts and we often find that other parents haven’t heard of them before. For this reason, the gift is often appreciated as an introduction to babywearing the new parents haven’t heard of.
In the present, I usually tuck a selection of babywearing “propaganda” such as a BCD leaflet, postcard or business card with our phone number on it so that the new parents can get some help using the carrier if they want it. I also print a copy of the newborn safety guide for babywearing available here.
We’ve introduced a few new parents to babywearing this way. Some have loved it, others haven’t. But if we can offer them an easy to learn, hands free way of calming the crying at 3am, then we’re definitely worth inviting back for dinner.
What’s your usual new-baby gift? Have you ever given a carrier? How has it been received? Leave a comment and let us know!
I have found mei tais trickier to use while recovering from a caesarean, but even for caesarean births it’s a good present. In a few months, mum will be trying to get out of the house with baby, nappy bag, car capsule, and whatever other bits & pieces she uses. A mei tai is a lifesaver when you’re going out with a six month old, and great for soothing baby when they get to that difficult-to-settle stage from 3-4 months old.
Like baby clothes that might be more useful on an older baby, a mei tai can be put away until the new parents are ready to get their heads around babywearing.
I have made mei tais for baby gifts before – although I’m not sure how much they got used!
Epic post, I’ve just had a baby girl myself.