Freehand Mei Tais are designed after the traditional carriers of the Yunnan province, used by Chinese mothers and babies for thousands of years. Two sets of long straps and a decorative panel tie in a variety of ways, to keep your newborn through toddler snug and secure on your front, back or side.

The long straps adjust to fit any wearer, so a Freehand Mei Tai can easily be shared between caregivers of very different sizes. The padded top straps are 75 inches long and 4 inches wide, and the waist strap is one continuous piece that is 78 inches long. This makes the Freehand Mei Tai big enough even for people who are very large, and people who are quite small simply need to wrap the straps around their waist an additional time or two before tying.

The panel of the Freehand Mei Tai is quite wide, which encourages the baby’s hips to be in the most comfortable and ergonomic position possible, helping with healthy growth and development of the pelvis. In conventional front packs, babies dangle from their crotch, and undue stress is placed on their spine. In the Freehand Mei Tai, the baby’s entire bottom is supported in a seated position, with their knees up at the same level as their hips.

The Freehand Mei Tai can be worn in a variety of different positions, depending on your child’s age and your preference for having weight distributed to your hips or placed mostly on your shoulders. You can start wearing your baby in the Freehand Mei Tai the day they are born, and continue wearing your child in your Freehand Mei Tai as long as they are happy being worn and you are comfortable carrying them. For most people, this threshold is reached around three years old or thirty-five pounds. Inspect your Freehand Mei Tai regularly to check for any weakened seams, though you can be secure in knowing that all weight bearing seams are triple stitched and Freehand Mei Tais are always made with sturdy, dependable construction.

The Freehand Mei Tai has a very low learning curve, and is easy to get on and off without any help, even for back carries. The Freehand Mei Tai is one of the easiest baby carriers in which to nurse on the go. Simply loosen the bottom strap and lower and shift it until your baby is at the level of your breast. When they are finished, simply tighten up the straps so you are again wearing your baby high and tight, which is the most comfortable position for most people.

Wash your Freehand Mei Tai in cold water and hang dry. Unlike some other carriers, your Freehand Mei Tai is extremely versatile and lightweight, without extra buckles or bulk. It folds up compactly to be tucked in a purse or diaper bag, though more likely, you’ll rarely want to put it away!