Choosing between Mei Tais
So you've narrowed down your choice and you know you want a mei tai. Congratulations!
All of the mei tais we carry are great choices - that is why we carry them.
Any one of these is a good option for use from your child's infancy through
toddlerhood and beyond. All of them offer a two-shoudered, supportive, secure
carry and can be used on the front, side and back.
If you've fallen in love with a fabric or the overall look of either the Kozy,
BBO or Sachi, by all means, go ahead and buy it. You really can't go wrong
with any of them!
That being said, for those of you who are uncertain, there are differences
between the carriers:
 Kozy Carrier - the Kozy mei tai has the widest and tallest body
of all of our mei tais (17"x22"). The body of the Kozy is made
from very strong canvas. The Kozy shoulder straps are 4" wide and are
lightly padded. The waist
straps are unpadded. The Kozy doesn't
have a headrest, but the curved, lightly padded top of the carrier provides
support for an infant's head and can be folded down for children that want
their arms out.
Cool innovations:
- Option of a pocket
- option of extra long straps (good for larger
people and special ties like the Tibetan or Lexi twist)
- tiny little pocket on one strap fits my cell phone perfectly!
The Bottom Line: Sometimes known as the "gold standard"
of mei tais, Kozy considered a classic in babywearing circles. The Kozy
is our top recommendation for older/heavier children. Also great for
high
back
carry
with infants.
Some
find that younger/smaller babies are overwhelmed by the height/width
of the
body of the Kozy. On the other hand, many people love the extra height
and width for the coverage it provides.
 Sachi Carrier - the Sachi mei tai has a medium-sized body (15"x20.5"), which
is a great size for both younger babies and older children. The contoured
body
of the
Sachi means there is no extra fabric making for a sleeker, more minimalist
look. The Sachi has a headrest and padding in the legs for your baby's comfort
when being carried with legs out.
Cool innovation: The front panel of the Sachi doubles
as a pocket for your straps (when storing it) or holding your keys and
an extra diaper.
The Bottom Line: The Sachi is our recommendation if you
want just one mei tai. Even young babies can ride comfortably with their
legs out in the Sachi. We love the look of the
contoured
body, which means less "pooching out" of fabric at the sides. We love the
appreciate the leg padding, and the front panel pocket is super handy.
May be a better
option for
summer due to having less fabric.
 Ball Baby Overall: the BBO has a medium body (16"x18") and a very different look and feel than
either of our other MTs. We find the wide 6" straps very comfortable and
they never dig into our shoulders. The BBO straps do not have (or need) padding.
The BBO does not have a headrest and some people find the body a bit short
for supportive a very young infant's head. BBOs come in regular and extra
long straps.
Cool innovation: The wide straps of the BBO and the "overall" fabric (instead
of just a panel) make for a beautiful and comfortable carrier
The Bottom Line: The BBO is our recommendation for the
most comfortable front carry and the most comfortable hip carry. In fact,
the BBO is the only mei tai we recommend for hip carries - the wide straps
cup your shoulders and prevent the shoulder strap from digging. Some people
find that the fabric cupping their shoulder is restrictive, and may prefer
Kozy or Sachi for that reason.
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