Choosing between Mei Tais
So you've narrowed down your choice and you know you want a mei tai. Congratulations!
Both of the mei tais we carry are great choices - that is why we carry them.
Either one is a good option for use from your child's infancy through
toddlerhood and beyond. Both 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 or the BBO by all means, go ahead and buy it. You really can't go wrong
with either one!
That being said, for those of you who are uncertain, there are differences
between the carriers:
 Kozy Carrier - the Kozy mei tai has the wider and taller body
(17"x22"). It is made from very strong canvas. The Kozy shoulder straps are 4" wide and are
lightly padded. The waist
straps are unpadded. The curved, lightly padded top of the carrier provides
support for an infant's head and can be folded down for children who 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, the Kozy Carrier is 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.
 Ball Baby Overall: The BBO has a medium body (16"x18") and a very different look and feel than the Kozy. We find the wide 6" straps very comfortable and
they never dig into our shoulders. The BBO straps do not have (or need) padding.
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
the Kozy.
| 
