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11 month old Cordy in the Mei Tai

As I was browsing old pictures of Cordy last night, I was reminded that with the new baby coming in two months, it's time to dig out the baby carriers again. I was introduced to baby wearing by a good friend who wore her infant son in a sling for a large part of his first year. It kept him happy, it gave her the ability to have her hands free while holding him, and it was an easy way for him to nurse. After seeing how well it worked for her, I knew I was going to try it as well.

Cordy lived in her sling, made by my friend, for the first several months. I think the close, scrunched up environment felt just like the womb to her, reminding her of the good old days, when she didn't need to worry about eating, breathing, or regulating her body temperature. I liked it because it was easy to carry her without my arms getting tired quickly.

As she got older, though, the sling became a little harder to use. She wanted to sit up, and look out at the world, and I felt less secure with her in the sling. It was still far better than holding her in my arms without any help, but I often kept one arm around her just in case she tried to dive out of the sling.

I looked for other baby carriers when Cordy was about eight months old, and stumbled onto Ellaroo. This company make several different kinds of baby carriers, including slings, wraps, and the Mei Tai and Mei Hip. I loved the idea of the Mei Hip and ordered one right away. It was very easy to put on, and even easier to get Cordy into and out of. She sat right on my hip, so even though she continued to gain weight faster than the average child her age, I could carry her in the Mei Hip for hours without needing a break. It didn't strain my neck or my back, and the wide base provided good support for Cordy, too.

After the Mei Hip, I branched out to the Mei Tai. This is an Asian-style baby carrier that is very flexible - you can wear a child on your chest, on your back, or on your hip, all depending on how you tied it on. This was a great carrier to use in place of those heavy, rigid backpack style carriers that I couldn't get the hang of. It took help from my husband to get Cordy into the Mei Tai when wearing her on my back, but once she was there she enjoyed being close and getting the chance to look out at the world from a higher vantage point.

The Ellaroo carriers are lightweight, sturdy, machine washable, and many are made with all organic fabrics. If you've ever thought of trying baby wearing, be sure to give them a look. I know I'll be reusing mine for my second child.