| Wraparound carriers for infants and toddlers are | | | | world. The Mei Tai style is a large, square piece of |
| usually made of a fabric which is strong enough to | | | | cloth with four long straps of cloth coming from each |
| hold a baby's weight but elastic enough to 'give' a little | | | | corner of the square. You can configure this |
| when pulled. This provides a comfortable cocoon in | | | | wraparound so that the baby or child - up to 35 |
| which your child can feel safe, loved, and enjoy the | | | | pounds - is facing you in front, on your back, or on |
| contact with you which most children desire. | | | | your hip, and then secured with the long straps of cloth. |
| Wraparound carriers have been around for hundreds | | | | This is a beautiful wraparound for both mother and |
| of years. Indian woman, Asian woman, and women | | | | father and can securely carry the baby. |
| from all walks of life would wrap their babies in a long | | | | Wraparound carriers also come in many sling styles |
| cloth and then wrap baby around themselves so the | | | | which go over the shoulder. Some have a pouch |
| baby was close to their heart at all times. They were | | | | which can cradle infants against the stomach area. |
| busy, working women and needed a way to take | | | | This style is ideal for infants and smaller babies. There |
| care of their children while working, so they wrapped | | | | are other styles which are better used with older |
| their babies up and carried their little ones with them. | | | | children or babies who are able to sit up on their own. |
| Today both women and men use wraparound carriers | | | | Other wraparound carriers have a sewn in 'bottom' |
| to keep their babies close with them while they shop, | | | | area which has a quilted cloth which helps keep baby |
| work around the house, or do all sorts of things. The | | | | comfortable. |
| wraparound carriers are usually made of cloth, but | | | | Wraparound carriers are preferred not only by babies |
| there are some that are made from durable plastic | | | | and children because they like to be held and this helps |
| and are designed so you can carry the baby on your | | | | them feel more secure, but also by parents who then |
| hip so you distribute the baby's weight down your legs | | | | know their child is safe and close by in the wraparound |
| and across your hips so as not to burden your back. If | | | | carrier. Parents have peace of mind because they |
| you have a back problem this can be a concern for | | | | know where their child is at all times and there is no |
| you. Other wraparound carriers are more like pouches | | | | fear that someone could walk off with the child which |
| and can carry infants near your chest but once the | | | | unfortunately could possibly happen with a stroller. It's |
| baby gets bigger, you may need to switch to a | | | | always a good time to enjoy some peace of mind and |
| different kind of wraparound carrier. | | | | hands-free carrying with the large selection |
| The Mei Tai carriers were first found in Asia several | | | | wraparound carriers available to parents. |
| hundred years ago and can now be found all over the | | | | |