Adventures with Mei Tai

Getting sleepy

My son is heavy and I have a bad back, so I've been experimenting with baby-wearing. My first foray into the world of baby-wearing mommies was with a homemade Mei Tai.  A Mei Tai is an Asian style baby carrier that is typically worn on the front but can be worn on the back.  Long straps allow the wearer to criss cross them in the back for better support and distribution of weight.  The waist strap also helps take the weight off the shoulders and back by placing it across the hips.

Mei Tais are very simple to make a there are a host of tutorials and instructions available on the web.  I looked at a few and combined a lot of the features I liked best in the simplest Mei Tai styles.  It's basically a rectangle (roughly 16x20 inches) with very long straps (60" on mine) made of double, triple, or even quadruple layers of some sort of durable but soft fabric with minimal stretch (I used a suit weight silk that I bought before I was pregnant but never used) and double or triple seams with high quality thread every where for strength.  If you are very short, slender, or do use wrapping styles that require going around the waist or back twice, you can get away with shorter straps.

I'm not sure if it's my bad back, but it wasn't as comfortable as I had hoped it would be.  I will try making one more in the near future and seeing if any of the modifications I have in mind help. I would definitely recommend making very wide shoulder straps (6" or more) and padding with an internal layer of quilt batting or thick fleece.  My straps are about 5" and cut into my shoulders after a few minutes.  I did put some padding in the main body to make it more comfy for my son, but he doesn't seem to notice it.  I think I will use a cushier material for the seat pad in my next Mei Tai.  Also, if you think you'll be using it a lot or have a baby who falls asleep easily, I would say to try one of the patterns that includes a sleeper hood.

Mom's verdict:  It is nice to have my hands free for a change.  If I rest his bottom on a table or counter top while I'm doing a quick chore, I don't have to worry about him making a sudden movement and falling or hurting himself in some way.  It's also very useful for quick in-and-out trips to the store because I don't need to worry about the stroller or getting a cart for him to sit in when I'm only purchasing one or two items.  Some features I would like in my next Mei Tai are a utility pocket for keys and such when out on a walk, a detachable hood, wider padded shoulder straps, and a seat cushion for the baby.

Baby's verdict:  He's hot natured and sometimes gets a bit over heated even though it's made out of silk and cotton.  He's also in a wiggly stage and gets tired of being in it when he's in an active mood.  When he's tired, he has no problem falling asleep in it but would probably stay asleep longer with a hood for keeping his head positioned.  He would prefer a higher seat that allows him to nuzzle my shoulder.

Making one and using it has given me a much clearer idea of what my unique needs and wants are in a carrier, so I have some interesting plans for my next Mei Tai.  When I finish it, I'll be putting up the pattern so you can make your own if you like what you see!

For anyone making a Mei Tai for the first time, here's a tip:  this project will take much longer than you think it will for just being a rectangle with straps.  It took about 4 hours of sewing not including the cutting and prepping.  The double stitching and reinforcing take a long time.  I didn't believe it when I read others saying it, but the straps truly are the most time consuming part of the project.

DDT 8 -- How to Make Prefolds for Free!

There are many items around your home that can be repurposed or recycled to make diapers before you throw them away.  Using a serger or a reinforced zig zag stitch, you can have a sizable collection of prefold diapers using items you may have thought had outlived their use.

Items that make great diapers:

T-shirts
Sweatshirts
Flannel or cotton knit pajamas
Fleece blankets
Fleece pullovers
Hand towels
Bath towels
Soft woven cotton fabrics like well-worn, lightweight twill
Just about anything soft, absorbent, 80% or more cotton big enough for a diaper


What to do:

For lighter weight fabrics like flannel or t-shirts, I've had the best results using 2-3 layers and sewing a soaker pad in between them made of a doubled layer cut from an old towel or fleece.  Another approach is to use 2 layers with 4-6 soaker layers of t-shirt material or flannel.

For heavier fabrics, like towel weight material or fleece, I've found that 1-2 layers with a 1 layer soaker is sufficient.

Cut the fabric for the size you need (measurements below).  Position outside layers with the wrong sides facing inside.  The soaker should be about 1/3 the width of your diaper, centered and positioned as the middle layer.

Using a straight stitch, sew through all layers of the diaper down both sides of the soaker pad lengthwise.  Go around the outer edge of the diaper with a serger or reinforced zig zag stitch.  Trim loose threads.  You're done!


*Sizing:

Preemie (up to 7 lbs)
9.5" x 13"
3" x 13" soaker

Newborn (4-9 lbs)
9.5" x 14"
3" x 14" soaker

Infant (7-15 lbs)
12" x 16"
4" x 16" soaker

Regular (13-35 lbs)
14.5" x 21"
4.5" x 21" soaker

Toddler (25+ lbs)
17" x 23"
5" x 23" soaker

*These are the standard dimensions of the most common prefold sizes.  The weights are very flexible.  My 20 pound 6 month old can still use preemie size prefolds, but they are low-rise and not absorbent enough for sleeping or napping unless they are doubled in a heavy duty cover.  When my son was in the suggested weight range for infant prefolds, I had to fold down the front up to 6 inches to make it fit inside the cover, which added a lot of bulk to the front.  I still have need 3-4 inches of front fold when I use infant size.  Even the preemie size had to be folded down 1-2 inches until he was about 4-5 months old.  I recommend using the preemie or newborn dimensions for most babies under 15 pounds for a slimmer fit and a lower rise.  In fact, I would suggest shortening the diaper to 12" for babies under 10 pounds if you are trying to achieve a more custom fit.

DDT7 -- Strip Odors from Cloth Diapers (and other clothes)

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Let's face it.  We want cloth diapering to be all roses and sunshine because it's better for the earth and better for the baby.  We even tell our non-cloth-diapering friends that we never have problems with odors in our cloth diapers.  But it happens to the best of us...sometimes our cloth diapers get funky and not in a good way!

In my effort to make sure that the least possible amount of irritants touch my baby's most sensitive skin, I've learned how to strip diapers naturally, organically, and inexpensively.  For those times when high heat, double and triple rinses, and sun drying don't kill the diaper smell, here's my method.

Prewash with hot water, 3/4 cup of white vinegar, and 1/4 cup baking soda.  You may use more or less depending on the soil level and size of the load.  You have enough of everything if the water fizzes even just a little.  Wash as usual afterward.

It also works great on socks and other odor-prone clothing like work clothes and underwear, but be careful because it can cause some fading, especially when you sun dry after using this method. To strip cloth diapers organically, use organic baking soda and vinegar.

Organic vinegar is easily found in most major grocery stores.  Baking soda (here comes a chemistry lesson), even though it is made of carbon (the main property of organic compounds), can technically never be "organic" because of it's chemical makeup and the type of bonds required to hold it together.  From the standpoint of green living and using naturally derived products, baking soda is not really organic either because it requires a multi-step chemical process involving heat and exposure to other chemicals to create it.  It is however made from naturally occurring compounds and requires no synthetic materials for the reactions from which it derived.  That being said, the most "natural" and healthy baking soda, especially if you intend to ingest it, is aluminum free.  Bob's Red Mill makes an aluminum free baking soda and Frontier also sells an aluminum free baking soda.  Both are sold in one-pound packages.

Why does the baking soda and vinegar solution work at stripping odors?  This is another chemistry lesson, but this one is easy to digest.  Stinky diaper syndrome is caused by bacteria and and spoiling or deteriorating micro residues from waste (imagine a microscopic septic tank or garbage dump in the fibers--or don't because that's gross).  Baking soda, an alkaline salt, chemically neutralizes odors.  Vinegar, an acid, kills bacteria.  The reaction created by combining them (aka the fizz), blasts and eats away dirt and residue (think of what happens when you put a rusty penny in vinegar and baking soda).  This solves both the odor causing problems.

Here's to fresh smelling diapers and all your other smellier than average laundry!

photo credit:  by gesinek, stock.exchng,

DDT 3 -- Free Cloth Diaper Patterns

Here are free downloadable patterns for anyone who wants to try their hand at make a few diapers.  Everything from AIOs, pocket diapers, contours, fitteds, and covers!

All-in-One Pattern (Medium)

Rita's Rump Pocket Diaper - (patterns for covers, AIOs, contours, and more also available)

Ottobredesign Fitted Diaper

Goodness Gracious Fitted Diaper

Little Comet Tails Not so Flat Wrap (I have personally used this pattern as a contour diaper and used it a starting point to create my own covers and AIOs.  It has a very generous cut, which is great as a contour.  For covers and AIOs, I have to trim it down in the crotch and/or lengthen the pattern for the best fit.)

Wee Weka Pocket Nappy (My personal favorite.  It didn't start fitting that well as a pocket diaper until my son was about 4 months old as the rise was too high.  Now that it does, it's a very nice slim fitting diaper even with night time stuffings.  I did, however, use the pattern to make a diaper cover with an adjustable rise, and it was the only cover I had the fit well for newborn use.  It still fits great even now.)

Come back next week for my favorite DIY cloth diaper supplies and suppliers!

DDT 1 -- How to fold prefold diapers

This is my first installment of Diaper Duty Tuesday (DDT) where I'll be discuss cloth diapering how-to's, tips, patterns for sewing your own diapers and covers, and everything else related to cloth diapers!  Today I'm tackling the mysteries of the prefold which is simultaneously the simplest and most intimidating cloth diaper, but they are a wonderfully economical cloth diapering choice that can be adjusted to fit a wide range of sizes regardless of the size of the prefold.  In fact, I'm still using preemie size prefold diapers on my 20-pound, 5-month old son, and he still has some use left.  The biggest issue with them now is not the fit but that the amount of cloth is becoming insufficient for his super soaking capabilities.

Many people, especially grandparents and other part-time caregivers, are turned by prefolds because they don't understand how to make them fit the baby.  There are a few different approaches to putting on prefold diapers, and I've tried several.  Of the methods I've tried, this one gives the slimmest fit and most protection against dirty diaper blowouts.  I've leakage problems with other fold styles, but the only time I've ever had a mess with this one is when  he decided to go for round two during the diaper change!

Folding prefolds with a fastener

1)  Lay the cloth diaper flat under the baby with the top edge at the desired waist height.

2)  Fold the portion in front of the baby in thirds so that the hugs baby's bottom snugly.

3)  Lift the folded part over the baby's front.

4)  Fan open the top of the diaper over your little one's belly.

5)  Fold down if there is too much excess cloth at the top.  If it's a little too high, you can tuck it down under the diaper cover.

6)  Fasten with pins or Snappi if desired.

7)  Put on the diaper cover.  Make sure all the diaper is tucked inside the cover or you'll end up with leaks.

It looks like a lot of steps, but it goes quickly once you've done it!

Folding prefolds without a fastener

It's easier to lay the cloth diaper and cover under the baby at the same time if you aren't using a pin.  Make sure the edges are even before you place them under baby's bottom (refer to picture #2 above) and follow the same steps as outlined above.