On the back with a mei tai – for small babies

This position is suitable for babies who can comfortably support their own head (from about 3 months old).

With the method below, your baby is “secured” at all times, which is why it’s a method suitable for small babies, or if it’s important for you to feel confident that you don’t need to “balance” the baby on your back without holding it. Of course, you should make sure at all times that your baby is happy there!

Note: In the photos below my Rea is 8 months old. However, with the method below you can easily carry even small babies on your back who have just started to support their head!

1. Spread your mei tai out on your sofa or bed with the bottom part (the short straps) facing you.

2. The “right” side of your mei tai will be facing down.

3. Lay your baby on top of the mei tai so that its head is roughly at the height where the long straps are sewn onto your mei tai and its little legs are open in front of you. Lift the bottom part of your mei tai (together with the straps) and pass it between its legs.

4. Now bring the short straps upwards, and take hold of the long straps in your hands too. Now in your left hand you’ll be holding the short and the long strap of one side, and in your right hand the corresponding two straps of the other side!

5. Here you can see it from another angle. Try to keep the straps as “tight” as possible against the baby’s body. This will cause its little knees to “lift up”! This doesn’t bother us at all (quite the opposite!). If needed, you can “gather” the bottom part of the mei tai between the baby’s legs.

6. Next, bring all four straps in front of the child’s chest and hold them with one hand.

7. Again from another angle. There should be no gap between your hand and the child’s chest!

8. Now you can lift your child with one hand.

9. With the other hand, lift the baby by its nappy and bring it up over your shoulder, letting the legs rest against your back.

10. At this point all four straps will be hanging in front of you, while your baby is supported on your shoulder.

11. Now separate the straps in your hands, so that once again you’re holding in each hand a short and a long strap from the same side of the mei tai.

12. So now, “distribute” the straps to the side they belong to, taking hold of your baby’s little arm together with the straps. Guide them over your head to the correct side.

13. At this point, your baby will be behind your neck with its arms to your right and left. In each hand you should be holding a long and a short strap from the same side.

14. If needed, let your baby “slide” slightly down your back so that it comes to the center.

15. Now take the long straps between your knees and hold them there.

16. Find the short straps and take hold of them in your hands.

17. Open your arms so that you guide the short straps (which are now over your shoulders) down under your armpits and bring them in front of you.

18. Pass them under the long straps (which you’re still holding between your knees) and tie a knot in front of you, up high, just below your chest.

19. Now you can release the long straps and stretch them out well away from your body (opposite your head) so that you tighten the mei tai behind your baby and make sure it stays high and rests well against your back.

20. Now you can guide them backwards (straight down under your armpits)…

21. … and behind your baby’s back. (see alternative tying method)

22. You can twist them once behind the baby’s back and bring them back in front of you. (Note: This method is called Lexi twist, see alternative tying method)

23. Tie the long straps in front of your waist and you’re ready to go for a walk! Your baby is safe and comfortable in your mei tai!

This position is extremely comfortable if you’ve tied your mei tai correctly. Remember that the higher up your back the baby is, the more comfortable it will be for you (and the more your baby will like it, because you’re giving it the chance to see over your shoulders). Also, the closer the baby is to your body, the more comfortable it will be for you (there should be as little distance between you as possible).

Take a look at an easy variation of this position (for babies who support their own head) in the video below:

read more: “On the back with a mei tai with a small baby”

Another way to carry your baby on your back with a mei tai, if you don’t have a sofa or bed nearby, is described here.

In the photo next to this I’m carrying Rea on my back, at the age of 6 weeks.

Although she doesn’t yet support her head well, my mei tai is made in such a way that it supports it for her (higher top part, with padding).

I also carry her very high, so that I can hear her and feel her breath on my neck. For this reason I’ve tied the mei tai straps above my chest.

Her little legs are folded inside the mei tai (like a little frog, with open knees, higher than her bottom).

This way you can carry even a newborn baby in this position. It would be a good idea, though, the first time you try it, to have someone with you keeping an eye on your baby at every step!

How to carry your baby on your back with your mei tai already tied beforehand:

Video: On the back with the mei tai tied beforehand (9.39 MB)

The above method is ideal for situations when you’re out and don’t want to keep tying and untying your mei tai!

back to: Mei Tai instructions