Q. What is a Mei Tai Baby Carrier?

- . A mei tai (pronounced "may tie") sling is a type of baby carrier that is less structured than the well-known Baby Bjorn-type carriers. Parents who practice "baby wearing" say the Asian-inspired mei tai is comfy enough to keep on for hours, allowing you to keep your baby close all the time. You'll find mei tais in a wide variety of fabrics, colors and patterns (some are even reversible), but most have the same basic form: a rectangle of fabric (some have a bit of extra padding) in the center with long strips of fabric attached to each of the four corners. This allows you to tie one set of straps around your waist and the other around your shoulders so that you can carry your baby on your front, back or side. A few mei tais have a stiffer upper portion to support a newborn's head, but most are best used once your baby can support his head on his own. Mei tais can be used for toddlers up to age 3 (or whenever your child becomes too heavy). Depending on your choice of fabric, a mei tai could cost around $50 to more than $100.