Browse the frequently asked questions:
- - I live in a hot humid area, will an EDEN carrier be too warm?
- - My carrier has arrived and it is stiffer than I expected, will it soften?
- - Can I carry my baby forward facing out?
- - What are some secrets for working with the "stickiness" of the Velveteen?
- - Which is best for me.. the Velveteen or the Organic carrier?
- - My baby is now 4 months old and the edge of the carrier seems to be cutting into her thigh.
I live in a hot humid area, will an EDEN carrier be too warm?
Velveteen EDEN carriers are made of two layers of velveteen corduroy. Together, these layers are about the thickness of a sweatshirt. The softness of the fabric and the longer fibers contribute to a warmer "look". The weave of the fabric is quite tight and will prevent wind to pass through, however it is made of 97% cotton and will breathe wonderfully.
Most other Mei Tai's are made with a layer of padding between the cotton or canvas layers. Velveteen EDEN Mei Tai carriers utilize the stretch of the fabric to provide the cushion and do not require padding. In comparison, the actual warmth factor of a Velveteen EDEN carrier and a padded carrier would be the same. We now offer Organic carriers made with Organic Cavas for those who would prefer a non-plush fabric.
My carrier has arrived and it is stiffer than I expected, will it soften?
Absolutely! Sometimes fabric comes from the manufacturer pre-washed, and sometimes it comes to us right off the press. We love it when it comes pre-washed because it is already fluffed up and silky. If the fabric has not been pre-washed, it simply needs a few spins in your home washing machine to "catch up" to its peers and become the soft velveteen it was destined to be.
Can I carry my baby forward facing out?
I do not recommend this for several reasons.. It does not seem that their legs, hips and spine are supported correctly when facing out. When they are facing your body, their legs wrap around your waist and spread their hips in the proper way. When facing out, there is no solid object to encourage the proper hip spread. It looks awkward and uncomfortable. With the weight of their body shifted from being wrapped around your chest to "dangling" off the front of you, a lot more stress is placed on your back to balance the off-set center of gravity.
The second reason is purely a matter of opinion. Small babies are unable to screen out stimuli. When they are forward facing out, they become the "bow of the ship" parting the great big world. They are unable to tuck their head and hide when it becomes "too much". They also cannot look to you to assess situations by your facial cues. When they are securely held chest to chest against you, they are more than able to peer out from their safe nest and satisfy their curiosity. As they get older and can have their arms out and over the carrier top, they are able to look and explore more. However, they still have the safety of your chest to tuck in and rest when they have had enough. For those babies who seem to need more "looking around" space, you can loosen the back of the carrier a bit so they have more room to lean back and see. You can also put them on your back. If you place them high enough, they can see over your shoulder and still maintain the feeling of security and safety.
What are some secrets for working with the "stickiness" of the Velveteen?
Velveteen is definately more "sticky" than a smooth canvas or twill. While this is great because it will literally hold your child where you put him/her and will not let them sink or slump to the bottom of the carrier, it has its learning curve. When adjusting the shoulder straps, it works better to pick the straps off your shoulders and pull them back rather than just pull the straps to make a tighter fit. There is also usually a lot of "unused" fabric that folds underneath your childs bum. If you are wanting the carrier to be taller, you can grab the carrier body from under your childs bottom and pull the fabric to get more height to the body panel. You can also put one hand between your childs back and the fabric to literally lift it away from them as you pull. When using the carrier on your back you will find it easier to pull the carrier body up and literally place it over your child rather than expect your child to slide down into the carrier. Always check to make sure your child is far enough down into the carrier before standing up. You may also decide to tie the straps with a "half bow" instead of a square knot. The fabric will hold tight and not slip undone and this makes untying easier. However, please realize this is only a suggestion and you are responsible for ensuring that the straps are securely tied.
Which is best for me.. the Velveteen or the Organic carrier?
While they both work fabulously for all ages and positions, they both shine in different areas. The Velveteen cannot be beat for its cuddly softness and the stretch that wraps just right around your little baby. The Velveteen will only stretch widthwise about 3" extra across the body panel, so it will not sag or bounce. It is a phenomenal front carrier, and comfortable on the back too. It does take an extra minute to pull the fabric up over your child when they are on your back. I always recommend the velveteen for the newborn babies and wee-ones.
The Canvas is a smoother "cooler feeling" carrier. The canvas does not stretch which can help air circulate a bit more as there tends to be more of a gap between the carrier and you. Canvas always feels very sturdy and can be a bit more supportive for the older toddler carry. It takes a bit less effort to get into place for a back carry as the fabric slides right up and over your childs back. Because the fabric is less grippy, it is easier to get your child deep into the carrier when they are sleeping which helps decrease the flopping head phenomenon. It is easy to roll the waist band up to make a shorter bodied carrier. It is also made from Organic fabric which is a great environmental/sustainable choice! I generally recommend the Organic Canvas carrier for those who are looking mainly for a back/toddler carrier.
My baby is now 4 months old and the edge of the carrier seems to be cutting into her thigh.
This is a phenomenon that seems to affect some babies as they transition from the newborn carry to the legs out carry in almost all Mei Tai's. What has happened is that their legs are probably not wanting to be folded under anymore, but they are not quite long enough to hang on the outside yet. Generally it takes a few weeks for their little legs to grow just that extra little bit so that they are long enough to comfortably be placed on the outside of the carrier. The remedy: Time and patience. You will be thankful for the supportive width of the carrier as your baby grows older
