We are passionate about babywearing and over the years we have used a variety of slings, wraps and carriers. One of our favourite style of carriers is the meh-dai.
The Meh-Dai is a
babywearing carrier made from a rectangular piece of fabric with four
straps sewn to the corners - the bottom two straps form the waist
straps and the two top straps are the wrap straps. Meh-Dai’s can be
used for front, back and hip carry.
Meh-Dai’s available on
the market vary greatly with there being differences in the type and
design. Briefly meh-dai’s vary by some of the following details -
* size - infant,
standard, toddler, one-size
* fabric - woven wrap,
cotton fabric, canvas inner body
* strap style - wrap,
padded, padded to wrap
* waist style - padded,
un-padded, structured
* body style -
un-contoured rectangular body, contoured body, seat darts, cinching
features
* hoods and headrests -
sewn on, removable or none
The Didy Meh-Dai
(previously known as DidyTai) can be described as a wrap conversion
meh-dai as it is created using woven wrap fabric. It is created by
Didymos themselves being made in Germany with the longstanding
babywearing brand (since 1972) being the manufacturer who weaves
woven wraps and sews and creates meh-dai carriers and ring slings. It
is made using non-toxic dyes and is free from any toxic materials.
The Didy Meh-Dai Waves Silver carrier is made using the same woven fabric as the
Didymos Waves Silver woven baby wrap and is 100% pure organic cotton.
The fabric is a Jacquard weave which means the pattern is woven into
the fabric rather than printed and the pattern is the same on both
sides but the colours reversed. Waves is the name given
to the pattern of the weave and silver being the name of the
colourway for this particular waves weave.
This particular meh-dai
is a one-size baby carrier that can be used from birth to around 18
months or so (this will vary with different users and children and
could possibly suit an older toddler too). Didymos’ meh-dai is
designed with a drawstring on the base of the carrier to allow users
to adjust the width so that it can be used with both smaller and
larger children. For optimum comfort and to allow users to spread the
straps the top straps are wide and gathered where they are sewn to
the meh-dai. It is designed to support and encourage anatomically
correct and safe positioning and allow various carrying positions.
When I first saw the
meh-dai in person I was delighted at how beautiful it is. Whilst it
could be considered a simple design in comparison to some other patterns
that Didymos produce, waves silver is simply stunning. The shades of
grey waves compliment each other exquisitely and seem to shimmer with
a silver hue. Waves is a subtle design that is breathtakingly
beautiful thanks to the soft waves which give the carrier an air of
style, elegance and luxury.
Straight out of the box
the fabric felt luxurious and of incredible quality. The design and
stitching of the carrier is superior and made to the highest quality
which showcases that Didymos are experts in weaving wrap fabric and
creating meh-dai’s. The fabric is buttery soft, floppy and a
pleasure to wear.
With Jelly Bean being at
the high end of the carrier’s suggested age range I was keen to see
how it handle his weight and size, and how it would feel to carry
him. Having used the carrier numerous times in both front and back
position for quick and long carry’s I have been pleasantly
surprised at how comfortable and supportive it is.
Even though he is older and
long bodied the meh-dai still fits well. To help increase the
longevity of the meh-dai for toddlers such as Jelly Bean the hood can
be unrolled to extend the length of the body. This feature is very
useful, however the only thing I did notice is that as my son prefers to be
arms out and being the social little one that he is often waves them
about as he says hi to anyone and everyone, when using the hood to
extend the body higher on his back that it did not always stay up and
tight to his back. In spite of this he remained snug and secure. I
believe that it will still fit and work well for us for a little
while especially if he gets used to having it secured higher up his
back rather than to his armpits which he currently prefers. Once that
day comes that reaching for the meh-dai is not possible I will have
to hope that one day soon we extend our family and welcome another
newborn into the world.
The medium-thickness
fabric which has a diagonal stretch to it, has been very supportive
and even after long use for babywearing adventures when going on
lengthy family woodland walks and coastal path walks to beautiful beaches it has remained comfortable, secure and
supportive.
The woven wrap style
straps are splendid and divinely comfortable. Comparing them to other
meh-dai’s that I have previously used that have not been wrap style
and have been padded or made using non-woven cotton fabric, they are
much more comfortable. Another benefit of the straps being made using
woven fabric is that they wrap like woven wraps and allow you to
contour them close to you and your little one for a safe and secure
carry. They provide the benefits that wrapping with a woven wrap with the bonus of the body to easily create a seat.
Wrapping with wrap straps made from woven fabric makes for a cosy and cuddly carry.
The lightly textured
fabric provides slight grip which aids in making the carrier easy to
secure and tighten. Being lightweight the carrier would be
comfortable and airy even in warmer months.
The meh-dai is easy to
use, is versatile as it can be used for front, back and hip carry
positions and can be secured using different wrap techniques and
finishes (i.e. chest belt, waistless, knotless with passes spread
etc). As it is so quick and easy to use it is very handy for quick
uses such as the school run.
The drawstring to cinch
the body for different sized little ones works a treat and is a
clever little addition to the design.
Personally I have found
the waist straps to be comfortable and I like the feel and use of
woven fabric for them but for those who prefer a padded or structured
waist these straps may not suit them.
The hood functions as a
head rest and is ideal for supporting the neck of a small baby as
well as providing support to head when baby falls asleep. Whilst the
hood is very useful it is short and is not large enough to shield a
baby’s head from the sun. However this is not a big issue as a hat
can be used instead and it does work well as a head rest.
As we use babywearing to
enable and support our family adventures, babywearing everywhere and
anywhere including beaches and woodlands and carry a toddler that
seems to attract mess and dirt, it is a relief to know that if the
carrier gets a little dirty that it is machine washable.
As well as using the
meh-dai with Jelly Bean I have also had a quick cuddle and carry with
my little 3 month nephew. The soft carrier is super cosy
against a little baby and fits really well with younger babies.
We love the Didymos Didy Meh-Dai and only wish we had welcomed one into our world for
babywearing adventures before now. Here are the top words I would use
to describe Didymos Didy Meh-Dai Waves Silver -
* soft and floppy
* luxurious
* comfortable, cozy and
cuddly
* lightweight
* beautiful
* supportive
* superior quality
As we love the Didymos Didy meh-dai so much I hope that in the future with Jelly Bean or baby
number 3 if we are blessed with another that we can add to our
babywearing collection and I can purchase one of the other beautiful
meh-dai designs….I loved the limited edition Didymos Didy Meh-Dai Prima Star.
Have you ever tried a
Didymos Didy meh-dai (DidyTai)?
Love and happy
babywearing to you all.
Aw I absolutely love baby wearing and miss it very much. I have never tried the didymos but it looks absolutely fab and so comfy. Love the pictures. I couldn't recommend baby wearing to more people. It is just so easy and convenient. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for a good sling or carrier of sorts for when the little lady arrives, this sounds like a great option! Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI love this - I didn't do baby wearing when my two were younger but I wish I had x x
ReplyDeleteI love baby wearing and really looking forward to doing it again this time too! I've never heard of the 'Didymos Didy meh-dai' though so this was a really interesting read! Lovely photos xx
ReplyDeleteThis looks great! I loved wearing my babies! X
ReplyDeleteI love love love baby wearing and am always on the look out for new carriers. Thanks for the review! :)
ReplyDeleteFab review. I can't wait to baby wear again once my baby boy has arrived! x
ReplyDelete