Baby Sling Pattern for Mei Tai Baby Carrier

Make a Baby Sling Similar to Traditional Asian-Style Ergo Carriers

Oct 19, 2009 Susan Noppe

A baby sling like the mei tai baby carrier should be an essential item on the list for active new parents. Making a mei tai carrier requires only basic sewing skills.

The advantage of a baby sling like the mei tai baby carrier (pronounced “may tie”) is that the baby or child is carried in an ergonomic fashion for both the parent and child. The baby's weight is evenly distributed across the parent's two shoulders and the hip belt takes a large percentage of the weight. The baby is held close to the parent's body which means less strain on the parent's neck and shoulders.

Materials Required to Make Baby Sling Pattern

1 yard (1 meter) of outer fabric (minimum 54” wide) and 1 yard (1 meter) of inner fabric.
Wide backpack-style buckle for waist belt
Two 3/4” backpack-style buckles for shoulders straps
2 yards (2 meters) of 3/4” webbing for shoulder straps

To make each baby sling pattern piece requires cutting two layers of fabric. For a heavyweight outer fabric, use a lightweight softer fabric for the inner lining. For a very lightweight mei tai carrier, two layers of cotton cloth equivalent to strong sheeting material is adequate. Wash, machine dry and iron all fabric before cutting to ensure fabric is preshrunk. (To convert the measurements shown in inches to centimeters, multiply by 2.54.)

Cutting Instructions for Mei Tai Baby Carrier

Click on the second photo at the bottom of the article for an enlargement of all cutting dimensions for the mei tai baby carrier. All measurements shown are finished measurements and do not include seam allowances.

There are two length measurements shown on the waist band in the illustrated photo. The longer one (50") is the total length of finished waist band. The shorter one (9") is the length of cotton batting sewn in between the two layers of fabric for hip padding. There are also two lengths shown on shoulder straps for the same reason – 32" is the total length and 19" is the cotton padding length.

Cut two 51” by 6” rectangular waist belts (one inner fabric, one outer fabric).
Cut four 32” by 6 1/2” shoulder straps (two inner, two outer).
Cut two 13” by 14” main body pieces (one inner, one outer).
Cut four 6” by 3” rectangular shoulder strap attachments (two inner, two outer).
Cut two 26” and two 3-1/2” lengths of webbing.
Cut two 19” by 3” and two 9” by 3” rectangular pieces of cotton batting.

Mei Tai Carrier Sewing Instructions

Fold over 1/2” seam allowance onto the wrong side of fabric all the way around outer perimeter of each of the twelve fabric pieces and press.
For each of the six sling parts (waist band, two shoulder straps, main body piece, and two shoulder strap attachment pieces), pin the two pieces of each sling part wrong-sides together. For the shoulder straps and the waist belt insert the cotton batting between the two layers before pinning (see photo for batting placement).
With wrong-sides together, sew two parallel seams around outer perimeter of each of the six items. Sew one seam 1/4” from edge of fabric and another 3/8” from edge.
Overlap waistband onto main body piece with an overlap of 3/4”. Pin pieces together. Sew one seam 1/4” from edge of waist belt then another seam parallel to the first seam 1/4” further down the waist belt.
Overlap both shoulder straps onto inside of main body piece at upper corners of the main body piece. Fold the corners of the main body piece under the shoulder straps (shoulder straps should overlap main body piece by 1”). Fold last part of shoulder strap edges in where they meet the corner of the body piece (look at the enlargement of the second photo). Pin the shoulder straps to the body piece and secure this connection by making a rectangular seam around the overlap and then sew diagonal seams across the middle of the rectangle.
Thread the female end of 3/4” backpack-style buckle through one of the 3-1/2” pieces of webbing. Fold piece of webbing in half with buckle on the outside of fold line. Overlap the two edges of the webbing over loose end of shoulder strap by 3/4”. Overlap the ends of fabric shoulder strap edges over this piece of webbing, sandwiching the webbing inside (see enlarged photo). Secure this connection by sewing a rectangular seam crossed by two diagonal seams. Repeat for other shoulder strap.
Repeat this procedure to attach the small rectangular shoulder strap attachment pieces to 26” pieces of webbing.
Pin a shoulder attachment piece just below the angled shoulder strap on the inside of the main body piece. Secure this connection by sewing a rectangular seam crossed by two diagonal seams. Repeat for other shoulder strap attachment piece.
Thread the male ends of the 3/4” buckles onto 26” pieces of webbing.
Bunch up edges of each of the waist belt ends then thread through waist belt buckle pieces. (Ensure that fabric is threaded through the correct way and that the fabric “grabs” somewhat on the buckle and does not slide too freely.)

This sling is designed to be worn with the straps crossed, but shoulder straps could be made shorter and then not crossed (many parents find crossed is more comfortable but large breasted women may find it not so comfortable with baby on the back). A square flap can be sewn onto the body of the carrier (not shown in photos) and tied onto shoulder straps to support the baby's head while sleeping or nursing.

Benefits of Baby Slings Like Mei Tai Carriers or Ergo Carriers

Once a parent has learned how to carry a baby in slings like mei tai carriers or ergo carriers, many everyday tasks become much easier. A parent can keep baby close while keeping hands free and caring for older children. Taking public transportation is far easier without having to drag along a stroller. But the greatest benefits can be that babies worn close to the parent tend to be more content, fuss less and the closeness promotes a healthy attachment between parent and child.

The copyright of the article Baby Sling Pattern for Mei Tai Baby Carrier in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Susan Noppe. Permission to republish Baby Sling Pattern for Mei Tai Baby Carrier in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.