Half Buckle and Meh Dai Tips - Shoulder Straps

Here are some tips for tightening your Combination (hybrid) or ​wrap style straps and keeping the straps from creeping towards your neck, as well as for removing any slack in your straps. Here is a photo tutorial and I've added a video too.

This demonstration is of a front carry in a baby size half buckle using a demo doll.  I am using a baby size adjustable half buckle with Combination straps. With a baby of this size make sure to remember to use the drawstring at the top of the body to adjust the height down so baby isn't lost down in the carrier and baby's face is visible. There are some more tips about how to use a carrier with a small baby here.

Buckle (or tie) your carrier around your waist (you can place it apron style for a small baby as in this photo). Bring the body of the meh dai up while supporting baby with one hand.  Toss the straps over your shoulders and cross them, then hold one strap between your knees (or with one hand) to keep it in place temporarily.  Make sure the straps are on your shoulders not your neck.

​Pull one strap down to the floor than across (this helps to keep the straps from sitting too close to your neck) then bring to your front. Hold this strap between your knees to keep it tight.  Pull the other strap down and around. The x shape made by the straps over your back should be low (which helps to keep the straps sitting correctly on your shoulders and not creeping in towards your neck).
​

​Pull down on both straps one at a time to make sure there is no more slack, then bring around to the front.  Before tying off pull along the strap strand by strap to get any slack out then hold the strap between your knees and do the same for the other strap.

Cross the straps under baby's bum and tie off in a square knot. 

Flip over the edge of the shoulder strap over if desired. For additional support you can also spread the straps over baby’s bum (not pictured).

Video version - thanks to my 13 year old for helping me film my first video!