hope and plum Meh Dai Carrier Instruction Manual
- July 16, 2024
- hope and plum
Table of Contents
hope and plum Meh Dai Carrier Instruction Manual
Welcome to hope & plum
Welcome to the beautiful world of hope&plum baby carriers! We are so excited to be a part of your new journey into baby wearing.
Now, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty. Inside these pages, you’ll discover all the secrets to making your experience the best. We have the lowdown on proper care and usage to keep you and your little bundle of joy safe and snug as a bug!
But hey, we get it – sometimes, you just want more guidance or have questions.
No worries! Our babywearing experts are just an email away at
hello@hopeandplum.co, or you can check out our
tutorials at
www.hopeandplum.co.
Happy Babywearing!
Caring for Your Carrier
Before washing, unthread the fabric from the rings and untie the straps.
Now, choose your washing style- a gentle hand wash in cool water or a cold,
gentle cycle in the washing machine. For detergent, go with something mild and
free of optical brighteners to keep your carrier looking sharp. Afterward, let
your carrier air-dry by hanging it or laying it flat. Just avoid direct
sunlight to keep its colors happy.
When the carrier is fully dry, you can bring it back to its original softness by using either an iron or the dryer. For the iron option, set your iron to the hottest setting and press the carrier using lots of steam. More of a dryer person? No problem! Place your carrier into the dryer on low heat with some dryer balls.
Remember, our carriers are crafted from natural textiles, so you may experience a slight fading with each wash.
PRE C AU T ION S FOR US I NG HOPE&PLUM CAR R I E R
Read all instructions before assembling and using the Meh Dai carrier. Keep
instructions for future use. Check to assure the rings are secure before each
use. Check for ripped seams, torn straps or fabric before each use. Ensure
proper placement of child in product including leg placement. Premature
infants, infants with respiratory problems, and infants under 4 months are at
greatest risk of suffocation. Never use a Meh Dai carrier when balance or
mobility is impaired because of exercise, drowsiness, or medical conditions.
Never use a Meh Dai carrier while engaging in activities such as cooking and
cleaning which involve a heat source or exposure to chemicals. Never wear a
Meh Dai carrier while driving or being a passenger in a motor vehicle. Be
careful when drinking hot beverages to avoid spilling hot drinks onto the baby
while using the Meh Dai carrier. Be aware that as the baby becomes more
active, the child has more risk of falling out of the Meh Dai carrier. Only
carry one child at a time in the Meh Dai carrier. Ensure proper placement of
your baby in the Meh Dai carrier, including leg placement. The baby’s position
should be checked regularly to ensure that the baby is correctly seated in the
Meh Dai carrier, cantered with legs in a spread-squat position and head
upright and not slumping downward or to the side. Keep the Meh Dai carrier
away from children when it is not in use. Regularly inspect the Meh Dai
carrier for any sign of wear and damage. Never use a Meh Dai carrier when
fabric, rings, or fasteners are damaged. The Meh Dai carrier should not be
used unless and until the wearer understands the instructions and safety
features and is confident and comfortable with respect to the use of the soft
carrier. Please check that your baby meets the specific requirements for use.
Contact hope&plum customer service for additional assistance if needed.
Always check for ripped seams, torn fabric, and damaged hardware before each use. If found, stop using the carrier.
History of traditional Meh Dai
Alice Chau-Ginguene, CD(DONA), PCD(DONA), BA, PGCert
Certified Birth and Postpartum Dou/a
Certified Babywearing Consultant
We are not quite sure when did we start to wear our babies. Researching artefacts or written records on baby wearing in Chinese history prove futile because historical records on women and babies are nearly non-existent.
However, we are convinced that baby wearing has played an essential role in Chinese history for a very long time. For two reasons:
The name:
The word Meh Dai in Chinese consists of two characters The word Meh literally
means “carry on your back” while means straps. The character s of particular
interest. It consists of two pictographs:
can be translated as “child” while 貝 is associated with another character 背
which means “back”. As you can see, the word Meh in Mah Dai literally
illustrate a child on someone’s back! However, the use of this word is not
restricted to baby wearing only; this can
also describe anything that involves carrying on your back, e.g. hiking bags.
But by looking at the etymology of the word can see a child is considered the
default item to be carried on one’s back.
The design:
The traditional Meh Tai / Mah Dai designs follow two Hanfu design principles
(traditional outfits worn for thousands of years in China): the use of squares
and the use of straps.
Traditional Meh Dais are often purchased or passed down from maternal grandmother and it’s typically decorated with words of blessing in the hope of a bright future for the new addition to the family. The most iconic designs involve the five Chinese characters: (fortunate child) on four corners of the square and the word in the centre. A child carried on someone’s back is a very fortunate child full of happiness indeed!
As a babywearing consultant, history enthusiast and educator, I am so pleased to see parents worldwide now share the happiness of carrying one’s child, using carriers based on the traditional Chinese design. An ancient parenting tool tried and tested by my parents, their parents and many generations of parents before them.
Alice Chau-Ginguene, CD(DONA), PCD(DONA), BA, PGCert
Certified Birth and Postpartum Dou/a
Certified Babywearing Consultant
www.littlepeanuts.ie
Front Carry
Place the waist strap on your waist, with the panel and shoulder straps hanging down like an apron.
Thread the waist strap through the rings and tighten the strap until it is secure, but comfortable. Position the waist strap higher up your waist for younger babies or lower on your waist for older babies and adjust the seat smaller or larger with the seat clincher on the panel.
Hold your baby securely and position their bum directly above where the panel and waist band meet, and lift the meh dai panel up between baby’s legs. Always keep at least one hand on your baby.
Place the straps over your shoulders, and cross them on your back shouldering careful not to twist them. Adjust the shoulder straps to your comfort, keeping them taut and not loose.
Bring the one strap to the front of your body and pass the straps over baby’s leg and then under the opposite leg. Repeat with the other strap. Spread the straps wide across baby’s bottom for extra support.
Bring the straps to the back and tie in a secure square knot.
Baby should be high on your chest, not low on your belly. There should be no loose space between you and baby-the meh dai should be tight and supportive, but not restrictive. Baby’s face should be visible, their head close enough to kiss, with a clear airway.
Back Carry
Once your baby is sitting well unassisted, they may be ready for back carry.
Place the waist strap on your waist, with the panel and shoulder straps hanging down like an apron over your hip. Thread your meh dai waist strap through the rings and tighten the strap until it is secure, but comfortable. Position the waist strap higher up your waist for younger babies or lower on your waist for older babies and adjust the seat smaller or larger with the seat cincher on the panel.
Hold your baby securely and position their bum directly above where the panel and waist band meet on your hip.
Lift the meh dai panel up between baby’s legs. Bring the strap for the shoulder farthest from baby across your back, and bring it over your shoulder. Grab the strap for the shoulder closest to baby and the one farthest from baby in one hand. Make sure to keep one hand securely on baby.
Tilt forward at your hips, and use the hand on baby to push baby from your hip and scoot them onto your back.
Now grab a strap in each. Pull the straps up high, allowing the baby to get back into the carrier, so that there are no loose areas in the panel or the shoulder straps.
Bring the straps straight down your torso and guide them towards your back
Pass each strap over baby’s closest leg to such strap, and then under the opposite leg, making sure to spread the fabric wide to create a comfortable seat.
Bring the straps around to the front and tie in a square knot. Baby should be high enough that you can feel their breath on your neck, and the meh dai should be tight and supportive, but not restrictive.
hope&plum LLC
2400 N 2nd St. Ste, 209 | Minneapolis | MN | 55411
612-399-6383
www.hopeandplum.co