A mei tai (say "may tie") is a traditional Chinese baby carrier made of a square (or rectangular, or slightly contoured) body with two shoulder straps and two waist straps. Traditionally, mei tais were used as back carriers only, and the carrier was fastened by twisting the straps together on one’s front and then tucking them in for security. The traditional design has been the subject of a great deal of innovation since 2003, when Kelley Mason introduced the Kozy Carrier, an American version with long, well-padded shoulder straps, meant to be tied instead of twisted and tucked.

The Westernized mei tai caught on quickly, and there are now more variations on this general style than we could possibly list: some have wide, unpadded straps; some have square bodies with flip-up hoods; some have "sleeping hoods" that the adult can lift and fasten to support a sleeping baby’s head; some are made of fine silk and wool; some are made of Solarveil (a strong, breatheable, mesh fabric that offers sun protection) ... the variations seem endless.

Unfortunately, the popularity of this seemingly simple style of carrier has been accompanied by some hobby sewers manufacturing and marketing inexpensive mei tais that fall far below the quality standards set by the leading manufacturers. Many experienced babywearers avoid buying mei tais through auction sites or from hobbyists, although certainly there are some hobbyists who manufacture excellent carriers. For reviews of specific brands, check TheBabyWearer.

A good mei tai is suitable for use from birth through toddlerhood. Mei tais work well for front and back carries and can also be used for hip carries. Mei tais with wrap-style straps (wide, unpadded straps) tend to be the most comfortable for the hip carry position. Mei tais tend not to be one-style-fits-all; a person who finds one brand to be uncomfortable may find another brand to be very comfortable, and that person's friend might have opposite experiences with the same brands.