No, not Mai Tai, although one of those might make this nasty cold seem a little more bearable…

After taking Maya for a hike using the Infantino carrier (like a snugli), my lower back was dying. My kid doesn’t even weigh 11.5 pounds, and this hurt my back! Time to get something with back support.

After shopping around online and at REI and reading a bunch of product reviews, I realized that I liked the basic idea for a mei tai, but wanted more support in the waist. A few sketches later, I had my concept, and on Tuesday, since I wasn’t much use for working (and Maya wouldn’t let me sit still…but didn’t mind if I was moving around, go figure), I put together my first prototype.

Coolness! I love the wide, padded waist strap, even though the cheap walmart fabric bleeds like crazy (took washing it in hot with a teeny bit of bleach for it to stop turning my hands black)!

I’ve still got some “tweaking” to do to the design, then I might do what people keep telling me I should do anyway — make these things for sale. I already have two orders, if I’ll get in gear and sew.