Ring Sling Tips & Tricks
The shoulder style of Sweet Things Baby Slings, LLC ring slings is designed to be comfortable while attractive, with a smooth appearance that hides most of the substantial stitchwork used to secure the rings.  For most people, the shoulder is wide enough for most babywearing challenges.  However, when it comes to holding heavy babies for extended periods of time, I highly recommend unfolding the top flap of fabric at the shoulder.  This will give you an extra couple of inches of fabric at the shoulder and a wider spread of fabric at your back to better distribute the weightload.  At the time of this writing, Lily weighs around 30lbs.  I always unfold the fabric at the shoulder of my ring sling now when I carry her.  It makes a noticeable difference in my comfort. 
Reverse the Ring Sling Tail
The shoulder as seen from behind, fabric folded to the original width.
Scoop your hand under the top flap and push the fabric, widening the fold.  Pull the fabric wider and smooth at the back of the shoulder.
Or, if you're wearing your sling on the other shoulder, simply pull the top flap over your shoulder and then smooth the fabric along your back.





Once a sling is adjusted, it should stay adjusted until you physically lift up the lower ring.  You do not need to re-adjust the sling  every time you put the sling on or take it off; just take the baby out and pull the sling over your head.
Basically, lift up the bottom ring to break the seal, pull a bit of the top layer of fabric loose, flip the bit over and smooth it down, letting the bottom ring fall back in place to lock the flipped layer in place.

  What to do about migrating rings:
Ring position is one of the trickiest parts of babywearing with a ring sling.  Most people prefer to have the rings in a corsage position, but the heavier your child becomes, the more difficult it is to keep the rings in that position as your get your child situated in the sling....the rings naturally migrate towards your navel as you move the child towards your hip.  To counter this, start with your sling positioned with the rings way up high on your shoulder.  If you're using a back carry, you might even start with the rings behind your shoulder.  As you position the child, try to move the child by its bottom, instead of tugging shoulders (usually the baby has a grip on the sling and if you tug his or her's shoulders, the sling will move with the baby.)  All this being said, I have yet to master the art of a back carry with the rings in the corsage position; they always end up below my breast.  This is reasonably comfortable for me, but I could see that if you are quite busty, it would not be so great.
A ring sling, un-threaded and un-folded.

A ring sling, un-threaded and un-folded.
Bring the two outer edges together (fold sling in half.)

Bring the two outer edges together (fold sling in half.)
Fold new edges together (loosely fold in half again.) Smooth the outer crease.

Fold new edges together (loosely fold in half again.) Smooth the outer crease.
Hold the rings in one hand and pick up the length of the sling about hafl-ways down. Make sure the material does not twist.

Hold the rings in one hand and pick up the length of the sling about hafl-ways down. Make sure the material does not twist.
Separate the rings, keeping a finger between them.

Separate the rings, keeping a finger between them.
Pull length of sling up between both of the rings. Make sure fabric doesn't twist!

Pull length of sling up between both of the rings. Make sure fabric doesn't twist!
Pull length down, over the inner ring and under the outer ring.

Pull length down, over the inner ring and under the outer ring.

A side shot. Watch out for twists!

A side shot. Watch out for twists!
Feed the tail between the two rings. I make my slings tight to adjust so they will not slip from placing. If your sling is twill with a panel, this might be a very tight fit.

Feed the tail between the two rings. I make my slings tight to adjust so they will not slip from placing. If your sling is twill with a panel, this might be a very tight fit.
A properly threaded sling. Notice how smooth the fabric is. Your sling doesn't have to be this smooth, but it's good to strive for it.

A properly threaded sling. Notice how smooth the fabric is. Your sling doesn't have to be this smooth, but it's good to strive for it.
Lift up the outer ring and pull the tail or sling body to adjust the length of the sling to a close approximation of how you will wear it.

Lift up the outer ring and pull the tail or sling body to adjust the length of the sling to a close approximation of how you will wear it.
Put on your ring sling! The sling goes over your head and one arm goes thru it, like a sash.

Put on your ring sling! The sling goes over your head and one arm goes thru it, like a sash.
To learn much, much more about your ring sling's tail and its potential, click here.
Bring the rails together towards your face, make a fist and lightly punch the middle fabric to make a pocket for the baby to sit in. Look in your sling and find the two outer edges (rails.) Gather the slack fabric from the inside rail.

Bring the rails together towards your face, make a fist and lightly punch the middle fabric to make a pocket for the baby to sit in. Look in your sling and find the two outer edges (rails.) Gather the slack fabric from the inside rail.
Pull the slack up towards the rings. Lift up the bottom ring. Pull the slack through the rings.

Pull the slack up towards the rings. Lift up the bottom ring. Pull the slack through the rings.

Look at the underside of the tail and find the rail edge corresponding to the top rail (if the sling is threaded correctly, find the rail closest to your navel. Pull down and towards you to flatten the slack between the rings.

Look at the underside of the tail and find the rail edge corresponding to the top rail (if the sling is threaded correctly, find the rail closest to your navel. Pull down and towards you to flatten the slack between the rings.
A ring sling with the inner rail tightened so there is no slack.

A ring sling with the inner rail tightened so there is no slack.
To loosen a rail, such as the outer one, lif up the rings and pull the body of the sling, doing the opposite of how you tightened the sling.

To loosen a rail, such as the outer one, lif up the rings and pull the body of the sling, doing the opposite of how you tightened the sling.
To lengthen the body of your sling:  lift up the lower ring and pull the body fabric behind the rings towards your torso.
*To shorten the body of your sling:  lift the lower ring and pull the tail.
To fine tune:
The hemmed edges of the sling body are called rails.  Rails can be adjusted independently of eachother.  To see which part of fabric to pull to make your adjustment, lift up the bottom ring and give the rail you want to adjust a good tug.  Watch closely to see which part of the fabric in the tail moves; you'll use that end of fabric to tweak your adjustment.   Often when babywearing with a newborn, you'll want to put the center of the sling under more tension as well to better prop the infant up:  pull the fabric between the rails.
The rings for these slings are sized smaller than those on some other brands  because I prefer snug fabric in the rings....the sling is very unlikely to slip out of adjustment.  The fabric fit through these rings is tight.  Once adjusted, your adjustment will stay in place.
Adjusting your ring sling:
Threading your ring sling and putting it on:
Making the shoulder wider: