I've Had it With This RS--Help!

Marsee

Before DS was born, I tried on a RS in person and decided to put it on my registry. Per the local shop's suggestion, I got a Sakura Bloom. Because DS was born in August, I went with a single layer linen so it would be cooler in the heat. I never used it when DS was tiny, but now I've been trying to use it with a hip carry and I'm running out of patience. 

I've used it almost every day and it has never felt "right". It was comfortable enough for both of us, but I knew it could be better. I watched a bunch of videos online and tried again and voila!--it looked and felt "right" and DS and I were much more comfy. This happened once. I have not been able to get it right ever since and now it's really screwy:

When I tighten the bottom rail, the top rail loosens. I have tried to rethread it again and again and it doesn't seem to help. The fabric bunches up within the rings and prevents me from tightening it as well as I would like (it bunches up when I'm adjusting it w/o DS and while DS is in it). I also used to get the rings to stay high, but now they always end up in between by breasts.

I've been practicing at least twice a day and it never seems to get better. What am I doing wrong? I really want to love this RS! 

ETA: I also noticed last night that it loosened by itself while DS was in it--not cool! And when I was tightening the top rail with DS in it, it would tighten and then immediately slide back to its previous position. Sorry this got so long. . .

Sinafey

Can you post a picture?  It makes it much easier to diagnose a problem.

I think your issues with fabric getting tangled in the rings and the sling loosening are related.  Find an edge of fabric in the rings and then scrunch the fabric together as you gather it until you get to the other edge.  The goal is to have as little fabric overlapping itself as possible, and to isolate those outer edges.  

If you wear the sling properly with the fabric capping your shoulder you should be able to "uncap" it by bringing the shoulder section towards your neck. That should give you almost enough slack to bring your DS up and out without loosening it much at all.  When you do have to make minor adjustments go slowly, and when you pull on the tail it should be perpendicular to your body while holding onto your DS's weight with your other hand.

Minimizing the adjustments should also help you with your ring height.  If you still have issues, start with the rings all the way up on your shoulder, so when they do migrate down it'll be closer to the correct "corsage" position.

Marsee

Sinafey:

Can you post a picture?  It makes it much easier to diagnose a problem.

I think your issues with fabric getting tangled in the rings and the sling loosening are related.  Find an edge of fabric in the rings and then scrunch the fabric together as you gather it until you get to the other edge.  The goal is to have as little fabric overlapping itself as possible, and to isolate those outer edges.  

If you wear the sling properly with the fabric capping your shoulder you should be able to "uncap" it by bringing the shoulder section towards your neck. That should give you almost enough slack to bring your DS up and out without loosening it much at all.  When you do have to make minor adjustments go slowly, and when you pull on the tail it should be perpendicular to your body while holding onto your DS's weight with your other hand.

Minimizing the adjustments should also help you with your ring height.  If you still have issues, start with the rings all the way up on your shoulder, so when they do migrate down it'll be closer to the correct "corsage" position.

Thanks for the advice. 

I don't have a pic, but I agree that the overlapping/bunching is the problem. I'll work at it and see what happens. Right now it looks like a bunched up mess.

As for the ring position, I have been starting out with the rings at the top of my shoulder and try to always pull perpendicular to my body and they still end up really low. Could the bunched fabric be to blame for this too? 

ETA: I've also been completely loosening it every time I take it off by pulling up on the bottom ring. I'll try uncapping the shoulder next time and see if that works. 

numeria11

Couple things to try:

Rethread the sling thru the rings making sure that the fabric isnt twisted in the loop.  When you run it thru the rings like PP said make sure you have it as spread out as possible in the rings, but definitly make sure that the top and bottom rails aren't tucked under any other folds of fabric in the rings.

When you tighten it do slow even pulls, dont pull one section really far and then try to do the rest, if you do small  adjustments starting at one rail and working your way down the sling and then repeat as necessary it wont bunch as much.

Before you pick up your LO get the sling on, make sure that it isnt getting twisted behind your back and that what you think is the top rail really is otherwise as you tighten it will do exactly what you mentioned.  Also get it pretightened to approximatly the right size, you should be able to put your elbow to wrist in it laying flat across your front and have it be tightish.   Start with your rings you on either the very top of your shoulder or even slightly behind it if needed.

Put your LO up high on your shoulder and slide them in, keep your hand between them and the fabric as you shift them into place, otherwise if you try to adjust them from the outside the fabric it will create too much friction and you will end up dragging the whole sling around with them.

Make sure you have the fabric spread all the way to your LO's knees and tucked up under their butt for a nice seat.

Adjust as needed but again make sure to tighten evenly, dont just do the top and bottom rails make sure you are also adjusting the middle (especially since the middle is what's holding their butt and will best allow you to get them lifted up if they feel too low or loose).  This should help minimize bunching in the rings.

GL!