LOVE:* The gradation of colors on the fabric (I have pomegranate) makes it easy to figure out which part of the tail needs pulling to tighten. It also makes it really easy to spot if something has bunched up or twisted incorrectly.* The linen is very comfortable and breathable.* The gold rings are just gorgeous.* Easily fits into diaper bag.* Easy on and off (after you learn how to use it).(SMALL) GRIPES:* After deciding that I wanted a LILLEbaby ring sling, I found it difficult to decide on a color. Some of the product shots don’t seem very clear. I wasn’t sure if they all went from light to dark in shades or if some were solids. I also didn’t realize that the purple (pomegranate) also had a gray section until I received mine. After seeing customer photos of Atlantis (the sky blue) and seeing that it also had the different shades, I wish I had that one instead.* The pocket. One of the reasons I was drawn to this sling over others was the pocket. It’s great for slipping in a pacifier and credit card/ID. My phone (iPhone Plus) fit with a case, but it was awkward to put in and zip while wearing. A smaller phone probably wouldn’t have this issue.HOW I ENDED UP WITH A RING SLING:This is my third babywearing purchase. I wish I had the LILLEbaby ring sling from Day 1. When I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to babywear but I also didn’t want to spend a ton of money on multiple carriers, and thought that I wouldn’t need more than my LILLEbaby Complete All Seasons (which I absolutely love, but that’s a separate review). While sticking to just one certainly would have been doable, there were a few factors that lead me to growing out my carrier collection:1. While my baby was full-term, she had trouble gaining weight and we didn’t reach the minimum weight limit for our SSC until a month later. I felt trapped in those early weeks; I couldn’t use my arms because I was always holding her. It was also an extremely stressful time for us and wraps and slings seemed so complicated to put on and I couldn’t wrap my head around how they could securely hold something as fragile as a newborn. I ended up getting a carrier that was was as simple as putting on a shirt and suitable for newborns starting at 5 lbs. I don’t regret my choice, but if I could go back and do it again, I’m sure I could have learned to use a ring sling at that point, even with all the crazy that was going on. Tip: find your local Babywearing International group and try stuff out before baby comes!2. I love my LILLEbaby Complete All Seasons, but it was sometimes too bulky and I wanted something that was lighter and could pack up smaller (more breathable for hotter days at home, doesn’t take up a lot of space in my diaper bag, would be comfortable for babywearing while sitting through long flights).3. I wanted to maximize usage time vs. cost. My baby is 3 months now and getting heavier. She’s outgrown the newborn carrier we got and if we were getting another, I wanted it to be something I could use for much longer than a few months. I was sold on ring slings after hearing many moms of toddlers still use theirs for quick ups and downs.EXPERIENCE SO FAR:I have been using my LILLEbaby ring sling multiple times everyday for the last 2-3 weeks with my almost 4-month old who is 13 lbs and some handful of ounces. I wear from 30 mins to 3 hours each time. Activities range from lounging in the glider to sweeping floors/other chores and looking at various things in our backyard. Outside the house, I’ve used it for a 1-mile walk. When I get quicker with in and out, I plan to use this for grocery shopping and other quick errands since this easily fits better into my diaper bag. Currently, I can get her into my SSC much faster so we’ve been using that outside but the sling has definitely been my go-to at home.The weather here has been between mid-60s to 80F and the linen feels great and not hot at all on either me or baby. I haven’t felt pain in my shoulder or back from using the sling. It definitely supports her better than the newborn carrier I had before with baby’s weight being in double digits.There was definitely a learning curve. I can see why moms either hate or love ring slings. Watching a lot of videos helped. Attending a BWI meet up helped and I’ll be back next month for more help. My baby is in a stage where she loves to straighten her legs and pop her seat. I was very concerned about this the first couple of times, but I learned that I can tell when it’s happening and she won’t just fall of the sling entirely so it became less scary because there’s time for me to react. There’s also a trick with tucking the tail underneath which makes the seat more difficult to pop. I also just learned about the flip back option and have been experimenting with that as well. So far, my body is liking it.After hearing about the versatility of ring slings from those who were pros at it, I’m determined to get the hang of this and to continue practicing and getting better at it. I feel like I’m still at the beginner level but even here, I’m still getting so much use out of my Lillebaby ring sling!