Identical Twins

Identical twins are one of nature’s mysteries and wonders. Imagine there being another person who looks exactly like you and even potentially acts just like you!

Identical twins are formed when one fertilized egg splits into two. The fertilized egg splits between day 1-14. If the egg splits beyond day 14, your twins may be Siamese twins. Also known as conjoined twins, Siamese twins are attached to each other to varying degrees. The day the egg splits determines whether your twins will have one large placenta they share with two umbilical cords or two separate placentas.

Identical twins occur in about 4 out of every 1,000 births. No one knows what causes identical twinning; at this time there does not seem to be a genetic factor. If you have identical twins, it does not mean that your kids or your grandkids will have them, too. It's not possible for this type of twins to "run in your family."

Identical twins have the exact same DNA. They are always the same sex and have the same blood type. The only way you can be absolutely sure is through a blood test.

Since identical twins are identical down to their DNA, not only will they look alike, they may act alike too. As fun as it may be to name them similarly and dress them identically, researchers feel that this is bad for their mental and emotional development. Try to avoid calling them 'the twins' and call them by their names. I refer to my twins as 'the boys', just as I would if they were only siblings.

It’s very important when raising twins to allow them to develop their own personalities. They should be given different toys and different clothes that are just theirs. They can share with their sibling, but it’s their toy or clothing item. This will actually promote sharing. Try to watch them from the beginning to notice and encourage differences in likes and dislikes. You may notice that one likes carrots and the other prefers peaches. When they get older, you may notice that one likes to dance and the other likes to sing, or one likes to draw while the other likes to paint. These differences should be encouraged, but not forced. Like most children, your twins may switch likes and dislikes as they get older.

When they get older, encourage each twin to have a separate private time with you. You should also encourage them to follow their own interests. If one wants to play soccer, don't force the other to play if he/she doesn't want to.

No. Even though their genes are identical, they might be expressed differently. This is why identical twins have different fingerprints. Some twins may actually look a little different from each other.

They may also be different handed. About 20% of the time, one twin is left handed and the other is right handed. Some experts think this is because of positioning in the womb or how the egg splits. Try to encourage this if you notice it.

When you first take your babies home from the hospital, you may have difficulty telling them apart. Many people deal with this by painting a toenail or a fingernail. If you have boys, you can find blue nail polish at any drug store. You can also sew name tags onto their clothes or use bows in their hair.

When you take pictures, try to dress each twin differently and write down who’s wearing what outfit. For formal pictures, you may want to put one baby on the left and the other on the right.

When your twins get older, they will develop physical differences that will allow you to tell them apart.

Identical twins are a great deal of fun to raise. In the beginning, you will notice their closeness. They may even communicate without words, although this is often to do something they're not supposed to do! As they get older, your twins will have a built-in playmate. Hopefully, they'll be best friends throughout their lives.

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