concerns about differences in ID boys

my boys are 4.1 weeks old today and were born at 35 weeks so technically they aren't supposed to be here yet but i've got some concerns that i just want to see are normal or not...we see the pediatrician on monday but i thought you guys could offer some tips/advice/support/etc...

the boys were born within .1 ounces of eachother and are now almost a full pound a part in weight. one of them can eat and eat and the other is a horrible eater and is falling behind in weight. the smaller twin is far more alert to his surroundings and has his eyes open much more than his brother who just sleeps and eats.....is this normal? will they balance out and get to a more equal ground soon???

i'm feeding them 4oz bottles every 3-4 hours of formula and one twin will eat 4oz and the smaller one will only do 3oz, sometimes 4oz.

it just concerns me that they don't seem to be equal. :/

 

You have to remember that even though they share the same DNA, they are 2 completely different people. My girls have always had a weight difference, different temperaments, and different eating habits.

 

I think it's completely normal that they are different. I'm sure your ped will be able to reassure you but I think as long as the little one is eating well & seems healthy, there is nothing to worry about. Who knows, next month he could catch up or even pass his brother in weight. Babies can be so unpredictable that way! :hug:

 

I agree with kyrstyn, even though they are "identical" doesn't mean they will be identical people. They are two little individual peeps with their own eating habits, tastes, preferences and growth habits. As long as they are each healthy, it doesn't matter if there are differences!

You'll probably notice more as they get older that one will maybe be more demanding. Or one will be fussier. One might prefer blue and the other green...etc. It'll just mean they are developing into their own little adorable personality! :wub:

It's hard not to worry, but try not to worry!

 

It's good that they are different! When they are older they will want different things and have different interests. That is very healthy! My boys were born just ozs apart in size, but Ryan has consistantly been 2lbs heavier than Jake since they were little. They were always about the same height, but now Ryan is visibly taller. Guess who is the better eater? I used to have to force Jake to eat and unless he's having a growth spurt I doubt he'd want food even now. Ryan on the other hand asks for milk or a snack when he is hungry. Jake is also my sleeper (except right now as he is fighting naptime) but he has always needed about 30 mins more sleep than Ryan at every nap.

 

I also agree with Kyrstyn. Do you think that the not-so-great eater is having any issues with reflux? I can't believe they are a month old already!!

 

ditto PP...

also is it your twin that was kept in the hospital? His stay might have something to do with it...

 

My ID boys were born 12 oz. apart, but have consistently stayed about 4 lbs. apart in weight since they came home from the hospital. The smaller one, Will, is still a picky eater. He will leave an ounce or two for most bottles. The bigger one, Andy, rarely leaves anything in his bottle and has taken to our new solid food routine much better than his brother. Their personalities couldn't be any more different. Will is the first to get upset at anything. Andy is pretty laid back, but has a horrible mommy attachment. Even though Will gets whiny quicker, he can go to just about anybody and be happy for at least a few minutes. If mommy isn't in Andy's line of sight, it's an immediate meltdown. Since they have had a considerable size difference going for a while now, they still look a good bit different. Andy looks like a taller, chunky version of his brother Plus Will was born with a benign cyst on his nose that definitely sets him apart. Thankfully in a few months that cyst will hopefully be going bye-bye thanks to our pediatric surgeon that we've been consulting. The older they get, the more they are starting to look alike, but it's still hard to convince some folks that my boys are identical twins. I think that the bigger they get, the more the 'identical' will start to show.

 

I have ID boys who are now 11 weeks. They were born 1/2 pound difference. I thought the gap would close but now they are a full pound apart. Noah is a much bigger eater than Luke. I thought it was weird too, but I've read that even IDs can be very different from eachother. As another person said, they share DNA but they are two different people.