For parents of ID twins

My ID boys are 12 days old, and I know we're going to have to take their hospital bands off sometime. DH and I can't tell them apart without the bands. What did you do once the hospital bands came off?? I've heard numerous ideas (painting toenails, etc.), but I'd love to get some more thoughts, especially since painting toenails isn't exactly "manly."

THANKS!

Becky

 

Can you put a colored string around one ankle? This is so interesting. I am fascinated by ID twins!!

CONGRATS!

 

One of our Identicals has a deep dimple in his left earlobe. This is the only way we can tell them apart. But I don't know what I would do either without that. I still get them confused and if they are wearing hats get them mixed up. I would study their bodies for any identifying marks. If that doesn't work, we have two different pacifier holders that are attached to the boys all the time. One is light blue the other is dark blue. It helps to see who's who from across the room and helps my older boys tell them apart.

 

We did different colored string bracelets (like the friendship bracelets we used to make as kids) for a bit, then one lost all her hair while the other had a ton of hair so we could tell them apart that way for a few months. Eventually the hair evened out and I was paranoid about switching them so I looked over every inch of their body for an identifying mark and finally found that their ears are slightly different - on has a fold in her left ear that the other doesn't. A friend of mine at work has id twins as well and also found a difference in their ears - might be a good place for you to look. I just didn't like the idea of having to have them "tagged" at all times but was paranoid that I would mix them up and not realize it so I am thankful to have found my difference. Good Luck

 

I have heard of using a permanent marker and making a mark on the bottom of ones foot, or initials (if they are not the same) on the bottoms of their feet. I dont know I was always a little paranoid that the ink would soak through their skin (if that is even possible ) DH was paranoid before ours were born that he wouldnt be able to tell them apart, after their birth however it became apparent that they were frats and very easy to tell apart. Still though he mixed them up several times but you could very easily straighten it out once he had! LOL When it was dark at night I would get them mixed up too so I always put Ashley in solid jammies and Alyssa in a print of some kind I could makt the difference out in the dark. HTH!

 

We have a friend who is a twin and his mom used to keep a safety pin on the back of his brothers clothes until they were in 2nd grade! We thought we might have ID twins (and still may, but we can tell them apart) so he sent us two blankets and one had a safety pin. When mine were 2months I had a hard time telling them apart at 3am. About a month after they were born, we discovered a "raspberry" on Ryans back. It developed after he was born and has been growing. So at 3am I would peak down his shirt, just to make sure!

 

I was a nanny for identical girls and we pierced their ears with 2 different color stones. That wont work for you though.

Before we did that, we had ankle bracelets on them and did the whole toe painting thing. We also always dressed Mary in purple and Alexandria in Pink! That way we could tell them apart quickly!

 

[SIZE=10pt]We were actually able to leave the hospital bands on for quite a while and by the time we had to take them off we could tell them apart. We had decided that we would tie a little piece of yarn around one's ankle if we couldn't though.[/SIZE]

 

Reese has green nail polish on his big toe, Riley has blue. They had no other marks or distinguishing characteristics at all! So, that was the only thing we could think of at the time. :lol: Give it a little bit of time and you'll be able to tell them apart no problem. Reese is about a pound heavier than Riley and his face is a little rounder. Other people can't tell, but we can.

 

During the pregnancy after we found out the girls were identical we would often make jokes about how to tell them apart. When they were born though, Natalie had a tiny little birthmark on her ankle which we thought was so cute. Someone was obviously saving us the trouble. But it has come in handy though, my family has a habit of checking their ankles to see which is which.

 

Absolutely look for an identifying mark. Micah also has a dimple in his ear and Lucas has a birthmark on his hip.

 

Our hospital took our bands off!!!!!!
I freaked and when we got home I painted a toenail. Then one developed a birthmark so now it is easier. (It is so small!) Ususally we try to dress them in certain colors. Sophie has purple and Kate is yellow.

 

QUOTE(hikerkira @ Feb 25 2008, 01:50 PM) [snapback]639865[/snapback]
Ususally we try to dress them in certain colors. Sophie has purple and Kate is yellow.


I want to add that this is great too for when you go back through your pics. Because even with Frats I cant tell them apart in old pics, so it is nice that I can remember "Alyssa was in Purple and Ashley in pink" so then I know.

 

No advice other than what the pp's have already suggested but I had to tell you how precious your babies are! I looked at your blog and I totally see how you're having trouble telling them apart. I was so excited to find out mine were identical while I was still pregnant and I just dreamed about painting their toenails or giving them bracelets to tell them apart. But due to TTTS, they were (and still are) VERY differentin size, color, face shape, you name it. I don't think I've ever seen two babies look as much alike as yours! They're just adorable. Congratulations!

 

I find that the different outfits helps me the most too. Or if I am wanting to dress them the same- I put something different on- like different colored onesies on underneath. Telling them apart has gotten a bit easier for me- but not for DH. I just "know" now but still occasionally get them mixed up I think the string idea is a good idea too!

 

so funny all the ear remarks, because thats the only way I can tell mine apart--they have small differences in thier left ears!

 

DD did the green and blue nailpolish in the beginning but then realized it was easier to just paint the nail of one the boys. Saved DD and SIL from having to remember who was green and who was blue at 2am!.... within a couple of months one of the boys developed a freckle under one eye making things much easier!

 

QUOTE(serranoboys @ Feb 25 2008, 08:46 PM) [snapback]640341[/snapback]
No advice other than what the pp's have already suggested but I had to tell you how precious your babies are! I looked at your blog and I totally see how you're having trouble telling them apart. I was so excited to find out mine were identical while I was still pregnant and I just dreamed about painting their toenails or giving them bracelets to tell them apart. But due to TTTS, they were (and still are) VERY differentin size, color, face shape, you name it. I don't think I've ever seen two babies look as much alike as yours! They're just adorable. Congratulations!


Thank you so much! They're so identical that when they were born, all of their measurements (weight, length, head circumference, APGAR, etc.) were exactly the same!

DH tried to talk me into taking their hospital bands off today, but I'm not ready. John currently has a black dot on the bottom of each foot. The way we can tell them apart in pictures is by position - Will is always on the left, and John is always on the right.

Thanks for the suggestions...I'll keep you posted!

 

I think it must be a little harder with boys, huh? We could tell our girls apart pretty easily from birth. One was 11 oz. smaller than the other. One was very red colored at first while the other was paler (don't know if some slight TTTS went on at the end or not). After things started evening out, DH would mix them up sometimes so we did paint their toenails, but by the time the paint came off from that one painting, DH was doing better. We got their ears pierced with different earrings so that helps Big Sis. Oh, also one of them has a birthmark on her tummy. So I don't have any other suggestions for boys, other than what pps have said. I think you'll find that, as time goes on, you'll be able to tell them apart more easily. One of my girls faces is rounder and one is longer. Are your boys faces/heads the same shape?