Twins...different personalities (fraternal)

Does this take time to develop or did some of you notice differences early on? One of my babies is very alert and active and the other one is very mellow and sleeps more. They are 4 weeks old (girls)

 

My girls were different right from the start. it is amazing how different thay have turned out. It is hard for people to even realize they are sisters.

 

definatly! ds was my more "difficult" baby. he needed to be held alot, couldnt handle alot of noise without losing it, needed to be fed someplace quiet. he also had a milk allergy we didnt know about at the time so that also made him more miserable overall. he fought sleep (still does!) and just was a more fussy baby. dd was laid back, slept alot (still does!), and just more happy. now when people ask who is more difficult and i say ds, they look at me like im insane cuz hes fairly laid back now too. congrats on your girls!

 

Really... wow... ok, I kind of thought since they were twins they would be similar very early on, especially the first few weeks of life, but they are acting sooo differently! Thanks for the response!!

 

This forum is so helpful! Is this the only forum of its kind?

 

Mine were different from the start too. Amy was alert and Sarah was mellow -- we could never get a picture of Sarah with her eyes open in the first few weeks, but Amy always had her eyes popping out of her head! Amy was also a little fussier, though neither of them was super-needy.

But as they've gotten older, it's different kinds of different. It's not like you can label one "the mellow one" and the other one "the alert one" and it will always be like that. It's more that as we have gotten to know them better, we can look back at the way they were as babies and it seems to sort of fit.

 

My boys are now 11 weeks old. My Tatum is very laid back and easy going. He rarely fusses and is easy to console when he is fussy. He eats well and sleeps well. My Wyatt is totally opposite. He is my"ruckus raiser" he is up alot and eats in shifts and does not like laying down. He would rather be up seeing what is going on!!!!

 

same; my 2 were different from day 1 not only in looks but temperament and its becoming more and more noticeable!

 

QUOTE(ester123 @ Jan 28 2009, 08:49 PM) [snapback]1166700[/snapback]
Does this take time to develop or did some of you notice differences early on? One of my babies is very alert and active and the other one is very mellow and sleeps more. They are 4 weeks old (girls)


I noticed the difference in utero! But yeah, we have a more mellow/sleepy one and a more vocal one ... though sometimes (like the past few days) they seem to switch roles for a bit!

 

QUOTE(ester123 @ Jan 28 2009, 09:17 PM) [snapback]1166748[/snapback]
Really... wow... ok, I kind of thought since they were twins they would be similar very early on, especially the first few weeks of life, but they are acting sooo differently! Thanks for the response!!


Just bear in mind that fraternal twins are no more alike than any other two siblings, so it makes sense they could have completely different personalities. (And, of course, identical twins do, too, though they have more in common.)

 

As newborns, my DS was more relaxed and DD was more alert. As one year olds, I would say that both are outspoken in their own way. DD is more social with other people, in terms that she is more interactive with them and will do or say things to get their attention. DS will do this as well but not at the level his sister does. Both of them do have their moments where they like to play quietly and alone and times where they just want each other to play with. Like yesterday DD wanted to snuggle with DS, who was having no part of it. DD was so disappointed. I think mine have the same disposition but varying degrees of it-if that makes sense.

 

QUOTE(ester123 @ Jan 28 2009, 07:49 PM) [snapback]1166700[/snapback]
Does this take time to develop or did some of you notice differences early on? One of my babies is very alert and active and the other one is very mellow and sleeps more. They are 4 weeks old (girls)


We noticed the differences immediately. Jackson loves adventure, he loves to smile all the time, and probably could bounce all day in his jumperoo if we let him. Luke is more serious, he does smile like Jackson, but he doesn't smile just for anyone. He really studies things.

 

There was a difference in utero. Sonny was very active and kept kicking sissy in the head, while sissy was the quiet little lady. Right after they were born, sonny kept his eyes open and was looking all around while sissy only opened her eyes once and then went to sleep.

The difference continues: sonny cries a lot for attention and cuddling but doesn't cry for dirty diapers, while the only time sissy cries is for diaper changing and feeding. What a pair!

 

Mine have been different since pregnancy. DS1 never stopped kicking and moving and he is still that way. DS2 is calmer, slower, and generally more mellow though as soon as I say that he has one of his moments. He's also the resident toy thief, but DS1 usually doesn't care. DS1 is such a busy body that he's on to something else.

 

We noticed the difference right away in the hospital! It was by the second day we were there (48 hr. stay after they were born).

 

QUOTE(SC_Amy @ Jan 29 2009, 01:14 PM) [snapback]1167160[/snapback]
I noticed the difference in utero! But yeah, we have a more mellow/sleepy one and a more vocal one ... though sometimes (like the past few days) they seem to switch roles for a bit!


Same here. DS kicked most of the time in utero but I hardly felt DD.

DS was a "difficult" baby for the first 6 weeks but DD was so quiet we hardly knew she was with us. Then they both completely changed roles: DS mellowed out and DD became very high maintenance (crying all day long!). At 6 months, they switched back. DS is highly active, vocal and gets frustrated easily. DD is quiet, laid back and patient. It is fun though!