Will you be dressing your twins alike?

We found out yesterday that our babies are both girls...IMMEDIATELY people started cooing about how we can dress them the same. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I for one, do not plan on dressing my girls alike. They can wear similar clothes...or even the same dress in different colors. But not the same exact outfit. I just don't think it's necessary, or even cute. In fact, it's almost a little creepy in my book. Anyone seen The Shining?

When I tell people this, they get DOWNRIGHT offended. Like, I am so ridiculous and taking for granted a fantastic opportunity or something.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this subject?

 

I don't dress our twins alike they are their own people ..mine wear the same outfit but diff colors sometimes but most of the time its not anywhere close to the same

 

I plan on SOMETIMES doing the same outfit in different colors but I'm already afraid I won't be able to tell them apart do I really need to add dressing them exactly alike to the mix? I don't think I've seen that many twins dressed in the same outfit and color now that I think about it... Maybe once or twice.

 

I felt the same way when I was pregnant. I thought it was *square* to dress them all matchy matchy. But still I just smiled and said thank you when people gave me matching outfits. I thought that I would just let them wear the oufits on different days. Also I had alot of hand-me-downs that would make it impossible to match them all the time. But when I started being able to tell them apart no problem, I decided to dress them in the same outfit to go to church, just for grins and giggles and it was pretty neat. I kinda came around and now I want to dress them alike, or mostly alike, when we are going out, but around the house I don't bother.

 

I'm not really into dressing them alike either - personally i think it's a little hokey - moreso I am afraid of getting them confused too. Maybe similar outfits for a family picture or something - we have a friend that is a really talented photographer and she's taken pictures of our older kids for which we put them in similar clothes - citrus colored t-shirts and same color jeans and they turned out really cute.

We too have a lot of hand me downs (so many we won't need any clothes for the first year!), but i have no control over what people will buy for the shower. It never matters what you register for - people will always buy you things they want the babies to have. If they buy them identical outfits, then I'll probably put them in them when they come to visit.

When they get older and they want to dress alike, it won't bother me - surely by then I'll be able to tell them apart!!

 

i hope i didn't offend anyone calling matching twins hokey - it's a personal choice that all of us are entitled to and has no bearing on the love you have for those babies or the care you provide them. After carrying those babies around in your belly and dealing with all the fun and risks and fears of a twin pregnancy, you can dress them however you want and who cares what everyone else thinks.

 

One of my coworkers is a twin, and the first thing he said to me was "don't dress them alike" :lol: . I think we'll try not to.. or at least give them separate colours or something.

 

I'm with so many of you! Other people seem to think it will be great to dress the girls alike, but I'm not into. Maybe once in a while when they're babies, but not after that. I have a list of names of people who've been soooo excited about how great twins are. They're the ones I plan to call when I'm stuck in the house crying and need to get a shower in for the day.

 

I just can't bring myself to do the matchy-matchy thing, either...with names or clothes. Similar is fine occasionally, but they're not going to have identical wardrobes (impossible anyway, since there are lots of hand-me-downs coming their way). I've (gently) made our intentions clear to both families just in case anyone gets any wild ideas. I did, however, cave and buy matching going-home outfits, though. For some reason I just couldn't resist on that one. :blush:

Eve

 

We're not planning on dressing them alike for the most part.
Of course at the shower, I got tons of matching outfits.

I plan on dressing them in what is clean, matching or not......

 

Heh, heh... I said the same thing. No way will I dress them alike. I will admit that I do it sometimes. I will also admit that I dress them half-match all of the time. It actually bothers me if they don't coordinate. How ridiculous is that?! SO, before you say never, realize you may eat your words later.

There is one reason to dress them alike that you may not have considered. If they are ID, it forces people to learn to distinguish the subtle differences in them rather than relying on you saying who is wearing what each and every time they see them.

ETA: now that they're old enough to show a preference, they WANT TO DRESS ALIKE and will pick the exact same thing given the choice. I have to be proactive about grabbing two things they'd both like without them noticing and having them choose whose is whose.

 

We don't plan on dressing them alike either. I have actually tried to convey that we prefer not to dress them the exact same. We don't mind the same outfit in different colors so that they coordinate but not exact matching. I want them to have their own personalities just as my other children have.

 

QUOTE(faerieprncs @ Feb 25 2009, 05:59 PM) [snapback]1205321[/snapback]
We found out yesterday that our babies are both girls...IMMEDIATELY people started cooing about how we can dress them the same. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I for one, do not plan on dressing my girls alike. They can wear similar clothes...or even the same dress in different colors. But not the same exact outfit. I just don't think it's necessary, or even cute. In fact, it's almost a little creepy in my book. Anyone seen The Shining?

When I tell people this, they get DOWNRIGHT offended. Like, I am so ridiculous and taking for granted a fantastic opportunity or something.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this subject?



HAHAHA that's hillarious!! We think they are identical twins and I can't imagine making that anymore difficult for them then it already will be. I am hoping they get dressed at all in the beginning. Ugh it's old fashioned I think, My goodness gracious why ever would we take for granted this opportunity to showcase pretty little princesses or barbie dolls, pretty in pink right? UGh again in the beginning (because I am breastfeeding) they'll be lucky to be dressed.

 

QUOTE(Courtney2 @ Feb 25 2009, 06:37 PM) [snapback]1205396[/snapback]
I plan on SOMETIMES doing the same outfit in different colors but I'm already afraid I won't be able to tell them apart do I really need to add dressing them exactly alike to the mix? I don't think I've seen that many twins dressed in the same outfit and color now that I think about it... Maybe once or twice.



I heard you should paint a toenail of one of them, just to tell them apart.

 

My two are Frat twins and I found several reasons why I like dressing them the same....

--- being Frats I find it sets off their differences even more because you look at them not the clothes

--- easier on the brain. Even if you go for "similar" styles but different colours it is so easy because you only have to figure out ONE outfit for the day for them to wear. With the changes of temperature in and outside the house I love to group the outfits together so I can not have to think what they will wear.

--- At play groups or playcenters, library ... I love them in bright strong matching colours because I can pick them out easily. I just look for that one particular colour.

--- now that they are older and people dont' touch them like they did when they were younger I'm better with people asking if they are twins and noticing.

--- most people give you matching outfits and we were happy to get anything from anyone. We really appreciated all our gifts.

--- Sometimes they loved what the other one had .... yes today (15 months old) the one girl pulled on her sister's dress because she wanted the same thing !!! I have them pull each other's bibs if they like the other one's. When they get older they can decide what to wear. For now it is my choice.

--- hey it is a "twin right" so many other people would LOVE to be able to do what we can do.


So don't be surprised if you change your mind.

Heather

 

I've got identical's and I often dress them the same. Why because as soon as I don't someone will say to me that they don't look alike and it really annoys me!

 

I didn't think I would, but I do it a lot. Why? Because they don't look anything like twins. At 3 yo, there's 4 inches, 2 clothes sizes, 11 lbs, and 3 shoe sizes difference. People always want to know how far apart they are. Sabrina isn't just smaller, her hairs a lot shorter and she wears glasses. She looks younger. So I dress them alike, because I kind of like it to look like they're actually twins. And because they look so different, and have such completely different personalities, I don't worry about them having identity crises. That was my concern over dressing them the same, and since it's not an issue, and they're still little, I usually dress them the same or at least coordinating, when we go out. At home, I don't worry about it at all, though.

 

Personally, I do both. Mostly, I'm so blinkin' tired that I just grab whatever is clean in their dressers and doesn't clash. If we are going out, I will often do the same outfit/opposite colors thing, and if we're going to be around my FIL I have to dress them totally differently. (He says he hates them matching, as he wasnt them to be individuals, but I just think it's because he can't tell them apart and won't admit it! LOL!) I say, do what you want. For those first couple months you're gonna be so tired you just aren't gonna give a hoot, unless it's for a photo or something. If people ask why they aren't dressed alike, let that be your answer: "I'm too tired." My BFF came from AZ two weeks ago, and when he took them out alone, dressed differently, and got asked about it he just said "I'm colorblind. You're lucky they don't clash with themselves let alone each other!" LOL! (And it's true-he is color blind. He can't go shopping alone! )

 

I am expecting di/di twin boys and I definitely plan on dressing the same for at least the first six months. I have been waiting so long for them and I think they look cute dressed the same. I will NOT be dressing in coordinating outfits once they are toddlers, because I agree they have their own personalities and I will most likely let them wear whatever they want. I am pretty laid back and don't stress about what kids wear as long as it is clean. The first few months is for me and they will have coordinating outfits, until it becomes too much work :winking:

 

I have identical girls, and when I was pregnant I swore up and down that I would NEVER dress them alike. Somewhere along the line I must have changed my mind because now I only dress my girls in identical outfits. I figure this is the one time in their life that I will have complete say over what they wear. I think its cute when they are dressed alike, and honestly it bugs me when they have different outfits on. It's not as easy as it sounds to find coordinating outfits. It's hard enough finding 2 matching outfits in the right sizes... Once they are old enough to pick out their own clothes I will let them wear whatever they want. It's all about personal preference though and whatever you want to do with your kiddo's is perfectly fine.

 

i started off insisting they would wear "the same but different" outfits only! no matchy! well, they do have SOME "the same but different", but mostly matchy, and i'm totally anal about it now and love matching them ardon:
and im not offended everyone has their own opinions about it

 

Oh I plan on being OBNOXIOUS about it Actually 90% of their clothes are pink too When they are old enough to have an opinion fine.. until then the only opinion that matters is MINE!

 

Like a lot of the pps (not sure if mine are ID...but they say if you have to ask, then they likely are), I do coordinate. Same shirt just different color. Pants/shorts/bottoms/shoes/coats are always the same. Tops occasionally the same because I buy two of something I really like, and like a pp said, it bothers me if they aren't coordinated.

Now...there is another reason, because mine are getting old enough, they realize a difference in clothing/toys/etc, and pitch a giant fit if brother has something totally different (as far as clothing that only happens when I don't set out their clothes and DH decides to dress them).

So...I think do whatever works for you. Just know that you will likely get matchy-matchy stuff, even if you tell people not to, and do as you please!

 

I'm not offended by any comments - love opinions! Mine is that I got a crap load of matching outfits for 0-3 months and I will probably dress them alike a lot because I have the clothes and it really tickles all the sweet grannies out there, who are my FAVORITE stranger to run into! LOL Anyway, I definitely want them to find their own personalities, and I can tell they are very different in the womb already, so as they get older I will definitely not strive to "match" them, but to each his own. I think it is so fun to have the option. For sure I will get some portraits in matching clothes, especially if they end up being identical. We are all so lucky, aren't we? :hug:

 

My sister has identical twin girls and I have never bought them anything alike. My sister LOVES to dress them alike, especially when she takes them to family or friend functions so people can ooh and ahh. I don't plan on dressing them alike. Sorry, I'm not even sure what mine are, 2 boys, 2 girls or one of each. We're waiting to find out, but I don't plan on dressing them alike if they are the same gender.

 

I know I'll probably end up dressing them similar even though dh told me he doesn't want me too I dress my girls alike and they're not twins, it's just so hard when you find an outfit you LOVE to only buy it for one and not the other. I think w twins it'll be easier b/c the outfit can be for both of them. Also as babies they don't usually keep the outfit clean for the whole day anyway so they'll probably end up in something different a some pt anyway.

 

QUOTE(5280babies @ Feb 26 2009, 07:17 PM) [snapback]1207257[/snapback]
I'm not offended by any comments - love opinions! Mine is that I got a crap load of matching outfits for 0-3 months and I will probably dress them alike a lot because I have the clothes and it really tickles all the sweet grannies out there, who are my FAVORITE stranger to run into! LOL Anyway, I definitely want them to find their own personalities, and I can tell they are very different in the womb already, so as they get older I will definitely not strive to "match" them, but to each his own. I think it is so fun to have the option. For sure I will get some portraits in matching clothes, especially if they end up being identical. We are all so lucky, aren't we? :hug:



I wasn't going to say it but I feel compelled since I've seen/heard the bolded part a number of times when discussing this subject. There seems to be a popular idea that twin parents have some control over their childrens' personalities and whether to dress alike or not is a major decision affecting their development. I can assure you that dressing them alike does NOT give them the same personality any more than dressing them differently keeps them from copying each other. They will express themselves no matter how they're dressed... just try and tell a 3YO what he does/does not like and see how far it gets you :lol:

I draw the line at pushing older children to dress alike (or to NOT dress alike as we're now experiencing) because that is too controlling for my tastes but until they have an opinion, it's really more a matter of their parents' preference and you're not going to mess them up either way.

 

Dont know if we will or not, haven't shopped at all yet!

 

QUOTE(Kyrstyn @ Feb 26 2009, 11:23 AM) [snapback]1206520[/snapback]
I have identical girls, and when I was pregnant I swore up and down that I would NEVER dress them alike. Somewhere along the line I must have changed my mind because now I only dress my girls in identical outfits. I figure this is the one time in their life that I will have complete say over what they wear. I think its cute when they are dressed alike, and honestly it bugs me when they have different outfits on. It's not as easy as it sounds to find coordinating outfits. It's hard enough finding 2 matching outfits in the right sizes... Once they are old enough to pick out their own clothes I will let them wear whatever they want. It's all about personal preference though and whatever you want to do with your kiddo's is perfectly fine.



This is exactly how I was. As soon as I told my co-workers that it was twins they all said how I should dress them alike and I was persistent in saying not they won't dress the same. I totally changed my mind about that. My girls wear the same thing all the time and I mean all the time. This usually includes their socks. Now they are getting old enough that if one puts a shirt on the other runs to get the other same shirt. Never say never.

 

Since we were fortunate enough to have people buy us a ton of matching and coordinating outfits, they often match. If we are going to church or going out I try to have them match or coordinate. On a day to day basis they wear whatever I pull out of the drawer and because so much of it is hand me downs they often do not match when they leave for daycare in the morning.

 

QUOTE(debid @ Feb 27 2009, 09:06 AM) [snapback]1207967[/snapback]
I wasn't going to say it but I feel compelled since I've seen/heard the bolded part a number of times when discussing this subject. There seems to be a popular idea that twin parents have some control over their childrens' personalities and whether to dress alike or not is a major decision affecting their development. I can assure you that dressing them alike does NOT give them the same personality any more than dressing them differently keeps them from copying each other. They will express themselves no matter how they're dressed... just try and tell a 3YO what he does/does not like and see how far it gets you :lol:

I draw the line at pushing older children to dress alike (or to NOT dress alike as we're now experiencing) because that is too controlling for my tastes but until they have an opinion, it's really more a matter of their parents' preference and you're not going to mess them up either way.



You hit it right on the head as far as clothes affecting the twins personality - you are not going to mess up your twins by dressing them alike or not. And if in fact older twins like the idea of matching then that should not be discouraged either. But actually, kids develop their personality traits by age 5 on average and they believe that is shaped through some inherent genetic makeup but also environment, which is set up by the adults in their household. There is great research in this area, but we are talking of something other than clothes, so I am agreeing with your point. My bigger fear than how I dress my children is having the time to give attention to each of them and not unintentionally favor one over the other in some way - but that is another forum topic that might prove interesting someday.

Here's a good one I have to share though - my sister and I are 13 months apart and between the ages of 10-13 approx. we happened to look a lot alike. My parents forced us to dress the same for family gatherings and pictures and gave us the same haircuts - they even used sun-in on our hair because they liked blonde. They laugh at their ridiculousness now but they have no idea how much we hated them for it at the time. It still strikes a chord with me when I see a picture. Everyone thought we were twins. Anyway, what you describe about the "popular idea that twin parents have control over personalities" is not a twin thing, it is more likely something most parents go through with any child. I wonder if my girls will want to wear their pajamas for a year when they are three or a halloween costume they love...heh heh.

 

I dress my frat girls alike about 50% of the time, another 25% they coordinate. The rest of the time it's whatever's clean. Now that they have an opinion, they usually choose to dress the same, maybe different shoes.

The problem you have when they're older is you never know when they're going to want the same color, dress, skirt etc. I bought one purple hat and glove set and one pink set - now we have fights over the purple. It's EASIER to just get 2 of the same!

 

I did have one person when I was pg who TOLD me NOT to dress them alike. I just said to her that here in Australia most school kids have a uniform that they wear to school so they all look the same when they go to school. Having the same uniform in no way seems to make all the kids act the same here....

 

We have always dressed the girls alike and they now insist on it. If one gets dirty both change. We will continue till they decide not to any more. This does help cut down on fight over who wants to wear what.

 

QUOTE(joyful noise @ Feb 25 2009, 06:53 PM) [snapback]1205498[/snapback]
I felt the same way when I was pregnant. I thought it was *square* to dress them all matchy matchy. But still I just smiled and said thank you when people gave me matching outfits. I thought that I would just let them wear the oufits on different days. Also I had alot of hand-me-downs that would make it impossible to match them all the time. But when I started being able to tell them apart no problem, I decided to dress them in the same outfit to go to church, just for grins and giggles and it was pretty neat. I kinda came around and now I want to dress them alike, or mostly alike, when we are going out, but around the house I don't bother.




I agree-I was also in the same mindframe when pregnant. But then came the babies and many matching outfits that we were given. Around the house I don't usually bother, but for get togethers etc. I do the same as for pics too. I only plan on doing so (unless they choose to dress alike on their own) until they are old enough to pick their own clothes etc. By the time they are preshcool aged I think we'll continue to dress them alike for those occasions cuz it is so darn cute, plus the fans love it