Telling identical twins apart can prove to be quite a challenging task, especially when they’re babies. And while their parents might find it easier to do than others, even they need help sometimes distinguishing their little ones.
Members of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community who are parents to identical twins recently shared their methods for telling their kids apart after one user started a thread about it. Ranging from using color-coded socks to marking them with nail polish or a marker, some of their ways were as useful as they were amusing; so scroll down to find the parents’ honest answers on the list below and enjoy.
Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interviews with two experts, educational consultant and author of Twin Dilemmas: Changing Relationships Throughout the Lifespan, Dr. Barbara Klein, and Professor in the department of Psychiatry at The University Of British Columbia and an expert in twin research, Dr. Kerry Jang, who were kind enough to answer a few of our questions about twins.
#1
One had slightly green eyes, brown hair and would always lay on the right side when asleep.. the other one had a p*nis.
Image credits: The-truth-hurts1
#2
Image credits: MyCouchPulzOut_IDont
#3
Image credits: CTnaturist
“Genetics determines whether twins are identical or not. Just like eye color or height are determined by the genetic pattern they are born with,” Dr. Barbara Klein, educational consultant and author of Twin Dilemmas: Changing Relationships Throughout the Lifespan, explained.
While having twins means double the trouble, they also bring double the joy; and in the case of identical twins, likely some confusion as well, as they typically look, well… identical. According to Dr. Klein—a twin herself—it can be difficult even for parents to distinguish between the two of their little ones.
#4
Image credits: pietromj
#5
Image credits: Edda_Housand
However, Professor Kerry Jang of the department of Psychiatry at The University Of British Columbia, an expert in twin research, believes that parents are observant enough to notice certain differences in twins, no matter how minor.
“Parents can easily tell them apart. The key is in some small and subtle differences observed, which are often physical,” he told Bored Panda, adding that even identical twins are not always 100% identical, as certain differences can develop in the womb.
#6
Silly story: a long time ago, when I was 12, I think, I learned this really cute girl from my class who I had a crush on had a brother. I met the brother (a year or two younger than us), and started a friendship - in part because he was her brother, in part because he was actually a cool kid. And so, over weeks, we developed a cool friendship, chatting about random things on the courtyard every now and then. Until one day I see this kid… standing next to his identical twin brother. And both of them look at me, smile, and say “Hey, how’s it going, ?” TL;DR: for weeks, I’d developed a friendship and chatted with both of them, unaware there were two of them. But, because I knew they were related to my classmate, we never bothered with names.
Image credits: Dpscc22
#7
Image credits: Tytrater
#8
Image credits: KOMarcus
According to the NHS, roughly one-third of all twins are identical and two-thirds are not. Since the former kind of pairing results from a single egg that’s fertilized and then divided in two, the kids not only look identical but always are of the same sex as well.
#9
Image credits: FBG-123
#10
Image credits: bitchburrito4125
#11
Image credits: Hulkemo
Some studies suggest that the number of twins in the world has never been higher: since the 1980s, the global twinning rate has reportedly increased by a third. But even though quite a few people in the world have someone looking exactly alike walking beside them, they might be very different personality-wise.
Both of the experts second the idea that the personality in twins can be very different. According to Dr. Jang, these differences often stem from undergoing different experiences.
#12
Image credits: lyan-cat
#13
Image credits: jthekoker
#14
Image credits: void590
Whether or not they like having a sibling looking just like them might differ from person to person, too, depending on their views and experiences. However, Dr. Jang pointed out that identical twins don’t report anything good or bad about looking like their sibling. “[For them], it is just a state of being.”
#15
Image credits: Fruitsdog
#16
Image credits: Fitz_2112
#17
Image credits: BerriesLafontaine
#18
Image credits: OozeNAahz
#19
Image credits: Goddessviking86
#20
Image credits: AvocadoPizzaCat
#21
Image credits: 3meraldBullet
#22
Image credits: Strange-Show-55
#23
Image credits: leo1974leo
#24
#25
Image credits: PoopDick420ShitCock
#26
Image credits: Peachsprite72
#27
Image credits: LookMa_ImOnReddit
#28
Image credits: SpacePrestigious3769
#29
Image credits: wheatable
#30
#31
Image credits: FnkyTown
#32
#33
Image credits: Moist-You-7511
