At what age should one stop dressing their twin children alike?

[Anonymous]

I assigned each twin three colors. They'd have the same outfits but in different colors. They dressed that way until the end of 6th grade. Then they dressed the same on their birthday. Their choice.

[Anonymous]

I don't have twins nor do I know any identical twins kids these days, but it seems like a sad way to erase a kid's unique identity. I don't even want my 2 kids of different ages to be compared to one another.

Obviously if you have twins and they are of an age where they think it's fun, or funny, or cool or whatever to dress alike, fine (I used to do that with my best friend as a kid sometimes) but to set it as a "thing" just because the siblings happen to be twins seems like an odd instinct.

[Anonymous]

When they want to stop. I often dressed my twins in the same outfit when they were younger because it was easier to grab two of the same thing once I'd figure out the weather, occasion, etc., than to grab two different outfits, especially since they were coming out of the same dresser. They still have similar styles so I buy two of everything and then they decide when they want to wear it, which is sometimes on the same day and sometimes not. I never forced them to wear something they didn't want to wear, but they didn't care for the first few years. Then when they expressed an opinion I let them choose. Honestly, people who talk about erasing a child's unique identity are missing the point. It was just easier. My kids know they're two different people. We know they're two different people. It's never been an issue.

[Anonymous]

I dress my two (non-twin) kids in the same colors. For example, one might wear a red T-shirt with cargo pants and the other with jeans. I also buy hoodies that are the same color. It makes it so much easier to keep track of them when we’re out.

[Anonymous]

When the kids decide they don’t want to do it anymore. Mine are 2.5 and still like to match most days. They are identical.

[Anonymous]

Not a twin mom here but I always wondered why twin parents would buy everything matching, just seemed like a waste of money. But I will also say that my boys are 19 months apart and I tend to buy a lot of matching things because I like the clothes (a holiday shirt, or something that has a character or something both of them like on it) and my younger one just has to wear it in both sizes when he outgrows his! Now that my older son is growing out of 5T clothes and moving into "boy" clothes I guess that won't happen as much anymore.

[Anonymous]

When our twins were young, we bought outfits in the same colors, but one wore solids or patterns and one wore stripes. When they were about 3, they started to pick their own outfits. They tend towards certain colors; one favors a lot of blue, some orange, some black/grey, the other favors green, red, yellow and neutrals. They do share a few clothes, mostly pants and shorts, but they pick their own clothes every day and have for most of the last 4-5 years.

[Anonymous]

As the mom of identical twins it is so much easier to dress
Them alike than not. You buy two of each thing, don’t have to think about what to pull out in the morning. For me it’s also a safety thing. Having them match makes it easier to find them on a crowded playground or describe what one looks like if the other runs off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend with identical twins. She's has dressed them the same their whole lives. And then of course now it's A Thing. They insist on being dressed alike. I'm talking even hair accessories, shoes, coats, everything. But it's also because the girls don't know any different, this is how they've always dressed, so they insist on it.

It breaks my heart in a number of weird ways. Like to STOP this habit at this point will feel monumental. When we spend time with them, no one can tell them apart, so you don't use their names. It inhibits people from forming personal relationships to the girls.

Honestly I really like this woman in so many ways. But this thing, the dressing her kids the EXACT SAME WAY EVERY DAY has really thrown me for a loop.

It's just one kid moving back and forth quickly or these girls will marry the same man, saving mom thousands on the wedding. This will pay off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve worked with lots of twins as a nanny and they’ve never been dressed alike. That’s kind of weird. One family with identical girls puts pinks and reds and purples on one and blues and greens on the other. They’re in Kindergarten now and choose their own clothes so sometimes it’s harder to tell since they don’t always wear “their colors” but if you look closely they always have something like a barrette or socks or something that tells you who is who.

Same with family friends who have identical twin sons now in middle school. One was always in a blueish outfit, the other was usually anything that wasn't blue. Often the shirts and jackets and shoes generally matched, just different colors.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure whether anyone who does not have twins (or at least 2 kids VERY close in age) appreciates how likely they are to fight over specific outfits or cry over why their sibling got something they like and they didn't.

And how likely they are to decide that they like something just because their sibling got it and they didn't.

[Anonymous]

I knew a family with 4 girls spread across about 10 years and they always dressed them alike for family photos and church. It was cute, though less so when the oldest was hitting 14.

[Anonymous]

Birth, they are separate people.

[Anonymous]

Twin mom here. Mine are fraternal and in Elementary school. I buy same kind of clothes because it is easier for me. When family or friends give different outfits or different colors, there is always a fight over what they want to wear. Oh, she got the better one etc. Whenever they choose from the mismatched pile, there is always that.

Other twin mom friends with older kids have told me to enjoy this now when they are still young. Till they start complaining, it will be same outfits.

And no, I do not label clothes or shoes.

[Anonymous]

Birth. My cousin's twins have always had. different wardrobes. Even if it was just different colored stripes on their sleepers.
They will coordinate sometimes, but not match.