“Parents Of Identical Twins, How Did You Avoid Getting Them Confused As Babies?” (35 Answers)

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”