As someone who has 14 month old identical twins, I was almost positive this would happen. We painted their tiny toenails to try and avoid that. At this point they are different enough we can tell them apart. Everyone else struggles, but we can tell easily
It’s had to have happened at least once.
I feel like if I ever have twins, I’m going to stress about that more than is necessary. Like, documenting freckles or using a sharpie or something.
We painted their toe nails for the first month but even after about a week could tell them apart pretty easily. Their position in the womb and the birth means they can have quite different head shapes from one another. Also as another comment said, differences in personality are big and start surprisingly early.
My best friend is a mirror twin. His brother cried a lot more as a baby. When they became toddlers his brother complained a lot more. Now as adults, his brother still complains and argues a lot more. I don’t understand how they can be genetically identical, have the exact same upbringing, and be so different from the moment of their birth, but they are.
There’s a This American Life story about a mom who was keeping track of which twin was which using diaper pins. When she took them in for a checkup, they changed the diapers for her and handed her the pins afterward. So she guessed!
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/691/gardens-of-branching-paths/act-three-27
Can confirm. Had to go back to check prints. Were then color-coded for life and I still don’t wear reds or browns.
What I’ve found is that after a week socializing with twins, it’s pretty much impossible to confuse one with the other, especially if they’re older. There’s always some little quirk that differentiates the two. The parents who raised them would have to be out of the world shitty if they can’t tell apart their children.
I could see this happening when they are babies though. Like 6 weeks in Bob becomes Tom and Tom becomes Bob and you might never know. I don’t think that would be harmful at such a young age though.
Where I live, birth certificate registration require footprints taken by a nurse. I imagine identical twins still have different footprints pattern?
Imagine when you’re old and tried to compare your footprints out of curiosity only to find out your identity has been swapped this whole time.
registration require footprints taken by a nurse
Can confirm.
