By Holly Engel-Smothers
After six months, your babies are becoming their own little selves. You can see each baby developing individual characteristics and sleeping habits, and finding that extra-special "lovey." Those of you with identical twins may be surprised to see these differences springing forth in your babies. The mind is such a mystery: how can two people who have the same environment and the same DNA have different preferences, cries, babbles? Parents of fraternal twins may be surprised by the similarities, even though their babies may look much different from each other or even be different sexes! Click to read the rest of this entry
By Holly Engel-Smothers
Your little ones have grown and actually surprise you when they reach new developmental milestones. It makes people jump and cheer, make long-distance phone calls, and take tons of video and still pictures. Let's examine how the milestones from 4-6 months will add to the ways you "book play" with your twins.
Your twins will be gaining strength. They will hold their heads steadier. When put on their tummies, the twins will do a "mini-push-up" using their arms for support. These push-ups will continue and give them upper body strength that will be necessary for rolling over and sitting up. Click to read the rest of this entry
By Holly Engel-Smothers
My literacy mantra is, "You can never start too early." Experts agree that the earlier a baby is read to, the better. Begin when your babies are newborns. It doesn't matter what you read. It is the sound of your voice that matters during this early period of your twins' lives.
Keep reading time with your little ones short but frequent. A goal time to shoot for is five times a day for about five minutes. You can change the reading time as you pick up on your babies' cues. Fussing and looking away are indicators that reading time is over. Calm breathing, focusing on the reader's face, and quietness are indicators that reading time can continue. Click to read the rest of this entry
Choosing Baby Names for Twins
By Sarah Mitchell
Choosing a baby name for your new born can be quite a stressful decision. With thousands upon thousands of names at your disposal, you may begin to feel a little over whelmed. Well, for twins, you can double the trouble! This article is aimed at helping soon to be moms and dads of twins to choose those perfect baby names. Click to read the rest of this entry
By Holly Engel-Smothers
[NOTE FROM SUSAN HEIM: This article is the first of many from parent educator and mom of twins (and a twingle), Holly Engel-Smothers, who will be sharing her wisdom and expertise on the subject of reading through this "Literacy for All" column, which will appear on a regular basis on TwinsTalk.]
When I was expecting my twin girls, I prepared the house, their rooms, the car, and the grandparents. Thank goodness I had several months to achieve this massive undertaking. One thing that I really enjoyed during this preparation time was going to the bookstore and searching for a few books to read to my baby girls. I searched the shelves for just the right books with the same intensity and scrutiny as I searched for the right bouncy seats. I found some old favorites and discovered some new ones. I knew that I had a trusted and reliable friend in the stories, one who would help me bond with the girls when I felt like I had no more brain cells left. I knew that when I was exhausted, I could rely on the stories to set the stage for quiet, quality time to share together with the least bit of effort. Click to read the rest of this entry
Births of Twins and Multiples from 1995-2004
1995
Twins: 96,736
Triplets: 4,551
Quadruplets: 365
Quints or More: 57
Total Multiple Births: 3,899,589 Click to read the rest of this entry
by Susan M. Heim
For unknown reasons, twins are more likely than singletons to develop hemangiomas, also known as strawberry birthmarks. Somewhere between 4-10 percent of all infants will develop a hemangioma after birth, particularly if they are Caucasian, female, a twin, born to an older mother, or a preemie. Hemangiomas are created by an abnormal cluster of blood vessels under the skin. They're often found on the neck or head, but can occur anywhere. Some children develop just one; others get a multitude. Click to read the rest of this entry
Studies have shown that toddler and preschool-aged twins are generally about six months behind other children in developing language skills. There are many theories as to why this may occur. It could be due to a higher rate of premature birth among twins, which may delay many milestones, such as the development of speech. It might be because twins learn to communicate so well with each other using sounds and gestures that they don't have as much need to learn to communicate with others. It might also be because twins' parents have less time to spend with them individually in developing speaking skills. It's also common for one twin to be more advanced in his speaking skills than the other. After all, they're two different children, and every child develops at his or her own pace. The good news is that most twins catch up with other kids in language development by the time they're ready for kindergarten. Parents can do a lot in the meantime to help twins develop better language skills. Click to read the rest of this entry
Could You Have an Identical Twin?
By Nick Smith
I am not a twin myself, but if I were I would definitely want to be an identical twin. There is just something amazing about having someone else in the world with my exact DNA, down to the last amino acid. Most people think of twins as being either identical or fraternal, but there are many different types of twins. Click to read the rest of this entry
The arrival of twins can be an adjustment for the whole family. Suddenly, the baby twins are getting all of the attention, and older siblings are feeling left out of the picture. Here's how to make them feel special, too. Click to read the rest of this entry