Dressing Kids Alike

My twins are 18 months old right now. We matched them up until the last few months. Now, I like to coordinate their outfits. When I found out I was pregnant with twins, I was adamant that I would not have them match. I thought that they're unique individuals, and I wanted to treat them as such. However, some clothes were just too darn cute not to match! Lately, however, I've been feeling more and more that I want them to have separate identities, not just be known as a twin. So, we coordinate.

I like to take hints from my kids ( I have 4 of them). Starting from age 3, I have outfits matched up in their closet and I let them choose their own. Somedays the middle 2 like to wear similar clothes, but most days they don't. They are old enough to choose.

I never put my boys 8 and 3 in the same exact thing but when we go out to the museum, aquarium, etc I coordinate them. Its much easier to keep track of two busy boys when they have the same color shirts on especially bright colors.

As a daughter that was dressed like her "baby" sister I hated it at every age. To this day I hate matchy, matchy anything, uniforms excepted. You might want to ask your older daughter if she likes matching her much younger sister. I really resented it and I resented my sis, even though it was my mom, grandma and nana who did this to me. I was constantly compared to my younger (and much cuter) sister. As you can tell this "scarred" me. LOL!
S.

,,, My Mom, dressed me and my sister alike. No we are not twins. She like you just thought it was easier and she thought it was cute.
We didn't mind, when we were younger... but at a certain point, you need to let, at least the older one, have their own choices. Because at 7 years old, I am sure she doesn't want to look like a 3 year old. And she must have her own taste in clothing. A child, needs to have their own taste too... as long as they are not dressing like a teenager. (which i have seen even some toddlers dressing like that already. Ugh.). Not cute.

I think, 7 years old, is time to allow her to have a choice, along with your guidance of course, if she does not know how to pick her own taste.

all the best,
Susan

My mother dressed me and my sister alike and it was the worst. People always said Oh they're twins oh oooo arent' they so cute. ugh.
I have two daughters. Only when my oldest was under the age of 4 did I dress them alike. By the time she went to preK she had her own tastes. The other one did wear hand me downs but she also had her own clothes, her style.
If your 7 year old has had it with dressing like the baby sister then I would stop.

I only have one and she's just a year old, but I was wondering how your girls feel about 1) dressing alike and 2) not being able to pick out their own clothes. Usually by about age 2, kids start expressing themselves by picking out their own clothes. It's a wonderful little freedom that we all appreciate. Why not let them choose for themselves and see if they pick matching outfits or go crazy and mix tops and bottoms from different outfits to find their own personal style?

I have a 4 year old girl and a 3 year old boy I often dress them in similar clothing.. it is harder cause they are boy girl.. but if we are going somewhere (likethe mall playarea etc) it is easy to keep track of 2 kids in red shirts adn khaki pants..

there clothes are never identical as they are boy girl but I do try to put them in the same colors as much as possible..

As long as they like doing it, keep doing it. When they stop liking it, stop doing it.

My daughters are 8 and 4. The 4 yr old has a twin brother. My girls wanted to dress alike (really at the request of the eldest) so *they* could be twins for awhile. Last year, my oldest, while in 1st grade asked to stop. I think friends actually commented on it to her and it made her feel little or something. I didn't do it ALL the time or every day by any means, just now and then. However, I did it for long enought that it made hand me downs seem really boring for my youngest!! She even pointed out the other day when we were going through clothes that she DID already HAVE these clothes before because she's wearing them in THAT picture!! She's right of course! I think they both have different styles now and enjoy having their own identities. I know for sure that my oldest got tired of the extra attention over how cute they were together. The younger relished it, though! So my long answer to your question is that I stopped when I was pretty much asked to stop!!

I dressed my daughters with similar things, but different. They were two years apart and my reasoning was that if I wanted to maximize my dollars and get more wear out of the clothing and have some items from the older one that could be used by the younger one I knew they wouldn't want to wear "THE SAME IDENTICAL ITEM" for what seemed like forever. It really stretched my clothing budget to be able to pass on garments. If there was a need for the same items (i.e. pictures, or they both needed something for some event), I still tried to make enough difference so they could look similar but still have their own look.

I've never dressed my kids alike except for matching or coordinating outfits for pictures/holidays etc. All of my kids have enjoyed picking out their clothes since about age 2.5 ... and I'm not really into that kind of thing. My friend had twins and I begged her not to dress the boys alike.

Like I said, just not my thing. Are your children tired of it? I would imagine a 7 year old would like to express herself a little and pick her own outfit sometimes?

My sister and I laugh about our grandma doing that to us when we were little. I sometimes try to make sure my daughters are wearing things that don't clash, but never exactly the same. Like others said, don't they want to pick out their own clothes sometimes? And I personally think it would be really hard (in my house at least) to hunt down exact matches of shirts, pants, etc..sometimes we can't even find matching socks let alone two pairs of them!

I have twins girls who are 8. When they were babies. I dressed them alike for pictures, and on occassion because I had gotten alot of matching outfits. As they grew up I never really wanted to dress them alike but would buy similar outfits but different colors. I do not make them wear them at the same time, but on occassion they do.They have seperate and distinct styles and personalities, and I want them
to embrace that.

I would check with the older of the 2 and see what she thinks. I am sure at some point she will not want to dress like her younger sister as there styles will probably change, especially as they get closer to middle school age.

L.

One thing that people haven't touched on much is that your older daughter is probably at an age where having her pick out her own outfit for the day is a really good way to introduce her to more responsibility and control over her own life. It's something she really can't do terribly wrong, so it's not too much risk, and she can feel like she's making a big decision. Maybe she can still pick out the outfit that they both wear; however, your older girl might really enjoy being able to choose her own clothes (even when you're out shopping!).
Plus, just as a note from my own childhood, I remember that the kids in elementary school who were dressed by their parents were easy to spot from a mile away. The redheaded boys in little bow ties and suspenders, the girls in dresses with fluffy petticoats... The poor things didn't go a day without being harassed for some sartorial misdemeanor on the schoolyard. If either of your girls starts to resist wearing the kind of clothes you've picked, please make sure you listen to what they're really saying, especially if they end up at the same school at the same time--they might be getting picked on!

My girls are also 3 and 7. They love to dress alike...for now. I will stop when they say the no longer like it. I never had a sister (only a brother), but my friends with sisters always complained of younger sisters stealing thier clothes. I wonder if they will have this problem too in the future. Oh, they otherwise look very different (7 yr old very dark strait hair, green eyes and olive complexion, 3 year old golden curly hair, blue eyes and pink complexion) but they have the same face shape, so when they dress alike they are more identifiable as sisters.

I have 2 daughters 2 and 4 and it seems like a lot of people (including family) roll their eyes and me because I dress them alike. In the begining I did it because I thought it was cute, but seriously it is sooooooo much easier dressing them and keeping track of everything and doing the laundry (like colors). I would also like to know when I should stop. I try to buy some things different like tee shirts and shorts. I usually only shop at Walmart, Target, and Old Navy so it is hard to find a varitiy of clothes that I like to even dress them different. Plus they have the same hair, eye, and skin color so the look good in the same color. I guess I will just have my fun until they tell me that they want to wear different things.

I think it's adorable to dress them alike when they are young. I am an identical twin and know all about that experience:) I remember wanting to have my own style sometime around elementary school. I would just ask your daughters if they like being dress similar and go from there:)

I, too, was dressed like my sister (18 months younger than me) for the longest time and I HATED it. If they show any signs of not liking it, please stop. They are individuals, not dolls. That said, if they truly don't mind, I would just keep an eye on things - the older one may get teased at school.

My girls are 18 months apart. Ocassionally I dressed them the same or in very similiar outfits when they were young up until about the time the oldest was 6. Basically I think they are individuals and their clothing should reflect that. Your 7 year old is old enough to express her opinion, why don't you have a chat with her.

My mom and grandma always dressed me and my sister alike and I HATED it. It started from going shopping and hearing ...." oh this is pretty ,let's see if they have it a size smaller for your sister..." to picking an outfit and hearing ..." no not this one, your sister's got a stain.." or...." take this off , your sister wants to wear the shirt and skirt and not the pants." By the age of ten I hated clothes shopping and family outings. Eventually this thankfully stoped and I was able to pick out and wear what I wanted. Oh yeah my sister hated it too. I would never do this to my kids.

My mom did this to us when we were little, 4 years apart as well. my sister and i tolerated it til my sister was probably 13 and she could no longer stand it. go ahead and stop doing it now. :)

You will only be able to do this as long as they let you :) My daughters protested and really have had totally different styles for years now, but lo and behold! the other day they bought matching t shirts and wore them at the same time. I was amazed! Why this brought me joy, I have no earthly idea. They are 12 and 15, and its been at least 6 or more years since they parted styles.

i have three daughters ages,3,7 and 10.the 3 year old and 7 year old like to be dressed pretty much the same where my 10 yr old is quite different.all three daughters were recently flower girls in my neices wedding and al wore identical outfits.my 3 year old is still potty training so to make them all the same i had my 7 and 10 year old daughters each wear one of their little sisters training pants and rubberpants under their dresses.the two older ones thought it was cute and liked being like their little sister.they both have asked to wear the training pants and rubber pants for other special occasions also.

Stop it NOW. It's fun to do it sometimes and especially for group photos, but you should get out of the habit of it. Even if they don't object, you should still encourage individuality between them. They don't necessarily realize right now that they need that.

Purchase the same outfits (if that's easier), and then let them mix and match on their own.

I dress my boys alike for holidays only. But, my 12 yo is getting a little tired of it. It is a lot easier with boys, as the wardrobe is rather limited. THere are only so many things you can do with an oxford or polo and khaki pants!

Basically, when one of you kids gets a strong desire NOT to look like their sister.

I used to do that with my girls (who are 4 years apart), but usually on special occasions or for pictures. I loved it. It ended when my oldest told me how much she HATED it.

I have a boy and a girl, but we dress same-sex cousins alike just for fun when we get together. We'll do it until they say they don't want to! The oldest is 8.

Updated

I have a boy and a girl, but we dress same-sex cousins alike just for fun when we get together. We'll do it until they say they don't want to! The oldest is 8.

I have two daughters ages 9 and 7. I dressed them alike when they were younger. It was easier for me to go shopping and purchase two of the same thing in different sizes or different colors. I also made sure that I purchased two pink shirts (even if they were different styles), two pairs of denim shorts (even if different styles), etc. When I dressed them it was easier for me to decide on one outfit or color scheme and dress them the same. When my older daughter started kindergarten I urged her to select her own clothes and those of her then three year old sister. Sometimes she picked the same thing, sometimes not. They wore uniforms to school for a year so they dressed the same as each other and everyone else in the school. By the time they were in third and first grades they picked their own clothes. Sometimes they were the same, sometimes not. My older daughter has better fashion sense and coordinates outfits so sometimes she helps my younger daughter pick outfits to wear. I do all the clothes and shoes shopping in our home so I still buy them the same or similar clothes and let them decide what they want to wear. There was never any big drama about not wanting to be dressed alike. They decide when they want to dress alike and when they don't.

if everyone likes it and enjoys it i say its fine. in my opnion its kinda weird. but thats just me. if your gang is all for it thats great. i would think the eight yr old would want her own idenity by now?? ask her how she feels about it.

I think it's adorable. My sister and I were dressed alike when we were little and I love looking back on our pictures. I was hoping to do that with mine, but...boy/girl is much harder to do :-) Although, they are always dressed alike at least for holidays! There are two girls at school that are always dressed alike and I love it. I would keep dressing your girls that way until they start to complain....but if they don't mind it then go ahead. It's cute.

My mom sewed our outfits and made clothes for me, my little sister and herself out of the same fabric for family photos, etc. We didn't mind it, but day to day, we dressed differently unless it was something super cute she knew we would argue over if we didn't have the same thing.
My friend has identical twins and when they were babies she bought everything the same, just different colors. When the got old enough, easily by 3, they liked choosing their own mix and match outfits. One was definitely girly and the other more of a tom-boy. She still always bought the same stuff to avoid arguments and then let them choose what they wanted.
As your 7 year old gets older, she certainly won't want to look like her little sister. And you wont want a 5 year old dressed like a 9 year old.
You'll know when it's time to be sure they have their individuality.

my girls are 6 & 4... share a birthday and most of their closet. They are close to the same size (at least in shirts because my youngest has a very long torso) They will often coordinate outfits because I usually buy tops and dresses same style different color, etc. But they are doing it themselves. I do not do this except for things like family pictures, etc. There taste and style is very similar (although they have different favorite colors so that is usually what happens one is in purple and the other in red or pink). They even like the same characters and things so no big deal to share the hannah or tinkerbell shirt.
As long as your kids or ok with it go for it. When the oldest starts to complain you will know it is time to stop this or if the youngest one doesn't want to dress like sis anymore you will know it is time to quit it. Let your kids have their own style but if it is the same or similar (as mine are) that is great!
However my children do usual still coordinate and I know my MIL does this too with her younger set of 5 kids (8-14yrs....my hubby oldest of 10) that everyone is wearing red or green, etc because it is easier to do laundry that way. As a family we will often dress in the same color family just for laundry purposes too.
Hope this helps :)

I think when when one of your daughters doesn't want to any longer. I would give them the option, and see how they feel about it.

I would say now. Your seven year old may or may not care yet about having her own identity, but she'll let you know when she's ready. I do find it curious that you are still dressing them though.

Good luck,
DH