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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

Do your identical twins write with the same hand?

27 replies

jollyma · 02/02/2011 20:06

My friend has 4 year old twins born at 30 weeks. One prefers her right hand, the other prefers her left. Is this common or should she be looking in to why they have made these choices? She is slightly concerned as the 'left handed' twin has always been stronger all round but the little one is catching up.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Eglu · 02/02/2011 20:08

I thought that this was how identical twins worked. I have twin cousins and one is left and one is right handed.

roo1983 · 02/02/2011 21:07

Children don't make 'choices' as to which hand they write with; it's completely involuntary. It's decided by which side of their brain is more dominant, something which happens long before the babies are even born. Being left handed doesn't make you weaker same as being right handed doesn't make you stronger. It is normal for children to develop at different rates and they don't always progress steadily. Some will have spurts of progression and development while at the same time others will plateau and for a little while will not make much progress at all. I wouldn't say your friend?s situation is anything to worry about at all.

BibiThree · 02/02/2011 21:11

My id twins are 3.7 and the smaller, 'weaker' one uses her left, always has, the bigger twin who is generally further ahead in all developmental aspects is a right-hander.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 02/02/2011 21:14

My identical neices use opposite hands.

Eglu · 02/02/2011 21:16

Agree with Roo on choice part. Hadn't picked up on you aying that in the op. I didn't decide to be left handed, I just am.

Chaotica · 02/02/2011 21:17

My close relatives who are twins are a right-hander and one who is ambidextrous (but might favour left, I can't remember).

There is a pattern developing here (but the next posters might prove it wrong).

Chaotica · 02/02/2011 21:18

As the others have said, OP - it's not a choice (but I'm sure you've realised that by now).

MadamDeathstare · 02/02/2011 21:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

jollyma · 02/02/2011 21:29

Thanks everyone. I agree that its not a choice, bad word to use. I have experience working with children with motor difficulties but not with twins. Very pleased to hear that its not uncommon.

Someone suggested that it could be due to them sitting opposite each other regularly and so they mirror movements. I wasn't so sure about this theory.

OP posts:

harrygracejessica · 03/02/2011 11:11

Yep I have one left handed and one right handed.

Eglu · 03/02/2011 11:36

I'm glad my thought that identical twins are always opposite has been proved right so far. Was worrying this was something that I made up in my head and I would look stupid

Isla77 · 03/02/2011 18:01

I am a twin and both myself and my sister are left handed - sort of. My sister was born with a disability and could not use her right hand. My mother thought that I copied her using her left hand as I am not a natural left-hander. I do everything with my right hand except for writing which I do with my left hand and my handwriting has always been terrible!

MadamDeathstare · 03/02/2011 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

suzikettles · 03/02/2011 18:03

I know someone with identical twins who are "mirrors" of each other. One is right handed, the other left handed and their hair even parts (naturally) on different sides.

earwicga · 03/02/2011 18:05

'Someone suggested that it could be due to them sitting opposite each other regularly and so they mirror movements. I wasn't so sure about this theory.'

If that were the case then every child would be opposite handed to their parent.

roo1983 · 03/02/2011 18:59

During a film I saw about identical twins they said it is most common for one to be left handed and the other right. They even suggested that maybe those singletons who are left handed were actually a twin early on in pregnancy and the other twin died/suffered from vanishing twin syndrome. Don't know how much truth there is in that though?!!! The film was by the National Geographic channel. . You have to watch all 7 clips to see the whole documentary. During my scans one twin's cord appears to be inserted slightly to the left and other twin's cord is to the right so I wonder whether this will mean one is left handed and the other right?
I think people who are left handed get a rough deal and struggle slightly more because we live in a right handed world e.g. we write left to right; scissors are right handed unless you buy special left handed ones; we lay the table for right handers; tin openers are right handed etc.

Eglu · 03/02/2011 19:37

roo I remember hearing that too. I am left handed and Drs thought that my Mum was having twins although never scanned her.

Bertina · 03/02/2011 19:44

Are they mirror twins?

multiples.about.com/od/glossary/g/mirrorimagetwin.htm

"Definition: Mirror image twins are monozygotic, twins that form from a single fertilized egg. When the split occurs late - more than a week after conception - the twins can develop reverse asymmetric features. This term is not really a type of twin, just a way to describe their physical features. For example, they may be right- and left-handed, have birthmarks on opposite sides of their body, or have hair whorls that swirl in opposite directions. In theory, if the twins faced each other, they would appear to be exact reflections of each other. About 25% of identical twins are mirror image twins.
Also Known As: mirror-image twins"

MadamDeathstare · 03/02/2011 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

jollyma · 03/02/2011 22:07

I've done a bit of (quick) research and it seems that about 20% of identical twins are right/left handed (about 10% of single babies are). Doesn't seem to be any agreed reason but suggestions include not having right handed gene, stress in womb, position in womb, etc.

OP posts:

twinmumplus1inthetum · 05/02/2011 15:38

Such an interesting thread.
I have ID girls and one is left handed and one is right handed.

Mzdemeanourunderthemistletoe · 05/02/2011 21:06

I've got b/g twins and the boy is left-handed and the girl right-handed. Something I've seen suggested that the incidence of left-handedness among twins may be due to them holding hands in the womb but can't remember where I saw it ...

kathryn2804 · 05/02/2011 22:05

One left and one right here! Id boys

NormanTheForeman · 05/02/2011 22:19

I am an identical twin, but we are both right-handed.

legspinner · 06/02/2011 07:23

This is really interesting....Mirror twins (ie one LH, one RH) make up almost 25% of identical twins (see here for some research here in NZ about handedness in twins).
Oddly enough I assumed all identical twins were opposite handed when I was younger!
(Have twins now, but they are fraternal).

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