Any tips for telling identical twins apart?

I had several sets of identical twins in class. One set I couldn't ever fully tell apart and it killed me. They kept saying one had a different freckle. They were covered in freckles. I told the mom at conferences that I was really struggling with it and she just laughed and said that their dad, 10 years later also had a hard time telling them apart.

Twins are often born at different weights, so maybe size will be a factor. Would a tiny arm or ankle bracelet work?

I have heard about the painted toe nail in several cases. Good luck!

having had twins. (not identical though).. I would go with nail polish. clothes matching is too much work.. and until they get older, and they develop their distinct personalities, it is the easiest thing. twins are exhausting.. so something that takes no work and no thinking is best.

A friend of mine had identical twin girls years ago. She used nail polish on one toe nail when they were babies. She told me that she didn't need it after a few months because she could tell them apart but she continued the nail polish for awhile longer just for other people -- grandma, friends who didn't see them often. 

I met the girls when they were 2 and starting preschool. This was a 3-mornings-per-week preschool with exactly four openings in youngest class, and there was no lottery, it was first come first served. My friend and I met at 3:00 a.m. in front of the church as we were signing our names to the paper taped to the front door. By 3:05 we'd taken three of the four spots between the two of us. lol.n 

Anyway, we discovered we lived near each other so we carpooled for the three years we were at that preschool. At the beginning I could NEVER tell the girls apart so when I picked them up their mom would tell me "P. has the blue striped shirt" or whatever. But she also told me to study them and eventually I'd figure out something. She was right. One of the girls had the faintest shadow of a freckle on the bridge of her nose. Very faint, but I could see it. I never did tell the girls how I was telling them apart but they would giggle when I'd ask them to turn around so I could "look you in the eye" to see who was who. They'd say "but our eyes are exactly the same!" lol. 

It wasn't until they were in kindergarten that I learned another way... Their younger brother was seriously ill (cancer) and I spent a lot of time driving them and ds to various activities. One was soccer so I had to do their hair to make sure they had a nice tight pony tail. That was when I discovered that their hair was different. It *looked* exactly the same, but one felt softer than the other. Now obviously touching a kids hair all the time to discover who was who isn't a recommended method, lol... But I just thought it was interesting.

By the time they were in mid-elementary school I could tell them apart without the freckle but honestly I'm not sure how. I just knew, since I had spent so much time with them until their brother died. They are still identical today even as adults, at least to people who don't know them well. 

Even identical twins will have some differences. One of mine is missing a chunk from her ear and the other has a mole on their arm. There is also a subtle difference in their face shape.

We live far from family, but they could still tell the twins apart most of the time. They might have to check the ear or arm once or twice on a new visit but then picked up on who was who.

Of course, it got easier as they grew older and developed different styles and personalities. It was hardest when they were babies.

None of our nuclear family has ever confused them, although I confess it’s very possible I fed the same baby twice overnight in the dark when they were newborns.

Patter I think you are the best person to answer this thread

Definitely paint the toenails of one baby.

You are welcome. And don't be worried. The yarn is simple and easy to see. Not covered up with socks or anything. And once their little personalities come out, it's even more fun. Our three are VERY different personality wise but they also have fun opening each other's phones and fingerprints are basically the same (something a forensics professor said he has never seen). Truly fun stuff ahead for y'all!

We have quite a few sets of identical twins. They're all dressed differently, which helps except one set of TK kiddos. Their dads dress them absolutely identically every day. Their teacher told me that one is more smiley and the other more somber. Unfortunately, I can't remember which name goes with which personality.

This may not help now but I'll bet one is right handed and the other's a lefty. You'll notice it in the way they handle their binkies.

I have twin girls, one or the other wore a cast or bandage. We had trees, bicycles, horses, and they were always challenging learning curves.

Once the diaper is off who knows if the 'right' one is put on...

The good news is this won’t be your problem to solve. I have no doubt their mother will decide on a way to tell them apart that she will share with family members at school me point.