Q&A: Do twins always develop at the same rate?

As with any child, it's best not to compare one child's milestones with another's. Each child is a unique individual with her own pace of growth and development. It is only natural to want to compare siblings, especially when they are twins. It is almost impossible not to do this!

It is certainly possible that they will learn from watching each other, but if one twin isn't ready to physically accomplish the next step, it won't happen until she is ready.

Dr. Lori Storch-Smith, Westport, Connecticut, is not only a pediatrician, she is also the mother of twins. "Most likely your babies will reach milestones at different times," says Storch-Smith. "Early on they will have no effect on each other's development, but later on (after two years or so) they might since they will have a consistent playmate earlier than singletons."

Some twins can be born prematurely and quite often there can be a marked difference in sizes of the babies. These factors must also be considered when watching your babies' growth and development. Don't hold one child back or push the other to keep them in sync.

Your visits to the pediatrician can be a good time to check in to see if the children are on track with meeting milestones. If you have concerns, ask! (The BabyZone As Baby Grows tracker can help give you an idea of what each girl is up to and what to look forward to for each.)