What Are Irish Twins? Origin, Advantages, & Challenges

PDF download Download Article
Learn how Irish twins compare to actual twins
PDF download Download Article

Do you have two close-in-age siblings who are often referred to as Irish twins? Or, are you confused whenever you hear someone call your kids Irish twins, when you aren’t Irish, and they aren't actually twins? If so, we’ve got you covered! Irish twins are a playful way to refer to close-in-age siblings, and in this article, we'll dig into the term’s meaning , origin , and whether or not it’s offensive. We even get into what it’s like to have Irish twins, with the help of a licensed marriage and family therapist and family and reproductive specialists. Read on to learn all about Irish twins!

Irish Twins Meaning Explained

“Irish twins” refers to children who are born within 12-18 months of each other, but the range is somewhat loose. While formerly a derogatory term used to refer to the children of Irish immigrants, “Irish twins” is now used as a neutral way to refer to close-in-age siblings.

Section 1 of 8:

What are Irish twins?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Irish twins are children born up to 18 months apart. Also known as close-in-age siblings, Irish twins are children who are typically born about 12 months apart from one another, but the term can also be used more loosely to describe siblings up to 18 months apart. The idea is that, since the siblings are so close in age, they’re almost like twins and share many similarities with them. [1]
    • The term is usually seen as neutral now, but it used to have a negative connotation, as it was once used as a derogatory way to describe Irish immigrant children in the U.S. We’ll get into more of the term’s origins below.

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Elizabeth Earnshaw is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in couples therapy and strives to make it more accessible.

    Lauren Chan Lee, MBA , is a Family Care Specialist and Senior Director of Product Management at Care.com , the largest online family care marketplace.

    Lora Luczywo, IBCLC , is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with over 10 years of lactation consulting experience.

    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 8:

Where does the term “Irish twins” come from?

PDF download Download Article
  1. “Irish twins” comes from the stereotype that Irish immigrants had lots of kids. In the 1850s, the term was popularized as a derogatory way to refer to the children of newly arrived Irish immigrants in the United States. The stereotype of the time was that Irish immigrants had lots of children in a short time span, lending to the xenophobic origins of the term. [2]
    • Birth control was historically forbidden in the Irish Catholic faith, contributing to large families and close-in-age siblings, which then led to the derogatory use of the term “Irish twins.”
Section 3 of 8:

Is “Irish Twins” offensive?

PDF download Download Article
  1. In the past, “Irish twins” was offensive, but now it’s mostly neutral. It’s impossible to say that the term is now 100% inoffensive to everyone, but “Irish twins” has been widely reclaimed, and its meaning has shifted to be less derogatory and more neutral. The term now serves as a casual way to refer to close-in-age siblings, and it usually isn’t perceived as an insult. But if you’re worried you may end up offending someone, it’s best to go with the term “close-in-age siblings,” instead. [3]
    2. Advertisement
Section 4 of 8:

Advantages of Raising Irish TwinsTwins

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Irish twins build the family quickly, especially if you’re an older parent. As you get older, your body may have a tougher time dealing with the stress of pregnancy. In this case, Irish twins can be super advantageous! Not only do they help build the family quickly, but they also come in handy if you want to avoid having another baby at an older age, which can come with a few more risks. [4]
  2. 2
    Irish twins mean you’ll have more time to yourself in the long run. While you will have to deal with double the trouble as you raise your Irish twins, once they get older, they’ll become independent around the same time and won’t need you to hold the leash. As they get older and dive deeper into their personal interests, lives, and hobbies, you’ll be able to have more time to yourself. [5]
  3. 3
    Irish twins can lessen the time you need to take off from work. Depending on your career, you may want to have children closer together so you don’t need to take as much time off work. While you will need to hunker down for the challenge of raising two infants at once, it could be beneficial in the long run!
  4. 4
    Irish twins have a built-in buddy for life. Since Irish twins are so close in age, they’ll always have a sibling who they can reach out to and enjoy life with. You’ll still get the natural older and younger sibling dynamics, but since they’re so close in age, they’ll still be able to relate to one another (especially if they’re in the same grade)!
    5. Advertisement
Section 5 of 8:

Challenges of Raising Irish Twins

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    There are increased risks with short interpregnancy intervals. The short interpregnancy intervals needed for Irish twins are associated with some risks for the parent and child, including premature birth, low birth weight, potential birth defects, and preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy). Because of this, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends waiting 6-18 months after your first pregnancy before getting pregnant again. [6]
    • If you've unexpectedly found yourself in this situation, don't worry—although there are risks associated with back-to-back pregnancies, it's absolutely possible to have a completely safe and healthy pregnancy!
    • Just make sure to see your OB-GYN regularly and follow all their advice to keep both you and baby in tip-top shape.
  2. 2
    There are increased financial costs when it comes to raising Irish twins. Just like regular twins, Irish twins are so close in age that you’re practically paying double for everything. This can lead to increased financial challenges, especially if you aren’t prepared for the cost of raising two little ones at the same time.
    • Depending on the age of your Irish twins, some of these financial challenges can be alleviated. For example, if one child is 6 months old and the other is 3 months old, you can save the 6-month-old’s baby clothes so the 3-month-old can wear them.
  3. 3
    The toddler years can be especially tough on parents. The terrible twos are already tough enough on parents with one child, as the kid is learning more about the world and starting to develop their own sense of agency and understanding.
    4. Advertisement
Section 6 of 8:

Tips for Raising Irish Twins

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Encourage their individuality. Irish twins, while close in age, are still their own individuals, and that individuality is important to remember when you’re raising them. Every child develops in different ways and at different paces, even your Irish twins, so it’s best to encourage those differences and allow them to be their individual selves, explore personal interests and activities , and fully embody their personalities.
    • This also means not comparing the two. They’re different people, so let them be themselves, not each other.
  2. 2
    Make schedules and routines so everyone knows what to expect. Keeping a routine that’s scheduled and consistent makes it easier to predict what’s going to be going on for the day, week, or month, both for the parents and children. It helps keep things organized so the children aren’t thrown off, and it also gives you much-needed time for self-care.
  3. 3
    Make time for self-care. While it may be more difficult due to the demands of raising two children, it’s still important to practice self-care, as it’ll make you (and by extension, your Irish twins) feel better. So when making time for self-care, licensed marriage and family therapist Elizabeth Earnshaw says to “take care of yourself physically [and] emotionally” by following these tips: [7]
    • Physically: Eat, brush your teeth, and take regular showers.
    • Emotionally: Spend time with people who make you happy (not miserable), put boundaries and limits in place to protect your emotions, read, learn, and do things you enjoy.
  4. 4
    Enlist the help of a babysitter or nanny when you can. It’s okay to ask for help, whether you’ve got something going on or just need a day off. So, don’t be afraid of hitting up a babysitter or nanny to watch the kids. When you’re getting ready to have a nanny or babysitter watch your Irish twins, family care specialist Lauren Chan Lee, MBA, says to “Have a list of instructions that details important parts of [their] routine so that you don’t have to write it out every time or tell it in person.” [8]
    • Lee says to talk about what the routine is, when they take their naps, and other important things they do throughout the day. [9]
    • Remember, parenting is a shared responsibility. If they haven’t already offered it, ask your partner (or co-parent) for some help before reaching out to a nanny or babysitter.
  5. 5
    Get a breastfeeding pillow to make feeding easier. International board-certified lactation consultant Lora Luczywo, a breastfeeding pillow is helpful when it comes to feeding twins. This means it will also be useful if you have Irish twins who are breastfeeding at the same time! She suggests you “meet with a lactation consultant to show you the optimal positions for tandem feeding the babies because if you can master tandem feeding, that can make a huge difference in your breastfeeding success.” [10]
    6. Advertisement
Section 7 of 8:

Irish Twins vs. Actual Twins

PDF download Download Article
  1. Irish twins are close in age, while twins are born at the same time. Whether they’re fraternal (born from two fertilized eggs) or identical (born from one split fertilized egg), standard twins are conceived and born at the same time. Irish twins, on the other hand, are born up to 12-18 months apart from each other, meaning they develop at different rates in comparison to twins, who typically have the same developmental rate as they age.
    • Depending on how close in age your Irish twins are, they may develop more like actual twins, since their developmental rates are closer than Irish twins born further apart.
    • Irish twins that are born further apart still have plenty of developmental similarities due to how close they are in age.
Section 8 of 8:

Frequently Asked Questions

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Is being born 18 months apart considered Irish twins? While the term “Irish twins” is mainly used to refer to children who have up to a 12-month age range, the definition is loose, and children who are born 18 months apart are typically considered Irish twins, albeit on the tail end. [11]
  2. 2
    What are Irish triplets? Irish triplets, like Irish twins, are close-in-age siblings, but they come in a set of 3 instead of 2. Irish triplets consist of one set of actual twins and a third sibling who is close in age. As they all grow up, their experience is similar to that of actual triplets. [12]
  3. 3
    How common are Irish twins? “Irish twins” isn’t an official medical term, so it’s tough to determine how common they are. [13] But according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, about 35% of U.S. pregnancies are within 18 months of one another. [14]
  4. 4
    Do Irish twins look alike? Irish twins don’t look as similar to each other as fraternal twins or identical twins (the latter of which are literally identical), but they still look alike since they share parents. They may not look as much like one another if they’re half-siblings, but they do still look alike. [15]
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Handle Jealousy
      How to
      Avoid Your In‐Laws
      How to
      Live with a Sibling You Dislike
      How to
      Survive (And Thrive In) A Long Distance Marriage
      180+ Ireland Slang Words & Phrases: The Local’s Guide
      How to
      Have Two Boyfriends at Once
      How Many Babies Do Squirrels Have at a Time?
      400 Irish Baby Boy Names to Fall in Love With
      How to
      Study when You Have Children
      Dealing With Little Sisters: Tips on Improving Relationships
      What Does “Dinna Fash” Mean? Plus 27 Essential Scots & Gaelic Words
      225 Hilarious Group Chat Names for You & Your Siblings
      How to
      Get Your Older Sister to Be Nice to You
      How to
      Convince Your Parents to Buy You a Guinea Pig
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/parenting/close-in-age-siblings
      2. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/irish-twins/
      3. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/parenting/close-in-age-siblings
      4. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22438-advanced-maternal-age
      5. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/parenting/close-in-age-siblings
      6. ↑ https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/obstetric-care-consensus/articles/2019/01/interpregnancy-care
      7. ↑ Elizabeth Earnshaw. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Expert Interview
      8. ↑ Lauren Chan Lee, MBA. Family Care Specialist. Expert Interview
      9. ↑ Lauren Chan Lee, MBA. Family Care Specialist. Expert Interview
      1. ↑ Lora Luczywo, IBCLC. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/parenting/close-in-age-siblings
      3. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/irish-triplets-port-aux-basques-1.4894386
      4. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/parenting/close-in-age-siblings
      5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3749871/
      6. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/parenting/close-in-age-siblings

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 19 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement