Twin baby development?

Twin babies' development is evaluated differently from singletons because each baby's journey is individual. The most important point is that twins should not be compared with each other, but with their own individual developmental curves.

According to general pediatric consensus, motor development (rolling, crawling, walking) in twins may lag a few months behind singletons, and this is considered normal. The main reason is that the rate of premature birth is high in twins, and premature babies need to be evaluated using 'corrected age' (based on expected due date rather than actual birth date). For example, twins born at 34 weeks should be evaluated at 6 months corrected age, not 8 calendar months.

Regarding language development, it's common for twins to develop 'twin language,' their own unique communication; this typically gives way to shared language around 2-3 years of age. The risk of speech delay is slightly higher, so by around 2 years of age, it's good to consult a child development specialist to ensure both children have at least 50 words and can form two-word sentences.

According to the AAP, individual attention and separate sleep schedules for each twin help them find their own rhythm. Weight gain, head circumference, and height should be tracked separately, and if either baby shows growth plateauing in their own curve, a pediatrician should be consulted.