Guest Author - Secola Edwards

The end of summer triggers nostalgia for the fall holidays and Halloween usually kicks off the season for many. As parents and caregivers of twins, we spend a lot of time each year thinking of the perfect costume combination, especially when the twins are very young and still allow us to make the decision.

I remember the first costumes my boy/girl twins wore. They were about 10 weeks old and I stumbled across the cutest and inexpensive Casper the Friendly Ghost onesies with matching bibs. Over the next three years, I would have so much fun 'pairing' them in themed costumes. At age one they were Barney and Baby Bop. The next year, I searched long and wide to find Batman and Catgirl outfits small enough for them, and I did. Three years of age was the last year they allowed me to dictate their costumes and they dressed as pink and blue Crayola crayons.

Once boy/girl twins reach post-kindergarten, it will be almost impossible to convince them to dress in themed costumes, their tastes will begin to be completely different and dictated by their own gender. At this point, just let them express themselves and have fun watching them enjoy the traditions. Same gendered twins, however, will often dress in matching or themed costumes much longer than their mixed-gendered counterparts, and as long as it is the choice of both twins, enjoy it while it lasts.

Since Halloween is fast approaching, check out some costume ideas for twins aged from birth to teen.

Infant and Toddler Boy/Girl twins
-Cute onesies with matching bibs
-Dora and Diego
-Pink and Blue Bunnies
-Baby Einstein Lion and Baby Einstein Duck
-Nemo and Dora
-Elmo and Zoe
-Barney and Baby Bop
-Baby Pumpkins
-Matching Pea in the Pod (one green and one yellow)
-M&M in two pink and blue
-MIckey and Minnie Mouse
-Blue and Magenta
-Princess Leia and Yoda

Infant and Toddler Boy twins
-Blue Bunnies
-Pooh and Tigger
-Matching M&M's (or 2 different colors)
-Farm animals like a cow and a pig
-A dalmation and a hound dog
-Turtle and frog
-2 Veggie Tales characters
-R2D2 and Darth Vader
-Shrek and Donkey

Infant and Toddler Girl twins
-2 different Disney Princesses
-2 different Baby Einstein characters
-Pink bunnies
-Pink Peas in a Pod
-Cheerleaders
-Pink M&M's
-Clowns
-Friendly Witches

Elementary and Intermediate Girl twins
-Try a group setting with friends, like Bratz or Disney Princesses
-2 different Disney Princesses
-2 of the Magical DoReMi Girls
-2 different Power Puff Girls
-Uniqua and Tasha (Backyardigans)
-Hannah Montana and Myley Stewart
-Tennis Players
-Daphne and Velma of Scooby Doo

Elementary and Intermediate Boy twins
-Pablo and Tyrone (Backyardigans)
-2 of the Ninja Turtles
-2 of the Jonas Brothers
-Chewbacca and Luke Sky Walker
-Shaggy and Scooby
-Basketball Players
-Football Players

Teen Twins
It's fun to see teens enjoy Halloween and dress up. You may also find that mixed-gendered twins 'rediscover' each other and find it cool to dress in themed costumes, like Fred and Wilma.
Also, teens tend to lean toward more adult costumes, such as disco queens, so you could suggest that your teens form a group with other kids and become a rock band or a cheerleading squad or a basketball team.