As a twin, and a dad to twins whose other dad is also a twin, I know a thing or three about shopping for two. And these days, twin gift ideas have never been more necessary: the number of twin births has nearly doubled over the past two decades in the U.S., mostly due to the advent of assisted-fertility technologies.
While twins may share birth dates and physical characteristics, that does not necessarily mean they share the same taste in toys and games and goodies. “You need to find gifts that match each twin’s unique personality,” explains Ilene Gayer, owner of Hom-Bom Toys on New York’s Upper East Side. She’s also the mother (and boss) of identical-twin daughters, Alison and Melissa, who can often be found working the counter together. Alternatively, Gayer says, you can go with something that offers “the opportunity to make things together,” like a science project.
What could be more #twinning than gifts for twins created by twins? Identical-twin designers Dean and Dan Caten—better known as DSquared2—more than deliver the goods. Their extensive children’s line includes everything from backpacks to briefs. Their “Icon” onesie, with its groovy graphic lettering, is a crowd-pleaser and an essential for new parents.
In the age of TikTok and tablets, getting kids to actually put pen to paper has never felt more challenging. But Smythson’s My First Smythson Soho Diary was developed using input from Britain’s National Literacy Trust and includes colorful, eye-catching pastel pages elegantly bound within a tangerine-orange lambskin folio with a brightly hued sewn-in ribbon bookmark. Buy one for each kid to encourage fantastical literary collaborations—or competitions.
Along with getting a good night’s sleep, getting twins around town is the biggest challenge for new parents. Leave it to Cybex—experts in functional mobility—to design the perfect stroller solution. Their Gazelle S Stroller System can be easily adjusted to 20 different configurations, including a double stroller perfectly set up for twins. While similar strollers place the tots side by side, the Gazelle “stacks” twins one above the other to keep the stroller sleek, slim, and easily maneuverable—even in the tightest spaces.
There is nothing more precious for parents of twins than watching their kids take baths together. The ultra-colorful Les Bulles d’Agathe Discovery Set features five uniquely colored and scented bubble-bath potions from master French fragrance-maker Maison Francis Kurkdjian. With bath scents ranging from lavender to strawberry, the kit is an elegant way to activate young noses while ensuring kids smell great after every bath. Best of all, each twin can pick and play with their favorite fragrance while still sharing those bubbly by-products.
Getting kids to experiment with new foods is a challenge at any age, and with twins it’s twice as tricky. Easy-to-follow cooking kits from eat2explore more than do the trick with their globally inspired meals highlighting cuisines from around the world. The subscription-based meal-box service includes recipes, ingredients, and colorful activity sheets that let kids control the cooking process while learning about a range of cuisines. One twin love Asian? Then they’ll swoon over the Singapore kit. The other twin fancy Latin dishes? Then perhaps the Mexican, Peruvian, or Brazilian kits. Either way, they can cook, create, and enjoy together.
The young twins in your life will travel in style with this swimwear collaboration between St. Regis Hotels and Vilebrequin Swimwear. The capsule collection arrives just in time for winter escapes to sun-kissed hot spots. Although the suits only come in trunks for boys, the accompanying totes and satchels will work wonders for your entire clan.
David Christopher Kaufman is a New York City–based editor and writer
