Dear Bundoo: How can I tell my twins apart?
This week, one mom has her twin routine down pat, but her husband wants to change it up and show them off. Another mom wants to know if it’s safe to give her child pollen since her husband and she already take bee pollen. See what our professionals say.
Dear Bundoo,
I have identical twins 8-week-old twins, and I’ve been doing just fine being able to tell them apart, but my husband thinks it’s silly. I purposely don’t dress them the same so I know who is wearing what. He thinks they should dress alike, and we will be able to tell them apart by putting a tiny dot on their foot with a marker. I think that’s absurd. But I haven’t shown them off entirely yet, and people want to see them “look alike.” Should I use his marker method or keep my finely tuned method and just deal with the backlash?
Dear Double the Fun,
First and foremost, congratulations on surviving the first eight weeks with twins! The first few weeks with one baby are not easy; with two babies, those first weeks are like climbing Mount Everest! Well done. My simple advice is that your system works for you, and therefore, you should stick with it. Dressing them differently lets you know with just a glance which one is awake, fussing, or asleep even when you might be across the room. Sure, you may have occasion to dress them alike but by no means are you obligated. Trust me, people want to see beautiful, healthy babies; their clothing choice is a long distant second. And caving to the demands of well-meaning relatives at eight weeks just sets you up for ridiculous demands in the future. Do what makes your life easier. Good luck, mama!
Dear Bundoo,
Is it okay to give my 2-year-old bee pollen? We are very careful with diet in our house and believe in the power of natural supplements to boost immunity and fill in the gaps in the modern diet. My husband and I already take bee pollen, and I’ve read that it’s safe for children. How would you recommend introducing it to our daughter?
—Bee-ing Safe
Dear Bee-ing Safe,
Bee pollen is a complementary medicine containing vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, and protein. It comes from the pollen that collects on the bodies of bees and may also contain bee saliva.
Herbalists and natural food enthusiasts have promoted bee pollen as a cure-all for health and an insurance policy for a less-than-ideal diet, but scientists have not been able to prove that bee pollen has any health benefits.
The danger for young children is that bee pollen has been shown to cause anaphylaxis (a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction) to those individuals with pollen allergies. It is also not safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
—Answered by Jill Castle, MS, RDN, Bundoo Nutritionist
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