Have you ever wondered where some of the slang phrases we use all the time come from? For instance, “Irish twins” aren’t literally from Ireland or have Irish heritage, but people regularly use the term to describe siblings who are close in age to each other. With so many differing opinions on how to define the term, Parade was curious to know: What are “Irish twins,” exactly? And where did the term come from?
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, we reached out to a variety of experts, ranging from historians to gynecologists, to break down the origins of this common term and explore what really makes you an “Irish twin,” scientifically speaking. We also dug into the history behind the term to understand if it’s always been used in a positive context.
For added measure, we also consulted a few psychologists to break down the pros and cons of having “Irish twins,” from a parenting perspective, and share a few tips for raising children so close in age.
Whether you’ve been using the term “Irish twin” all your life or you’ve only recently heard it used in passing, we’re sharing everything you’ll ever need to know about using it properly below.
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Is 14 Months Apart Considered ‘Irish Twins’?
Typically speaking, people use the term “Irish twins” to refer to siblings who are born within a certain period of time of each other.
Dr. Maral Malekzadeh, a board-certified gynecologist and co-owner of The Well Westlake, notes that it’s a “non-medical, informal term” to describe siblings who are “typically within about a year of each other.”
“In medicine, we would instead refer to this as closely spaced pregnancies or a short interpregnancy interval,” she explains.
So, how many months apart do you need to be to be considered “Irish twins”?
“There is no strict definition, but most people use the term when two siblings are born less than 12 months apart, although some extend it to around 12–14 months, so the interpretation can vary,” Dr. Malekzadeh shares.
Where Did the Term ‘Irish Twins’ Come From?
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Many people have encountered the term “Irish twins” on multiple occasions throughout their lifetime, even if they’re not Irish, and especially if they have siblings who are close in age to each other.
“I am well familiar with the term as I’m from a largely self-identifying Irish-American family and have a sister born 18 months before me. So, I’ve heard the term used many times over the years, although typically never among members of my own family,” says University of Connecticut Professor of Literatures, Cultures and Languages Brendan Kane, who specializes in early modern Britain and Ireland.
Meanwhile, University of Connecticut Associate Professor of English Tom Sheagrew up understanding the term to mean “two siblings born within 12 months of each other.”
Shea, who specializes in modern and contemporary Irish literature, says the term “Irish twins” wasn’t necessarily a compliment at first. Instead, it was more likely “mildly reproving, as if, ‘What do you expect if you’re going to obey the Pope and rely on the rhythm method?'”
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The historical origins of the term ‘Irish twins’
University of Connecticut English Professor Mary M. Burke tells Parade that the “Irish twins” term “evolved in reference to the stigmatized 1845 Irish famine refugee wave.”
“Previous Irish immigrant waves had been predominantly Irish Protestant (for instance, the cohort who became known as the Scots-Irish in America), but the mid-19th century immigrant wave was predominantly Catholic and generally very poor,” Burke, the author of Race, Politics, and Irish America, says. “They tended to have large families, so this fecundity became a negative stereotype of the supposed lack of discipline of Irish Catholics.”
Kevin Kenny, director of the Glucksman Ireland House at New York University, echoes Burke’s sentiments, telling Parade that this term was viewed in a negative light at first.
“We have some evidence of its use in American anti-Irish jokes in the 1840s, with reference to Irish ill-discipline in general as well as the fecundity of the Irish poor,” he explains.
Over time, Burke says, the term’s negative connotation shifted a bit.
“As the Irish assimilated and as Catholicism became less stigmatized in America, the sting of the phrase receded,” the professor notes. “My sense when hearing American people use it today is that they are often unaware of the negative historical context out of which it originally emerged.”
The term isn’t widely used in Ireland
It’s also interesting to note that the term “Irish twins” isn’t widely used in Ireland.
“I grew up in Ireland and never heard it there. It would not surprise me if it was used as a derogatory term in England too, but I did not hear the term when I lived there,” Kenny says.
Similarly, Kane notes that many people who grew up in Ireland don’t really use the term.
“I asked a friend who is a native Irish (Gaelic) speaker, and he says he’s never heard it in Irish, just in English,” he says.
Similar to the term “Irish twins,” the idea of an “Irish goodbye/exit” is “equally unknown in Ireland,” per Burke.
“It is a general rule of thumb that the modifier ‘Irish,’ as used outside of Ireland, has been, at best, gentle mockery and, at worst, evokes old prejudices,” she states.
Is It OK To Use the Term ‘Irish Twins’?
Since the original connotation of this term was somewhat negative, it begs the question: Is it appropriate to use it now that it’s more colloquial?
Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist based in New York City and the director of Comprehend the Mind, says it depends on who you’re talking to.
“Most people use it casually without any bad intent, and nobody blinks. But the term does have roots in stereotyping Irish Catholic families as poor and uneducated, so some people—particularly those with Irish heritage—might find it offensive,” she explains. “It’s one of those phrases that’s probably fine in casual conversation but worth ditching in a professional setting.”
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Potential Challenges and Advantages of Having ‘Irish Twins’
Whether you planned to have children close in age or life surprised you with another bundle of joy before you expected to expand your family, there are certain challenges and advantages of having “Irish twins.”
Challenges of having ‘Irish twins’
Medically speaking, there are potential health issues you can encounter if you give birth to two children within a certain period of time.
“When pregnancies occur very close together, the body may not have fully recovered, which can slightly increase risks such as maternal anemia, preterm birth and low birth weight, particularly if the interval between pregnancies is less than about 18 months,” Dr. Malekzadeh says.
From a parenting perspective, parents with “Irish twins” often encounter the following challenges:
- Chronic exhaustion: “Having two babies back to back means there’s basically no recovery period. That level of sustained sleep deprivation and physical demand alone is a serious mental health risk,” Dr. Hafeez states.
- Postpartum complications: “Getting pregnant again so soon means postpartum depression from the first birth might not even be fully resolved yet. Layering a second pregnancy on top of that is a lot for the brain and body to handle,” she shares.
- Relationship strain: “When all your energy goes to keeping two babies alive, your relationship with your partner can quietly fall apart. Couples rarely have time to connect, which breeds resentment and loneliness, even when you’re never actually alone,” she explains.
- Increased demands, especially early in the game: “Siblings born close in age can intensify already difficult stages of parenting,” says Dr. Samantha Glickman, PsyD, clinical child and adolescent psychologist at the Child Study Center, part of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. “Many parents struggle with sleepless nights in the newborn phase, so going through it again with minimal breathing room can be tough. Daily challenges in the early years are also amplified. For example, feeding small children and getting kids to bed can become twice as tricky quite quickly.”
- Loss of personal identity: “You go from being a regular person to being a full-time caregiver for two infants almost overnight,” Dr. Hafeez notes. “A lot of parents in this situation lose touch with who they were before kids, which can lead to depression and feeling stuck.”
- Financial stress: “Two kids in diapers, two in daycare, double the everything,” she states. “The financial pressure hits fast and hard. Money stress at that level is one of the biggest drivers of anxiety and depression in young parents.”
Advantages of having ‘Irish twins’
Despite the challenges associated with having “Irish twins,” there are also a few potential advantages for parents.
- You get the hard years over with faster: “Having two babies close together means the sleepless nights, diapers and total dependency all happen in one concentrated stretch. A lot of parents say once they’re through it, they feel like they can breathe again,” Dr. Hafeez says.
- A stronger sense of purpose: “Being needed that intensely, by two kids at once, gives a lot of parents a really grounded sense of who they are and what they’re doing. That kind of clarity can actually be really stabilizing for your mental health long term,” she shares.
- Built-in motivation to stay on top of your well-being: “When two tiny humans depend on you simultaneously, you quickly learn that you can’t pour from an empty cup,” she explains. “Many parents of ‘Irish twins’ become better at asking for help and setting limits out of pure necessity.”
- The chaos bonds couples together: “Surviving something that hard as a team can genuinely bring two people closer,” she notes. “A lot of parents look back on those years as something they got through together, which builds a kind of trust that’s hard to replicate.”
- Strong sibling bonds: “Children close in age often share similar interests and developmental needs,” Dr. Glickman says. “This can make it easier for them to form close connections as true playmates. For example, a game of catch between two preschoolers looks very different than the same game between a toddler and a school-aged kiddo.”
7 Tips for Parenting ‘Irish Twins’
Having two children so close in age doesn’t have to be all work and no fun. To make sure you’re taking time to cherish your children while taking care of them, we asked the pros to share a few parenting tips.
1. Look out for increased sibling rivalry
When you have two babies growing up together, they’re learning how to be their own people at the same time. And with siblings that are so close in age, they might feel like they need to fight for attention more than other sets of siblings.
“Minimal spacing between little ones can often contribute to additional opportunities for comparison. As such, it can be important to look out for signs of increased sibling rivalry,” Dr. Glickman says.
2. Prioritize your physical and mental health
“Depending on how close together kids are in age, [the parent] might have become pregnant again in the thick of their postpartum period,” Dr. Glickman shares. “Parents and caregivers should make sure to prioritize their own physical and emotional needs during this time. It’s hard to show up for your kids when you’re not feeling well on multiple fronts.”
3. Spend one-on-one time with each child
Similar to actual twins, you might want to dress up your children in similar clothing if they’re nearly the same age. You might also want to do everything together, but it’s important to make special one-on-one time with each child.
“When kids are close in age, it can feel easy to lump them together.” Dr. Glickman notes. “Intentionally carving out individual time helps maintain a strong connection with each of them.”
4. Accept help, even if it’s uncomfortable
It’s never good to be so hyper-independent that you don’t ask for support, ever. But especially when you have “two under two” or “Irish twins,” it’s important to ask for what you need when you need it.
“It’s okay to turn to a friend or a loved one and ask them to step in so you can run an errand while your child naps,” Dr. Glickman states.
5. Remember that this is a phase
It can be easy to fall into the hole of exhaustion and not remember what life was like before your “Irish twins”—and have no idea when this baby period will end. But try to gain motivation by reminding yourself that this will come to pass.
“Parenting two small children close in age is a phase that will not last forever,” Dr. Glickman says.
6. Let them have different friend groups and interests
“It’s easy to just sign them up for the same everything because it’s convenient, but giving them separate spaces helps them build their own identities,” Dr. Hafeez states. “Kids who are always grouped together can struggle to figure out who they are on their own.”
7. Don’t let the older child grow up too fast
“Since they’re so close in age, parents often unconsciously lean on the older child to be more independent than they’re ready for,” Dr. Hafeez shares. “Remember that a one or two-year-old is still a baby, regardless of the fact that there’s another baby in the house.”
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Sources:
- Mary M. Burke is a University of Connecticut English Professor and the author of Race, Politics, and Irish America.
- Dr. Samantha Glickman, PsyD, is a clinical child and adolescent psychologist at the Child Study Center, which is part of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone.
- Dr. Sanam Hafeez is a neuropsychologist based in New York City and the director of Comprehend the Mind.
- Kevin Kenny is the director of the Glucksman Ireland House at New York University.
- Brendan Kane is a professor of literatures, cultures and languages who specializes in early modern Britain and Ireland at the University of Connecticut.
- Dr. Maral Malekzadeh is a board-certified gynecologist and the co-owner of The Well Westlake.
- Tom Shea is a University of Connecticut Associate Professor of English.
