How to Have Children in Stardew Valley: A Complete Guide
So, you’re ready to expand your family in Stardew Valley? Having children is a heartwarming milestone in the game, adding a new dimension to your farm life. But how exactly do you go about it? Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you understand the process, from building a strong relationship to welcoming your little ones.
The Core Steps to Starting a Family
The process of having children in Stardew Valley involves a few key steps:
- Marriage: You must first marry a villager to even consider having kids. Choose wisely! Each of the twelve eligible marriage candidates has their unique personalities and quirks, which impacts your in-game married life.
- Nursery Upgrade: Your farmhouse must have the nursery addition before you can have children. You’ll need to upgrade your house at Robin’s Carpenter Shop twice to reach this point.
- Maintaining a 10-Heart Relationship (or higher): A strong relationship with your spouse is essential. You need to consistently keep your heart level at 10 hearts or more for a child request to even have a chance to happen.
- The Baby Question: Once you’ve met the above criteria, there’s a small chance (approximately 5%) that your spouse will ask if you want to have a child in any given night. This will only happen at night while your character is in the bed.
- Adoption or Pregnancy: If you agree to your spouse’s request, a child will either be adopted (for same-sex couples) or, a pregnancy will begin (for opposite-sex couples). In either case, your character or your spouse will be the one who gives birth.
- Birth After 14 Days: After 14 in-game days, your child will arrive, appearing in the crib in your nursery.
- Toddler Phase: Another 14 in-game days after birth, your baby will grow into a toddler, starting to crawl around and interact more with the world.
It’s important to note that you are limited to a maximum of two children. Once you’ve had two, you won’t receive the baby question again.
FAQs About Having Kids in Stardew Valley
1. What are the specific requirements for getting the baby question from my spouse?
The most important factors are: having the nursery upgrade completed on your house, a 10-heart (or higher) relationship with your spouse, and you being in bed to receive the prompt. The question has a 5% chance of triggering on any given night.
2. How do I increase my chances of getting the baby question?
Maintaining a consistently high heart level with your spouse is key. Give them gifts they love regularly, and avoid doing things that decrease your heart level, like gifting hated items or using a slingshot on them. There’s not a way to increase the trigger chance, other than fulfilling all the prerequisites, and going to bed each night hoping you get asked.
3. How long does it take for a baby to be born in Stardew Valley?
Whether it’s adoption or a birth, the child will appear in your nursery 14 in-game days after you say “yes” to the baby question from your spouse.
4. Do same-sex couples have babies differently?
Yes, same-sex couples will adopt a child instead of having a biological birth. The process of receiving the baby question and the time it takes for the child to arrive remains the same: 14 days.
5. Can I have kids with any spouse?
Yes, you can have kids with any of the twelve marriage candidates in Stardew Valley. The mechanics of conceiving or adopting a child remain consistent, regardless of who you marry. The only differences are with the personality and dialog of the marriage partner.
6. Can the player get pregnant?
Yes, in heterosexual relationships, it will be the player who gets pregnant. The player will “give birth” in 14 days, and the baby will appear in the crib of the nursery.
7. What is the maximum number of children I can have?
You can have a maximum of two children in Stardew Valley. Once you’ve reached this limit, you will no longer receive the baby question.
8. What happens when my baby turns into a toddler?
After 14 in-game days in the baby stage, your child will grow into a toddler. They’ll become more mobile, crawling around and occasionally interacting with items in your home. They will interact with you, sometimes handing you a gift, as you play through the game.
9. Does my spouse change after having kids?
Yes, your spouse’s dialogue and daily schedule will be affected by having children. They’ll spend time with the kids, and you’ll see them interact with the little ones. They will still carry out their normal household chores, so the addition of kids to your life will not detract from that.
10. Is there an advantage to having kids in Stardew Valley?
While having kids doesn’t provide any material advantages or benefits, it is a really fun addition to your game play. It enhances the emotional aspect of the game, making your virtual farm life feel more complete and fulfilling. It also is one of the main goals for players.
11. How does heart level affect my spouse’s behavior?
Maintaining a high heart level with your spouse (10 or more) not only enables you to have children, but it also ensures they help out around the farm. A happy spouse might cook you breakfast, feed your animals, repair fences, or water your crops, all adding to the overall joy of the game. They will also give gifts, and compliment you daily, so maintaining their happiness is beneficial in all aspects of the game.
12. Which spouse is the best to marry in Stardew Valley?
This is subjective and depends on your personal preferences. While some players may prefer Maru for her ability to give you rare materials and cook specific dishes, others might prefer Leah for her personality and occasional gifts of mushrooms or foraged items. Each of the twelve candidates offers a unique marital experience. This ultimately comes down to personal taste. There are guides available to give you specific information on each spouse if you would like more in depth details.
13. How can I see my spouse’s heart level?
You can check your heart level with your spouse by viewing the “Relationships” tab in your player menu, accessed by pressing the ‘Esc’ key on PC or the ‘Start’ button on consoles. When viewing the relationship panel, you will see all villagers you have met and your heart level with them. This is also where you can see how your hearts improve as you interact with them.
14. What happens if I don’t agree to have a child when my spouse asks?
If you decline the baby question, there is no negative impact on your heart level with your spouse. They will simply return to their usual routines. The baby question will continue to have a chance of being triggered again at a later night as you play.
15. How long does it take to complete all the objectives in Stardew Valley?
There is no true end to Stardew Valley. Some players manage to complete most of the game’s objectives in around 40 in-game years, but the game continues to be playable even after that. You can farm, explore, and build relationships for as long as you like. The game’s open-ended structure is one of the reasons it is so beloved by gamers all over the world.
Having children in Stardew Valley is a deeply rewarding experience that adds to the depth of the game. By following these steps and understanding the mechanics involved, you’ll be well on your way to building a thriving virtual family. Enjoy the journey of parenthood and your life on the farm!