Table of Contents

Why Isn’t My Sim Baby Growing? A Comprehensive Guide to Sims 4 Baby Aging

Quick answer

This page answers Why isn’t my sim baby growing? quickly.

Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.

Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.

Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.

▶

So, you’re staring at your Sims 4 baby, wondering why they’re not progressing beyond the newborn or infant stage? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many Simmers encounter this issue. The most common reasons a Sim baby isn’t growing up are:

Glitches and Bugs: The Sims 4, like any complex game, can be prone to glitches. A bug might be preventing the aging process from triggering correctly.
Game Settings: Aging might be turned off in your game options. Check your settings to ensure aging is enabled for your played Sims.
Needs Not Met: While newborns and infants don’t have as many needs as older Sims, neglecting their basic needs like feeding or changing diapers can sometimes interfere with the aging process.
Incorrect Life Span Settings: You may have accidentally set a very long life span setting, making it seem like your baby is not aging.
Conflicting Mods: If you use mods, a conflicting or outdated mod can definitely disrupt the game’s normal functions, including aging.

Let’s dive deeper into these issues and explore solutions to get your Sim baby on the path to toddlerhood and beyond!

Troubleshooting Your Stagnant Sim Baby

First, verify your game settings. Open the game options (usually found in the main menu or the pause menu within the game), and navigate to the “Gameplay” tab. Ensure that “Auto Age (Played Sims)” is checked. If it’s unchecked, your Sims won’t age automatically. You can also adjust the lifespan length here. A shorter lifespan will make the aging process faster, while a longer lifespan will, naturally, slow it down.

Next, check on your baby’s basic needs. Even though newborns and infants are relatively simple to care for, ensure they are being fed regularly, their diapers are changed, and they’re getting enough attention. A very unhappy baby might experience delays in their development.

If the issue persists, consider the possibility of a glitch or bug. Try the following:

Restart your game: A simple restart can often resolve minor glitches.
Repair your game: In Origin or the EA app, you can right-click on The Sims 4 and select “Repair” to fix any corrupted files.
Update your game: Ensure your game is updated to the latest version, as updates often include bug fixes.

If you’re using mods, this is the most likely culprit. Try these steps:

Disable all mods: Move your entire “Mods” folder to your desktop.
Start the game: See if the baby ages up without mods.
If it works, re-enable mods in batches: Add a few mods back into the “Mods” folder at a time, and test the game after each batch. This will help you identify which mod is causing the issue.
Update or remove the problematic mod: Once you’ve identified the conflicting mod, check for an updated version or remove it entirely.

If none of these solutions work, you might consider resetting your Sim through the cheat console. To do this:

Press Ctrl + Shift + C (or Command + Shift + C on Mac) to open the cheat console.
Type in testingcheats true and press Enter.
Then type in resetsim [First Name] [Last Name] (replace [First Name] and [Last Name] with the Sim’s actual name) and press Enter.

This will reset the Sim to a neutral state and might resolve any underlying issues preventing them from aging.

If all else fails, consider that while newborns will automatically age up, you can speed up the aging to an Infant by clicking on them and selecting “Age Up.” Once the baby is an Infant, you can force the age up by purchasing or baking a cake, adding birthday candles to it, and having the Sim blow out the candles. Parents can assist Infants with this.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sims 4 Baby Aging

Here are some frequently asked questions related to Sims 4 baby aging, with comprehensive answers to help you better understand the process:

1. How do I make my Sims baby age up faster?

Newborns age up into Infants automatically within a Sim day. For Infants, you can age them up faster by baking a cake, adding birthday candles, and having a Sim help them blow out the candles. You can also change lifespan settings in the game options to shorten the baby and infant stages, though this affects all Sims, not just one.

2. Can I throw a birthday party for my newborn in Sims 4?

No, you cannot throw birthday parties for newborns in The Sims 4. Birthday parties are available for toddlers and older Sims.

3. Why can’t I age up my newborn immediately in Sims 4?

Newborns have a very short lifespan. After this period has passed, you can force the age up as an Infant by clicking on them and selecting “Age Up.”

4. How long does it take for a Sim baby to age up naturally?

Babies (infants) generally age up to toddlers after about three Sim days if you allow nature to take its course and haven’t modified the lifespan settings.

5. Is there a cheat to force age up a baby in Sims 4?

Yes, you can use a birthday cake or the “Age Up” interaction if the newborn stage has passed. While there isn’t a direct cheat to force-age a baby specifically, you can use testingcheats. First press Ctrl + Shift + C (or Command + Shift + C on Mac). Then enter testingcheats true. After that enter cas.fulleditmode. Now you can enter Create-A-Sim (CAS) by using a mirror or dresser and choosing “Plan Outfit.” In CAS you can change the Sim’s age.

6. What do I do if my Sim baby’s needs are constantly red?

Prioritize feeding, changing diapers, and providing social interaction. If you’re struggling to keep up, consider hiring a Nanny or enlisting the help of other Sims in the household. Sometimes a Sim is overwhelmed by taking care of a baby if they have additional tasks to do.

7. Can breastfeeding or bottle-feeding affect how quickly my baby ages up?

No, the method of feeding does not affect the baby’s aging process. Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding primarily impact the relationship between the baby and caregiver. Breastfeeding raises the relationship score faster than bottle-feeding.

8. How many milestones do infants have in Sims 4, and do they affect aging?

Infants have 31 milestones across five categories: Fine Motor, Firsts, Gross Motor, Life, and Social. While completing milestones doesn’t directly speed up aging, it enriches the gameplay experience and provides a sense of progression.

9. Can pregnancy affect a Sim’s ability to age up other babies?

No, a pregnant Sim cannot die or age, but they can still help age up other babies.

10. My Sim is stuck in a midlife crisis and neglecting the baby. What can I do?

Focus on resolving the midlife crisis by completing the associated tasks. A happier Sim will be a better caregiver. Alternatively, hire a Nanny or have another Sim in the household take over baby care duties temporarily.

11. Why can’t my Sim breastfeed?

Ensure the Sim is a female and has the option to breastfeed available. If the option is not available, the Sim may be unable to produce breast milk, either due to game mechanics or if you are using mods that affect breastfeeding.

12. What happens when my baby ages up?

When a baby ages up to an Infant, they gain new interactions, can learn to crawl, play with toys, try baby food, and develop quirks that shape their personality. From Infant, they progress to Toddler and then Child.

13. Can I adjust the lifespan of my Sims?

Yes, you can adjust the lifespan of your Sims in the game options under the “Gameplay” tab. You can choose from Short, Normal, or Long lifespans.

14. Are there any challenges related to having many babies in Sims 4?

Yes, there are legacy challenges like the 100 Baby Challenge, where the goal is to have 100 babies with different Sims using a single matriarch. This challenge tests your Sim’s caregiving abilities and resource management skills. This is a great opportunity to apply some of the lessons learned at Games Learning Society while engaging in gameplay. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

15. Is there daycare in Sims 4?

Yes, with the Toddler Stuff pack, you can send toddlers to daycare. However, this is only applicable for toddlers, not newborns or infants.

Hopefully, these tips and FAQs have helped you resolve the issue of your Sim baby not growing up. Happy Simming!