Can You Make Infants in Sims 4? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, absolutely! Infants are a fully integrated life stage in The Sims 4. They were added to the base game in a free update on March 14, 2023, meaning you don’t need any expansion packs to enjoy this adorable and engaging stage of life for your Sims. This update dramatically changed how babies are handled in the game, making them far more interactive and requiring more care.

Getting Started with Infants

There are several ways to bring an infant into your Sim’s life:

1. Try for a Baby

The classic method! If your Sims are romantically involved, they can use the “Try for Baby” interaction. Simply click on a bed (double beds that are accessible from both sides work best!), sofa, rocket ship (yes, really!) or any other location where the WooHoo interaction is available. The option to “Try for Baby With…” will appear. There’s no guarantee of success; it’s all down to chance unless you use gameplay tricks or cheats (more on that later!). This method involves a pregnancy period for the Sim, adding a layer of realism to the experience.

2. Have a Science Baby

For Sims who don’t want to go through pregnancy, or perhaps can’t due to gender restrictions, the “Have A Science Baby” interaction is a fantastic option. Sims can ask another Sim to contribute genetic material to create a new life. This results in a newborn appearing almost instantly, bypassing the pregnancy entirely.

3. Create-A-Sim (CAS)

You can create an infant directly in Create-A-Sim (CAS). This allows you to customize their appearance, including hair, eye color, skin tone, and even body marks. Infants created in CAS can be added to any household with an adult Sim. This is perfect for quickly populating your world with diverse and unique little Sims.

4. Aging Up Newborns

Of course, every infant starts as a newborn. After the newborn phase, you can age up your newborn into an infant. This allows you to experience the transition from newborn to infant and prepare your Sims for the challenges and joys of raising a little one.

What Makes Infants Special?

The infant update brought significant changes to how babies are treated in The Sims 4. No longer are they just objects!

• Playable Life Stage: Infants are now a fully playable life stage, with their own needs, wants, and interactions.

• Unique Interactions: Infants have a range of interactions that make them stand out, including babbling, crawling, eating solid foods, and interacting with caregivers.

• Customization: Extensive customization options are available in CAS, including new hairs, clothes, body marks, and traits specifically for infants.

• Caregiver Responsibilities: Caring for infants requires attention to their needs, such as feeding, changing diapers, and providing social interaction.

Cheats and Gameplay Tricks

For those who want to control every aspect of their Sims’ lives, including their offspring, The Sims 4 offers cheats and gameplay tricks to influence the outcome of pregnancies and births.

• Forcing Twins or Triplets: The pregnancy.force_offspring_count cheat allows you to specify the number of babies a Sim will have. You need the Sim’s ID, which can be found using other cheat codes. Remember to enable cheats first by typing testingcheats true in the cheat console. Alternatively, you can use the Elixir of Fertility, obtainable through the Herbalism skill in the Outdoor Retreat game pack, to increase the chances of multiple births.

• Influencing Gender: While there’s no guaranteed method, some players believe listening to specific types of music during pregnancy can influence the baby’s gender. It’s more of a fun theory than a confirmed game mechanic, though!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I edit my newborn in CAS?

No, newborns cannot be edited directly in CAS. You must wait until they age up to the infant stage to change their appearance, name, or clothing. This is because newborns have a simplified model and limited customization options.

2. Can I have a baby with Patchy the Straw Man?

Yes, surprisingly, you can! Many players are unaware that you can WooHoo with Patchy the Straw Man from the Seasons expansion pack and even have a child with him. This adds a quirky and unexpected element to gameplay.

3. How many babies can my Sim have at once?

Technically, a Sim can have up to seven babies at one time using cheats. However, since a Sim’s household is capped at eight Sims, they may only be able to have as many as six babies until one grows up and moves out. Managing that many infants would be quite the challenge!

4. What are the odds of having twins or triplets naturally?

The natural odds are:

• Twins: 10% chance
• Triplets: 1% chance

These odds are quite low, but can be increased through gameplay tricks or cheats.

5. Do infants get birthmarks in The Sims 4?

Yes, every infant receives a birthmark, even if their parents or grandparents don’t have any. This adds a touch of realism and individuality to each infant Sim.

6. My Sim can’t pick up their infant! What’s wrong?

This can be a glitch. Try changing the infant’s outfit using the “Change Outfit” interaction. This often resolves the issue and allows the Sim to pick up the infant again.

7. Can no caregiver breastfeed?

Yes, breastfeeding is an option, but if the caregiver Sim is unable to produce breast milk, they won’t be able to breastfeed their baby. Bottle-feeding is always an alternative.

8. Where do infants sleep?

Infants sleep in cribs, which are a dedicated sleeping area designed specifically for this life stage. Cribs are larger and more secure than bassinets, offering a safe and comfortable space for infants to rest.

9. Can I force my Sim into labor using cheats?

Yes, you can use cheats to trigger labor. Use the command add_buff buff_Pregnancy_InLabor to immediately put your pregnant Sim into labor.

10. Is it possible to have polygamous relationships in The Sims 4?

Without mods, polygamy is not possible in the base game. Sims can only be exclusively committed to one partner at a time. While they can cheat or have multiple casual relationships, open relationships are not natively supported. However, mods can be used to add this functionality.

11. What can infants do in The Sims 4?

Infants can crawl, eat solid foods, communicate with their caregivers through babbling, and participate in various interactions that help them develop and grow. They require a lot of attention and care, making them a demanding but rewarding life stage.

12. How do I use cheats to add buffs related to pregnancy?

Use these commands:

• add_buff buff_Pregnancy_Trimester1 – Sim enters the first trimester.
• add_buff buff_Pregnancy_Trimester2 – Sim enters the second trimester.

These are useful for storytelling or testing purposes.

13. How long does a year last in The Sims 4?

By default, each season lasts seven in-game days, making a full year 28 days long. You can adjust the season length in the game settings to make years shorter or longer.

14. Are infants in The Sims 4 free?

Yes! The infant update was a free addition to the base game on March 14, 2023. You do not need to purchase any expansion packs to access and play with infants.

15. How can I learn more about educational games and learning through play?

For more information on the intersection of gaming and education, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. It’s a valuable resource for educators and anyone interested in the potential of games for learning. The Games Learning Society is a great resource to continue learning about games and education.

Conclusion

The introduction of infants as a fully playable life stage has significantly enriched the gameplay experience in The Sims 4. Whether you prefer the traditional “Try for Baby” method, the scientific approach, or creating infants directly in CAS, there are numerous ways to bring these adorable little Sims into your virtual world. With a wide range of customization options, interactions, and caregiving responsibilities, infants add depth and realism to your Sims’ lives. So go ahead, dive in, and experience the joys (and challenges!) of raising infants in The Sims 4!