Can Your Character Get Pregnant in Stardew Valley? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is: yes, your character can get pregnant in Stardew Valley, but not in the traditional sense of “carrying” a baby for nine months. The game offers a unique approach to family-building, allowing players to experience the joys of parenthood through a streamlined and engaging system. Your character’s involvement in pregnancy, and whether or not they are the one who becomes “pregnant” depends on their partner’s gender. Let’s dive into the details of how pregnancy and children work in this beloved farming simulation game.
Understanding Pregnancy in Stardew Valley
Unlike real life, pregnancy in Stardew Valley is a relatively quick process that is initiated after you’ve married a villager and upgraded your farmhouse twice, adding a nursery to the home. Once these requirements are met, there’s a small chance each night (1/20) that your spouse will ask if you want to have a child. Your response determines the next step.
If you respond with “yes,” the game will initiate one of two scenarios, depending on the gender pairing:
- Heterosexual Couples: If you are in a heterosexual marriage, one of you will become pregnant. The game does not directly specify which partner, but it is understood that the farmer’s spouse will usually become “pregnant” and give birth.
- Same-Sex Couples: In the case of same-sex couples, you will not experience the “traditional” pregnancy. Instead, your partner will file for adoption, and the game will proceed as if a birth had occurred. It is important to note that regardless of the gender of the parents, the end result will be the same – a baby will join your family.
Once you’ve agreed to having a child, whether by pregnancy or adoption, it will take 14 in-game days for the baby to arrive. During this time, nothing changes on the surface, but the next morning will reveal that a baby is in the nursery. The baby will remain in a crib during the infant stage of their life.
The Stages of a Child’s Life in Stardew Valley
After the initial 14 days as a newborn infant, there’s another 14-day period before your baby becomes a toddler. The toddler is the final stage for children in Stardew Valley. Children in Stardew Valley do not grow beyond the toddler stage.
While your children do not grow into full-fledged villagers, they do progress through the following stages:
- Infant: For 14 days, the baby stays in its crib and seems to sleep constantly.
- Toddler: After 14 more days, the child becomes a toddler and is mobile. At this stage, you can interact with them more, but their daily routines are limited.
Key Aspects of Parenthood in Stardew Valley
- Adoption vs. Pregnancy: For same-sex couples, the game uses an adoption mechanism to bring children into your family. Despite the different origins, the gameplay experience is identical to having a biological child with a heterosexual partner.
- Child Limits: You can have a maximum of two children, one of each gender. The first child’s gender is random, and the second will always be the opposite. The game does not allow having additional children.
- Spousal Roles: Your spouse is not just a romantic partner but a co-parent. A happy spouse might help around the farm by feeding animals, watering crops, or repairing fences, thus freeing up your time for other tasks. This helps create a more immersive family life experience.
- Children’s Development: The children do not evolve past the toddler stage. They are not integrated into the broader social structure of the game and their growth is limited. However, the addition of a child adds to the feeling of building a home and family.
- Divorce Implications: If you divorce your spouse, your children stay on the farm, but the relationship between you and your ex-spouse will severely suffer. They will no longer engage in normal conversation or attend your events. If you are expecting a child at the time of a divorce, that child will not be born/delivered.
- Limited Interactions: You can’t give gifts to children, and your friendship with them can decay if you don’t interact with them daily. This decay occurs at 2 points per day missed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does pregnancy last in Stardew Valley?
Pregnancy, or the period between agreeing to have a child and its arrival, lasts for 14 in-game days. After this time, the infant appears in your nursery.
2. Can same-sex couples have children in Stardew Valley?
Yes, absolutely! Same-sex couples can adopt children in Stardew Valley. The adoption process starts the same way as a pregnancy would in a heterosexual marriage.
3. How do you trigger the option to have a child in Stardew Valley?
You need to be married and have upgraded your farmhouse twice to include a nursery. After this, there is a 1/20 chance each night that your spouse will ask if you want to have a child.
4. How do you choose the gender of your child?
The gender of your first child is random. If you decide to have a second child, their gender will always be the opposite of the first.
5. Do children grow up in Stardew Valley?
Children in Stardew Valley only grow to the toddler stage. They do not grow into adults or become fully independent villagers.
6. Can you have more than two children in Stardew Valley?
No, the game limits the number of children you can have to two.
7. Can you give gifts to your children in Stardew Valley?
No, you cannot give gifts to your children, nor can you increase their friendship levels beyond regular daily interactions.
8. What happens to children after a divorce in Stardew Valley?
If you get a divorce, your children will stay at the farm, but your relationship with your ex-spouse will suffer. They will no longer engage in normal conversation with you.
9. How does having children affect your gameplay?
Having children adds a dimension of family life and domesticity to your farm. Your spouse may also help out more around the farm, giving you more time for other tasks.
10. Is there any benefit to having children in Stardew Valley?
The main benefit is enhanced gameplay. The children do not provide in-game benefits as such but are more a factor in having a wholesome home on your farm.
11. How do you choose what your children look like?
The appearance of your children is determined by a combination of your character and your spouse’s appearance. The game essentially creates the child based on these genetic inputs. You have no direct control over this.
12. What are the requirements to start a family in Stardew Valley?
You need to be married, have the nursery upgrade to your farmhouse, and answer “yes” when your spouse asks about having a child.
13. Can I influence my child’s future?
No. Children in Stardew Valley do not develop into individual characters with their own stories or futures. They remain as toddlers and provide only a family aesthetic in game.
14. How do you interact with your children in Stardew Valley?
You can interact with your children by speaking to them each day. This will prevent your relationship with them decaying over time. However, you cannot interact with them like other villagers or give them gifts.
15. Does having children make the game more complicated?
While having children adds a layer of family and domesticity to the game, it doesn’t make it overly complicated. It’s a straightforward system that focuses more on adding a feeling of home rather than adding challenging tasks.