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Do You Need Growing Together to Have Infants in Sims 4?

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The short answer is no, you do not need the Growing Together expansion pack to have infants in The Sims 4. The infant life stage was added as part of a free base game update released alongside the Growing Together expansion. However, while all players received infants in their game, the Growing Together pack significantly enhances the infant gameplay experience, adding depth and complexity to this new life stage.

The Base Game Infant vs. Growing Together Infants

The base game update introduced the infant life stage, allowing your Sims to have babies that are more interactive and visually distinct than the previous “object baby” stage. You can feed, change, cuddle, and play with your infants in the base game. However, their interactions are somewhat limited. They are, as the article states, “static” in some ways. You can care for them, but you won’t necessarily see them developing skills or reaching developmental milestones in a particularly engaging way.

Growing Together truly brings infants to life. The pack introduces a robust system of developmental milestones that your infants can achieve, such as learning to crawl, grab, babble, and eventually, walk and talk. These milestones are not just cosmetic; they influence your infant’s personality and future development as a toddler and beyond. The pack also adds new interactions, objects, and gameplay features specifically designed for infants and their caregivers, deepening the overall experience.

What Does Growing Together Add to Infant Gameplay?

Developmental Milestones: Track your infant’s progress as they reach important milestones, influencing their personality and future traits.
New Interactions: Engage in more meaningful interactions with your infants, such as teaching them to wave or clap.
New Objects: Access a wider variety of infant-related objects, including play mats, walkers, and high chairs.
Family Dynamics: Explore complex family dynamics, including compatibility between family members and the impact of different parenting styles.
Sensory Overload and Downtime: Infants can experience sensory overload and need time to recover, adding a realistic element to their care.
Family Visits: The ability for your Sims to visit and stay with relatives, especially grandparents, adding another dimension to family life.

In essence, the base game provides the foundation for infant gameplay, while Growing Together builds upon that foundation to create a richer, more immersive, and more rewarding experience.

Is Growing Together Worth It For Infant Gameplay?

Whether Growing Together is “worth it” depends on your playstyle. If you enjoy focusing on family gameplay and want a deeper, more realistic experience with infants, then the pack is definitely worth considering. The added depth, interactions, and developmental milestones create a more engaging and rewarding experience. However, if you’re primarily interested in other aspects of The Sims 4, such as building or creating Sims, you may find that the base game infant experience is sufficient.

Consider the Games Learning Society and how games can be used to understand the ways in which we learn. Many players learn about real world parenthood through playing games like Sims 4. Visit the GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

FAQs About Infants and Growing Together

Q1: Can I have twins or triplets in the base game without Growing Together?

Yes, you can have twins or triplets in the base game without Growing Together. However, Growing Together does not increase the chances of having multiples. You can increase the chance of multiples through lot traits or reward store perks.

Q2: What are the requirements to have a baby in Sims 4?

To try for a baby, your Sims need:

A romantic relationship of at least 40-50%.
A bed or other WooHoo-able location.
Not to exceed the household limit of 8 Sims.
Neither Sim already being pregnant, if applicable.

Q3: Can Sims get pregnant from WooHoo without trying for a baby?

No, Sims cannot get pregnant from regular WooHoo. You must select the “Try for Baby” option to initiate a pregnancy.

Q4: How do I increase my chances of having a baby on Sims 4?

You can increase your chances of conceiving by:

Having a Sim get a Fertility Massage (requires the Spa Day Game Pack).
Purchasing the “Fertile” reward trait from the Aspiration Rewards store.

Q5: Why can’t my Sims try for a baby?

Possible reasons why the “Try for Baby” option isn’t available include:

The Sims’ relationship is not high enough (below 40-50% romantic relationship).
The household is at the maximum number of Sims (8).
One of the Sims is already pregnant, if applicable.
There may be an obstruction on the bed (e.g., a misplaced diary).
The presence of the Grim Reaper or the Death Gnome on the lot.

Q6: Can unmarried Sims try for baby?

Yes, unmarried Sims can try for baby, as long as they meet the relationship requirements.

Q7: How many babies can you be pregnant with in Sims 4?

You can be pregnant with up to seven babies at once using cheats. However, remember the household limit is eight.

Q8: What happens if you try for baby in Sims 4 but don’t take a pregnancy test?

If you don’t take a pregnancy test, the “Eating for Two” moodlet will appear about 24 hours after the “Try for Baby” interaction, indicating that your Sim is pregnant.

Q9: Can Sims accidentally get pregnant?

No, Sims cannot accidentally get pregnant. You must choose the “Try for Baby” option.

Q10: Does Growing Together add anything for children?

Yes, Growing Together adds new content for children, including:

New Aspirations: Slumber Party Animal, Mind and Body, Playtime Captain, and Creative Genius
New activities and objects like the Treehouse, Splash Pad, Bike, and Sleeping Bags

Q11: Can my Sim have a baby with Patchy the Straw Man?

Yes, your Sim can WooHoo and have a child with Patchy the Straw Man.

Q12: Can I survive playing with ONLY an infant in the Sims?

Playing with ONLY an infant would be extremely challenging. The game is designed for you to control at least one adult Sim to care for the infant’s needs. While you can use cheats to fulfill their needs, it’s not really how the game is designed to be played, and your infant would be taken away by social services if their needs are consistently not met.

Q13: Can you force twins in Sims 4 using cheats?

Yes, you can force the number of babies a Sim will have using cheats:

Open the cheat console (Ctrl + Shift + C).
Type testingcheats true and press Enter.
Type pregnancy.force_offspring_count (Sim ID) (number of babies) and press Enter. Replace (Sim ID) with the Sim’s ID and (number of babies) with the desired number of babies.

Q14: Why is WooHoo not an option?

If WooHoo is not an option, potential reasons include:

The Sims have not had their first kiss.
A glitch preventing the interaction.

Q15: How do I find a Sim’s ID for cheats?

Open the cheat console (Ctrl + Shift + C).
Type testingcheats true and press Enter.
Type sims.get_sim_id_by_name (Sim's First Name) (Sim's Last Name) and press Enter. Replace (Sim’s First Name) and (Sim’s Last Name) with the Sim’s actual name. The Sim’s ID will be displayed.