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When to Age Up Baby Sims: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’ve brought a new Sim baby into the world! Congratulations! But the big question now is: when should you age up your little bundle of pixels? The simple answer is: it depends entirely on your play style and what you want to experience. Newborns automatically age up to Infants after one Sim day. However, when it comes to aging up from Infant to Toddler, and beyond, you have a lot more control. You can age them up as soon as their needs are met and you feel ready for the next stage, or you can let them enjoy their current life stage for its full duration. There’s no right or wrong answer. Let’s delve deeper into the nuances of aging up your Sims babies, Infants, and beyond.

Understanding the Sim Life Stages

Before diving into specific timelines, it’s crucial to understand the Sim life stages and what they entail:

Newborn: This is the shortest stage, lasting only one Sim day before aging into an Infant automatically. They are mostly bassinet-bound.
Infant: A relatively new stage, introduced to offer more realistic baby gameplay. Infants have milestones to achieve, requiring active care from their caregivers.
Toddler: Characterized by boundless energy, tantrums, and learning essential skills like talking, walking, and using the potty.
Child: Children go to school, develop hobbies, and form friendships. They are more independent than toddlers but still require parental guidance.
Teen: A time of rebellion, romance, and discovering their identity. Teens have school, part-time jobs, and emotional ups and downs.
Young Adult: The most common starting point for Sims. They can pursue careers, relationships, and start families.
Adult: Building a career, raising families, and generally navigating the responsibilities of life.
Elder: Retirement, pursuing hobbies, and reflecting on life.

Aging Up: To Rush or Not to Rush?

The beauty of The Sims 4 is the freedom to customize your gameplay. When deciding when to age up your baby, consider these factors:

Gameplay Goals: Are you trying to complete a specific challenge like the 100 Baby Challenge? Then you might want to age up your Sims faster. Or are you focusing on carefully nurturing your Sims through each stage of life? Then, you might want to extend their time in each stage.
Emotional Attachment: Do you enjoy the Infant stage and the challenges of meeting their needs? Do you love watching your Toddler learn new skills? If so, savor these moments.
Skill Development: Toddlers need to develop skills to progress. If you want a head start in their development, spend more time in the toddler stage.
Storytelling: The Sims is at its heart a story-telling engine. How do you want the narrative of your Sim’s life to unfold?
Lifespan Settings: You can adjust the length of each life stage in the game options. This is the biggest factor influencing gameplay and enjoyment. The options are:
- Short: Allows for quick playthroughs, typically for challenge runs.
- Normal: Is the default setting, where each life stage balances duration and skill-building.
- Long: Intended for immersive gameplay and storytelling that spans multiple generations.
Autonomy and Care: Infants are highly dependent and require constant care. Are you up for the constant demands?

Choosing the Right Moment

Ultimately, the best time to age up your Sim baby is when you feel it’s the right time. Have you accomplished what you wanted to in that life stage? Are you bored of the routine? Are you excited to see what’s next? Trust your instincts and play the game in a way that brings you the most enjoyment.

How to Age Up Your Sim

Here are the different methods for aging up your Sims in The Sims 4:

Automatic Aging: With aging turned on in the game options, Sims will automatically age up at the end of their lifespan. You’ll receive a notification before their birthday.
Cake and Candles: The classic method. Bake a cake, add candles, and have the Sim you want to age up blow them out. This allows you to choose a new trait for the Sim.
Manage Household: In Live Mode, select Manage Household, and then choose the Sim you want to age up. There will be an option that says “Age Up”.
Cheats: For immediate aging, use the cheat console (Ctrl+Shift+C) and enter “testingcheats true” followed by “sims.age_up”. This will age up the selected Sim instantly.

FAQs About Aging Up Sims

1. Do newborns age up with aging off in The Sims 4?

Yes, newborns do age up autonomously into Infants even with aging turned off in the game options.

2. Why isn’t my Sim baby growing up?

If your Sim isn’t aging up automatically and aging is turned on, ensure the lifespan for that stage hasn’t been drastically increased. If you’re trying to manually age them up, try the cake method.

3. Can pregnant Sims age up?

In the base game, pregnant Sims cannot age up until they give birth. Some mods change this.

4. How do I make my baby grow faster in The Sims 4?

Use the cake method or the cheat “sims.age_up” to force an immediate age transition.

5. Is there a mod for pregnancy aging in The Sims 4?

Yes, there are mods that allow pregnant Sims to age and even die. PolarBearSims offers one such mod.

6. Can teens get pregnant in The Sims 4?

Teens cannot “Try for Baby”. They require mods to get pregnant in the game.

7. Can you have a miscarriage in The Sims 4?

Miscarriages can occur in The Sims 4, especially with certain mods.

8. Do NPC Sims age up?

NPC Sims only age up when you are actively playing their household. Otherwise, they remain the same age.

9. How long do Sims live as elders?

On a normal lifespan, elders live for 10 Sim days.

10. Can Sims become infertile?

Sims can become infertile in the game through the use of mods or through storyline circumstances.

11. How many babies can you be pregnant with in The Sims 4?

Without mods, the limit for pregnancy is three – triplets. However, with mods, you can have up to seven.

12. Can you breastfeed in The Sims 4?

Yes, breastfeeding and bottle-feeding are both options in The Sims 4.

13. Do I need a cake to age up Infant Sims 4?

No, but it is required for Toddler-Elder age-ups.

14. Why can’t my married Sims try for a baby?

Ensure the household has fewer than eight Sims, and that both Sims are Young Adults or Adults.

15. How to get twins or triplets in The Sims 4?

To increase your chances of having twins or triplets you can do a number of things, like buy the fertile trait from the Rewards store with satisfaction points.

Final Thoughts

There is no “right” or “wrong” way to play The Sims. Deciding when to age up your baby Sims is entirely up to you and your unique style of play. Enjoy experimenting with different life spans and embracing the stories that unfold. Games like The Sims can foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and even a sense of empathy. For more on the educational aspects of gaming, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Happy Simming!

When should you age up baby Sims?