Why Can’t My Sims Have Another Baby? A Comprehensive Guide

So, your Sims are all loved up, you’ve got the nursery ready, and you’re eager to expand your Sim family. But alas, the “Try for Baby” option is stubbornly absent, leaving you scratching your head in Simlish-infused frustration. Don’t worry, Simmer! The good news is, there are several common reasons why your Sims might be facing a fertility roadblock. The even better news is, most of these issues are easily fixable.

The most likely culprit is that your household has reached its maximum capacity of eight Sims. The Sims 4, by default, limits each household to a total of eight Sims, encompassing everyone from babies to elders. If your Sim family already consists of eight members, no amount of romantic dinners or idyllic dates will magically conjure up a “Try for Baby” option. Someone needs to move out (or, tragically, meet their Sim-creator-ordained demise) to create space for a new arrival. Another thing to consider is that a sim may already be pregnant. If a Sim is already pregnant and giving birth would lead to a household with more than 8 Sims, the interaction will be hidden.

But what if you’re not at the household limit? What other factors could be preventing your Sims from expanding their brood? Let’s dive deeper.

Diagnosing the Baby Blues: Common Reasons for Infertility

Beyond the household limit, several other factors can prevent your Sims from “Trying for Baby”:

• Gender Settings: This is a big one, especially after updates that introduced customizable gender options. Ensure that one Sim is set to “Become Pregnant” and the other is set to “Get Others Pregnant.” You can check and adjust these settings in Create-a-Sim (CAS) via the three dots below the gender icon. If these are not set correctly, your sims will be unable to try for baby.

• Age Restrictions: While the game playfully implies that elders can still WooHoo, they cannot “Try for Baby.” Only young adults, adults, and the correct teenage Sims can attempt pregnancy.

• Mod Conflicts: Custom content (mods) can sometimes interfere with core game mechanics. If you’re using mods, try disabling them one by one to see if any are causing the issue. Be sure to check for updates from the mod creators as well.

• Relationship Status: While The Sims 4 is generally liberal with relationships, there needs to be some kind of positive relationship between your sims. If there isn’t the sims will refuse to try for a baby together.

• Game Glitches: While rare, sometimes a good old-fashioned game glitch can be the culprit. Restarting your game or repairing the game files through the Origin/EA App can often resolve these issues.

• Lot Types: While less common, on certain lot types, like a generic lot, the ability to try for a baby can be restricted. Try changing the lot type to residential.

FAQs: Addressing Your Simlish Family Planning Concerns

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further address your Sims 4 baby-making dilemmas:

1. How do I check the pregnancy settings in CAS?

Enter Create-a-Sim (CAS) by using a mirror or dresser to “Change Sim.” Click the three dots below the gender icons to access custom gender settings and ensure one Sim can “Become Pregnant” and the other can “Get Others Pregnant.”

2. What happens if I already have eight Sims and then a Sim gets pregnant?

The game won’t allow a Sim to “Try for Baby” if the household is already at the limit. If the Sim somehow does become pregnant through cheats or other methods, the baby will still be born, and you will be prompted to choose another Sim to move out.

3. Can teens get pregnant in The Sims 4?

Officially, no. Teens cannot access the “Try for Baby” interaction. However, mods exist that allow teen pregnancies.

4. What is the cheat for forcing a Sim to go into labor?

Open the cheat console (Ctrl+Shift+C on PC/Mac, all four shoulder buttons on consoles) and type: sims.add_buff buff_Pregnancy_Inlabor

5. How do I increase the chances of having twins or triplets?

The Fertility Treatment reward trait, available for purchase with aspiration points, significantly increases the chances of multiple births. The Elixir of Fertility, crafted with the Herbalism skill, also boosts the odds. Finally, you can use the lot trait “On a Ley Line”.

6. Can two Sims be pregnant at the same time?

Yes! There’s no limit on how many Sims in your household can be pregnant concurrently, as long as the total household size doesn’t exceed eight.

7. How long are Sims pregnant?

A pregnancy lasts approximately three Sim days, regardless of the lifespan setting.

8. Is there a cheat to force twins or triplets?

Yes! First, get the Sim’s ID using sims.get_sim_id_by_name [Sim's First Name] [Sim's Last Name]. Then, use the cheat pregnancy.force_offspring_count [Sim ID] [Number of Babies] (replace number of babies with 2 for twins, 3 for triplets).

9. How do I speed up a Sim’s pregnancy?

There isn’t a direct cheat to speed up pregnancy. However, focusing on activities that fulfill the pregnant Sim’s needs will help them remain happy and comfortable, making the pregnancy seem to progress faster. Alternatively, you can change the lifespan setting for the duration of the pregnancy.

10. Can Sims have abortions in The Sims 4?

No. The base game does not include the option for abortions. However, mods exist that add this functionality.

11. Can Sims accidentally get pregnant from regular WooHoo?

No. Only the “Try for Baby” interaction can result in pregnancy.

12. What is the success rate of “Try for Baby”?

The base chance of getting pregnant from “Try for Baby” is quite high, estimated around 80%. Factors like the Sims’ moods and traits can influence this.

13. Can Sims marry their cousins?

No. The game prevents Sims from forming romantic relationships with first cousins. Second cousins and beyond are fair game.

14. Is it rarer to have a girl or a boy in The Sims 4?

The birth of boys and girls are equal in the game, unless you apply cheats or use mods.

15. How do I know when my Sim will give birth?

Your Sim will experience moodlets indicating the trimester of the pregnancy. In the third trimester, they will eventually get the in labour moodlet and go to the hospital, or give birth at home if you have a bassinet.

Conclusion: Restoring Simlish Baby Bliss

Navigating the complexities of Sim fertility can be a bit of a puzzle, but hopefully, this guide has shed some light on the common culprits and provided you with the knowledge to troubleshoot your Sims’ baby-making woes. Remember to double-check the household limit, gender settings, age restrictions, and potential mod conflicts. With a little detective work, you’ll have those Sim babies cooing and crawling in no time!

And while you’re mastering the art of Sim parenting, consider exploring the broader applications of games in education and learning. Organizations like the Games Learning Society are at the forefront of researching and promoting the use of games for educational purposes. You can learn more and explore their resources at GamesLearningSociety.org. After all, even virtual worlds can teach us valuable lessons!