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Why Won’t My Sims Have Another Baby? The Ultimate Troubleshooting Guide

So, your Sims are all loved up, their house is perfectly decorated, and you’re ready to expand the family. But for some reason, the “Try for Baby” option is stubbornly greyed out or just not working. Fear not, fellow Simmer! As a seasoned expert, I’m here to guide you through the most common reasons your Sims are experiencing baby-making difficulties and provide solutions to get those tiny Sim feet pitter-pattering through your virtual home.

The most common reasons your Sims can’t have another baby are:

Household Limit: This is the golden rule. A Sim household can only have a maximum of eight Sims. If you’re already at the limit, no babies are allowed until someone moves out, tragically passes away, or if you utilize a cheat or mod to bypass the limit. This includes pets!
Pregnancy Status: If another Sim in the household is currently pregnant, and the potential new baby would push you over the eight Sim limit, “Try for Baby” will be unavailable. Wait until the current pregnancy is over and the baby has arrived before trying again.
Sim Age: Teen Sims are unable to “Try for Baby,” as they aren’t old enough. Make sure both Sims are Young Adults or older.
Relationship Status: Your Sims need to have a high enough relationship level to unlock the “Try for Baby” interaction. They need to be at least Romantic Interests and have done some kissing. This isn’t just about romantic relationships either, each Sim in the relationship needs to have the correct relationship level with the other.
Custom Gender Settings: This is a big one that often gets overlooked! Each Sim has customizable gender settings that determine whether they can become pregnant or get others pregnant. Open Create-a-Sim (CAS) by typing “testingcheats true” in the cheat console and then “cas.fulleditmode” and shift click on the Sim and choose modify in CAS. Click the three dots next to their gender to check if the settings are correct!
Story Progression: Sometimes, the game’s story progression or specific scenarios can temporarily block pregnancy.
Mod Conflicts: If you’re using mods, mod conflicts can wreak havoc on gameplay. Try disabling your mods to see if that resolves the issue.
Game Glitches: Although rarer, game glitches can also prevent pregnancies. Saving, exiting, and reloading your game can sometimes fix this.
Lot Traits: Some Lot Traits can affect the chances of pregnancy. For example, the “On Ley Line” trait increases the likelihood of twins or triplets, but it can also cause issues with the initial “Try for Baby” interaction if there’s a bug.
Recent Birth: If the female Sim has recently given birth, there might be a cooldown period before she can get pregnant again.
Sim Traits: Certain Sim Traits might influence their willingness or ability to have children. For example, a Sim with the “Hates Children” trait might be less inclined to “Try for Baby.”
WooHoo is not allowed: If the option to “WooHoo” is not available, and both Sims have not done their first kiss, then “Try for Baby” is not an option.
One Sim is unable to become pregnant: Check CAS to see if one of the sims does not have the ability to become pregnant.
Liking Gate: In some instances, the Sims need to have the minimum relationship to have the option to “Try for Baby”.
Wellness Skill: If a Sim has a high wellness skill, they can perform a fertility message to raise the chance of pregnancy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I check my household size in The Sims 4?

Simply look at the family portrait icon in the lower-left corner of your screen. Hovering over it will display the names and number of Sims (and pets!) currently in your household.

How do I access the custom gender settings in CAS?

Open Create-a-Sim (CAS) by typing “testingcheats true” in the cheat console and then “cas.fulleditmode” and shift click on the Sim and choose modify in CAS. Click the three dots next to their gender to check if the settings are correct! Make sure “Can impregnate others” is checked for one Sim and “Can get pregnant” is checked for the other.

What if I want more than eight Sims in my household?

Without mods, the eight-Sim limit is unchangeable. However, there are mods available (such as those from GamesLearningSociety.org) that allow you to increase the household size. Be warned: this can sometimes lead to performance issues and glitches.

My Sims are Young Adults, but the “Try for Baby” option is still greyed out. What gives?

Double-check their relationship status. They need to be at least Romantic Interests and have a decent relationship level. If their relationship is strained, focus on building positive interactions before attempting to “Try for Baby.” Also make sure that both Sims have had their first kiss.

What are some ways to increase the chances of twins or triplets in The Sims 4?

Several factors can increase the likelihood of multiple births:

On Ley Line Lot Trait: As mentioned earlier, this trait dramatically increases the chances of twins or triplets.
Fertility Massage: Sims with a high Wellness skill can give a Fertility Massage, which grants the “Fertility Boost” moodlet. Attempting to “Try for Baby” during this time significantly increases the chance of multiple births. (Requires Spa Day game pack)
Strawberry and Pop Music: While pregnant, having your Sim eat strawberries and listen to pop music on the radio or television can increase the likelihood of twins.
Reward Store Potions: You can purchase the “Fertile” reward trait in the Rewards Store using Satisfaction points earned from completing aspirations.
Using Cheats: Using cheats you can force your Sims to have twins or triplets, or even more babies, however it’s advisable not to have more than 7 babies.

How long does a Sim pregnancy last?

A Sim pregnancy lasts for approximately three in-game days.

Can I speed up a Sim pregnancy?

Yes! You can use cheats to advance your Sim’s pregnancy to a specific trimester or even induce labor. Use the following cheats in the cheat console (opened by pressing Ctrl+Shift+C):

pregnancy.add_buff buff_Pregnancy_Trimester1 (First Trimester)
pregnancy.add_buff buff_Pregnancy_Trimester2 (Second Trimester)
pregnancy.add_buff buff_Pregnancy_Trimester3 (Third Trimester)
pregnancy.add_buff buff_Pregnancy_InLabor (Immediate Labor)

Is there a way to influence the gender of a Sim baby?

While not guaranteed, there are a few actions you can take during the pregnancy to slightly influence the baby’s gender:

Eating Carrots/Listening to Alternative Music: Eating carrots and listening to alternative music is rumored to increase the chances of having a boy.
Eating Strawberries/Listening to Pop Music: Eating strawberries and listening to pop music is rumored to increase the chances of having a girl.
Using Mods: Some mods allow you to definitively determine the baby’s gender before birth.

What if my Sim doesn’t have a romantic partner? Can they still have a baby?

Yes! Sims can have children through adoption. Use the computer and select “Household” and then “Adopt a Child.” You can select the age and gender of the child you wish to adopt. Alternatively, males can now impregnate themselves with the “Science Baby” interaction, which requires a high relationship with a scientist.

My Sims are married, but they don’t have the “Try for Baby” option, only “WooHoo.” Why?

Again, check their relationship levels and that the Sims are at least Romantic Interests. Also, ensure that neither Sim has settings enabled which disallow their capability to get pregnant, or get others pregnant in CAS.

I’ve tried everything, and my Sims still won’t have a baby! What now?

Repair Your Game: In Origin/EA App, right-click on The Sims 4 in your game library and select “Repair.” This can fix corrupted game files.
Reset Your Sims: In some cases, resetting your Sim can resolve glitches. Open the cheat console and type “resetSim [Sim’s First Name] [Sim’s Last Name]”.
Contact EA Support: As a last resort, contact EA Support for assistance. They may be able to identify and resolve the issue.

Are there any aspirations that encourage having children?

Yes! The “Successful Lineage” aspiration focuses on raising children and grandchildren. Sims with this aspiration receive bonus traits that make raising children easier.

Can non-binary sims reproduce in Sims 4?

Yes, Sims 4 does allow for non-binary sims to reproduce, but it’s important to check custom gender settings. You can check the CAS (Create A Sim) settings of each sim.

How do you force a Sim to have a certain number of babies?

Using cheats, you can force your Sims to have a specific number of babies. Open the cheat console (Ctrl+Shift+C) and enter testingcheats true. Then, use the command pregnancy.force_offspring_count [Sim ID] [Number of Babies]. To find a Sim’s ID, use the command sims.get_sim_id_by_name [Sim's First Name] [Sim's Last Name]. Be cautious when forcing a high number of babies, as this can cause glitches.

Can my Sims get pregnant from just WooHoo?

No, standard WooHoo does not result in pregnancy. Your Sims must choose the “Try for Baby” option to become pregnant.

With these tips and tricks, you should be well on your way to expanding your Sim family and creating the virtual dynasty of your dreams! Happy Simming! I hope the information provided helps resolve any issues your Sim family might be experiencing, and helps bring another baby into the fold. If you’re interested in more ways to mod your game, or just want to learn about the intersection between education and games, check out the Games Learning Society!

Why won’t my Sims have another baby?