Baby

Baby is the first life stage in The Sims and The Sims 2 (excluding pregnancy, in the case of the latter).

The Sims


In order for a baby to be born in The Sims, one of two things must happen:


 * Two Sims of opposite genders must interact romantically either by kissing or "playing in bed" (in the Livin' Large expansion) and then hope for the random chance of a dialogue asking Should we have a baby?, to which the player can answer yes or no.


 * A phone call is received (completely at random) from an adoption agency asking if the family would like to adopt. This can be declined.

Either way, a baby arrives immediately in a shower of flowers, at which point all other Sims gather to applaud the newborn. Babies awaken approximately once every 6 hours and require feeding (although strangely enough they never require diaper changes) and to be sung to sleep. Playing with the baby is an option, but by no means compulsory. If looked after sufficiently, a baby becomes a child after 72 game hours. If not, it is removed by a social worker. Unlike in The Sims 2, babies in The Sims are like objects.

The Sims 2
$$ Babies in The Sims 2 require more planning, since either a successful Try For Baby interaction or the abduction of a male Sim is needed. After 3 days of pregnancy, the baby is born. Again babies can be adopted, but in this instance it's the player's prerogative when that happens - the adoption agency will not call at random.

Unlike their counterparts in the original, TS2 babies are actually separate from their cribs (the crib needs to be bought). Regular feeding and diaper changes are required, and again social interactions (cuddle and play with) are possible, although unlike the original a baby's relationship scores are calculated from the moment it's born. Another difference from the original is one of the new NPC's, the Nanny, who can care for youngsters and will also tidy up as a bonus.

The Sims 2 babies are not controllable and it's not possible to view any of the baby's details without using a hack or boolprop testingcheatsenabled, unless the player has Sims 2: FreeTime (see below). Babies also have no aspirations, wants or fears, but can collect memories (even though in reality they would be much too young to understand most of them). Unless a baby is being removed by the social worker, which would happen if it's (invisible) hunger or social motive was to become critically low, it can't leave the lot unless a glitch occurs.

Introduced in The Sims 2: FreeTime Sim parents can now check on the baby. Using this feature, Sim parents study beforehand using a book from a bookcase. Once they master the art of parenting, the parents now have the option of checking on the baby, at which point a thought bubble appears above the baby's head indicating his/her lowest motive.

At a maximum 3 days old, the baby becomes a toddler.

The Sims 3
Babies will be included in The Sims 3.

The pregnancy will be around 6 days. You have the option to read manuals and go to the hospital to birth the baby (optional).

Player Tips

 * Babies can be bathed in the sink.
 * You can view babies' needs using the "boolprop testingCheatsenabled true" cheat. Once you've entered the cheat, shift click the baby, click make selectable, shift click the baby again, and click make selectable again.


 * Social services will only come for the baby if hunger, fun or social are very low and you do nothing despite the warnings. Social services will ignore dirty diapers even if you never change them, although of course your baby will scream whenever it's awake.


 * It's not possible to wake your baby if they're sleeping on the floor, but if they're in a crib you always have the hold baby option. If your baby is sleeping on the floor but needs to be woken up, turn on the TV or an audio system in the same room and the noise will wake them.