Adoption

Adoption is an option in both The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3. It allows a couple (opposite- or same-sex) or a single Sim to adopt a child.

Adoption process
In The Sims, Sim couples get random calls from adoption centers asking if they want to adopt a baby. The adoption center will not call a single Sim.

In The Sims 2 and The Sims 3 Sims can initiate the adoption of a child over the phone by calling the "Adoption Center" under the Service menu, but only if the Social Worker has not taken one of their kids. In The Sims 2, the household must have at least §3000 simoleons on hand (though adoption itself does not cost any money) and below 8 household members to adopt.

If the family is approved the Social Worker will bring the new child the next day at 10 AM. To make sure someone is there to receive the child, it's best to call the day before a Sim's day off.

At 10 AM the Social Worker will arrive and the player will be asked which age they want they adopted child be, a baby, toddler, or child. In The Sims 3 the player may also choose the sex of the child. This is the only option the player has when adopting. Not answering will give a child. If a baby who wasn't taken away by the social worker is being adopted, then the player gets to name him/her.

Some people say that adopted children will look like their new parents. This isn't completely true, they may or may not look like their new parents.

Adopting children taken by the Social Worker
If a child or children are taken away by a social worker in one family, they are first in line to be adopted by another family.

When a child that was taken away from another family is adopted, their old parents and siblings will remain on their family tree and they will have no family relationship with their new parents. This makes adopting toddlers and children closer to fostering than actual adoption.

Adopting pets
Pets can be bought at community lots in Old Town or over the phone.

Sims can also adopt strays that wander onto their lot.