Forum Discussion

Rising Rookie

4 years ago

Babies Game Pack

New pack idea for the Sims - Babies

No longer will babies be objects confined to their cribs. Babies are now officially a life stage, fully customisable in CAS and with their own personalities and milestones! Below are some things you can expect in the new pack:

. Longer pregnancies. Sim pregnancies now last six days instead of three, with two for each trimester, giving your Sim plenty of time to prepare for their bundle of joy. They can do this by getting advice from a doctor, reading pregnancy books and attending pre-natal classes. Expectant mothers-to-be will also be treated to a whole host of stylish new maternity wear.

. Sims can now stop waiting and find out the gender of their baby via a quick scan at the local hospital. Of course, those sims who wish to can keep it a surprise and wait until the birth.

. Sim labour is now longer and more up-close and personal. When a Sim goes into labour, they can choose to go the hospital or have a home birth. If they choose hospital, upon arrival they will be assessed by a doctor who will tell them how fast their labour is progressing. They’ll then have the option to choose a natural birth or the standard surgical birth. If they choose surgical, they’ll be taken to the operating machine to have their baby the standard way.

If they choose natural, they’ll remain in their hospital bed for the rest of their labour attended by a member of staff. Sim's partners can help support their spouse during the birth with these new social actions:

. Coach through contraction

. Encourage to breathe

. Massage back

. Wipe forehead

Beware, though, some spouses can find the stress of the labour very overwhelming themselves and may pass out! Don’t worry, though, they’ll come round in time to meet their baby with only a minor head injury. After the baby is delivered and named, they’ll be handed over to their loving parents and sent home with a birth certificate to commemorate the occasion.

Once the baby is home, the real work begins. Along with the pregnancy and birth features are a host of other new objects, interactions and milestones waiting to be discovered. Parents can equip their nursery with the latest high-tech baby monitor to alert them to their little one’s needs, and stylish new cribs, changing tables and play mats can be purchased. The rocking chair can also be put to good use by having a Sim rock the baby to sleep, or they can wrap them in a cosy swaddle blanket.

Travelling with little ones is also made easier - prams and strollers suited for babies and toddlers are now available, so your Sim can simply strap their child in and off they go. For walks and jogs, they can also put on the wearable baby carrier or sling and take them out on the go.

Baby milestones:

. Learn to roll over

. Learn to sit up

. Learn to crawl

New items:

. Cribs and bassinets

. Baby monitor

. Play-mat

. Bouncer

. Prams and strollers

. Changing table

. Baby toys - stuffed bunny, rattle, etc.

. Working crib mobile

. Baby and toddler swing set

. Diaper bag

. Pacifier

. Baby carrier

. Sling

. Portable baby bath

Babies also come with new social interactions, such as:

. Sing a lullaby to baby

. Entertain with toy

. Play peek-a-boo

. Swaddle

. Burp baby

. Tickle

They will be very attached to their parents, and when meeting new people may become distressed and cry for their Caregiver. But don't worry, with enough interaction and getting to know the baby other sims can develop a relationship with them.

gameplay issue

12 Replies

jpkarlsen
Hero (Retired)
4 years ago
@Zozotanarg13
A baby is a baby for 3 days. There simply is not enough time for all that. Remember that the parents also have other things to attend to. It works fine in real life where you are talking a year but not in a game.
SheriGR
Hero
4 years ago
@Zozotanarg13 I absolutely love these ideas for interacting with the babies more, having the ability to take them with you, and involving them in your lifestyle for a space of time that's more than 3 days... and that includes some purposes and benefits that would carry over into toddlerhood.
However, as @jpkarlsen correctly stated, if a baby is only a baby for 3 days (at normal lifespan) those interactions and possibilities would be very limited. [Edit: See post below for more information about lifespans in reference to babies.]
I play with aging off, so some of that would not be an issue for me, as I could play the baby interactions and enjoy them more until I was ready to age them up to a toddler. But many players play with aging on, and that's a very different story.
Pregnancy is still a set period with aging off, so there is just not time for much. However, to at least get an option for maternity clothing, less bizarre/more realistic birth animations and options, and perhaps the ability even before getting pregnant to study up and prep for parenthood bonuses would be nice, imho.
Babies are currently just plain boring and could use some love in the game. Many players have hoped for enhancements to babies. EA continues to amaze me by what they manage to add, but I'm also realistic that this is a complex and involved game, and changes oftentimes involve a huge web of interactive dynamics for the creators/coders. Having said all of that, I do still hold out hope that something can be done to enhance our little nooboos! 🤞👶
Nakatomi_Uk
Rising Hotshot
4 years ago
Instead of selling those ideas as a pack why not put it all in an PATCH we already have to pay enough for DLC packs that add nothing new to the franchise but are taken out at base level for some stuff like Toddlers stuff, pool stuff etc
SheriGR
Hero
4 years ago
@Nakatomi_Uk I agree... I think a babies upgrade would be nice for basegame. I suppose a stuff pack (or even kit) with some additional baby deco and clothes would be fun for those interested, but I would hope for some to also be included for basegame, and that all functionality upgrades would be basegame.
Zozotanarg13
Rising Rookie
4 years ago
Well, in this pack the baby would have a longer lifestage and the parents can choose to age it whenever they please.
Zozotanarg13
Rising Rookie
4 years ago
@SheriGR As far as I understand, currently the baby lifestage is not time sensitive and so you can age them up whenever you feel like it.
SheriGR
Hero
4 years ago
@Zozotanarg13 When babies age up depends on your lifespan settings, and with all settings you can age them up immediately &/or at the point they will do so automatically... of course, unless you have aging off, as I mentioned, in which case they don't age up until you choose to age them up.
The age each lifespan is set to age the baby up to a toddler is:
Short - 1.5 days
Normal - 3 days
Long - 12 days
Zozotanarg13
Rising Rookie
4 years ago
I think you must be referring to the Sims 3, as in the Sims 4 your lifespan settings are not limited.
SheriGR
Hero
4 years ago
@Zozotanarg13 This is an excellent article with a section on lifespans in Sims 4: https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/tutorials/sims.php
Zozotanarg13
Rising Rookie
4 years ago
@SheriGR Nevertheless, I should think this would be a better way for Sims to spend their time with their babies instead of just endlessly feeding and putting them to bed.