Toddlers, a life stage which was included in The Sims 2 and The Sims 3, has finally made it to The Sims 4. These little buggers are way more interactive than in previous entries in the series, and the animations are on point. You can play with the toddler in many different ways and even carry them around the house. But like real parenting, there’s a lot of things you need to know to raise an infant into a healthy child. So here’s how to do it properly in TS4.
There are three ways to get toddlers. The first is through natural birth. Get your Sim pregnant and the baby will age up naturally to a toddler. The second is by creating one in CAS when building a family. The third is adopt a toddler by using the computer. In all options, it’s important to assign a relationship by setting a older Sim as a ‘care dependent’ as toddlers will have different interactions with caregiving Sims.
Make sure to take advantage of the toddler care menu, which can be accessed by clicking on the toddler. Also, check out all the toddler-specific items in build mode. You’ll need them to work on skills. Find all the objects in the Kids section. Lastly, if you don’t want to wait for the aging up prompt, transform the toddler into a child by making a birthday cake.
TRAITS
Choose one, when the toddler ages up you will choose a child trait.
Angelic : They don’t throw angry tantrums. Aren’t shy around new Sims and are just an overall good an easygoing kid.
Fussy: These guys are super needy and need a lot of interaction. They throw fits and cry and aren’t happy without attention.
Silly: Love being playful and telling jokes. They level up in imagination much easier.
Charmer: Love interacting with anyone, including strangers. They love hugs and talking to people.
Independent: These toddlers actually like being alone. The downside is they don’t listen to adults. The good thing is they learn and develop skills well on their own.
Wild: Super energetic and develop the movement skill faster. All about dancing, running, going outside, and being active. When they get the energetic moodlet, they don’t care what adults have to say and will probably want to wrestle.
Clingy: These are the kids that scream when their parents leave them at daycare. This Sim will get really sad when parents leave and they need some TLC in the form of snuggles. They’re fairly shy too.
Inquisitive: Very curious and want to know what everything is, which helps them develop the thinking skill faster. They love to learn and will develop logic skills faster down the line.
The following traits are given to Child Sims who age up from a toddler, but specific skill requirements are needed to gain the special reward traits. So make sure you nurture your toddler up to the highest skill levels.
Happy Toddler – This Sim got a good jump on skills as a toddler. This helps them gain all skills a bit faster. (From having all Level 3 Toddler Skills when aging up to Child)
Top-Notch Toddler – This Sim got such a strong jump on skills as a toddler, they improve all other skills extra fast. (From having all Level 5 Toddler Skills when aging up to Child)
SKILLS
Movement
Advance skills by walking around, playing with adults, dancing, playing with blocks, playing Blic Block Baby using the toddler tablet and attempting to climb stairs.
Level 1: Stumble around less.
Level 2: Can climb stairs, play wrestle with adults.
Level 3: Walks faster and learns to dance.
Level 4: Can run and build towers with blocks.
Level 5: Very stable, and fast at climbing stairs.
Communication
Advance by studying flash cards, talking with teddies and watching toddler videos on the special toddler tablet.
Level 1: Beginning to learn skills.
Level 2: Learn to hug, hit and learn animals from playing flash cards.
Level 3: Toddlers can talk about toys, trucks, yell, say nonsense, ask for dessert.
Level 4: Talks about parties, favorite animals, knock-knock jokes.
Level 5: Advanced verbal skills -- tell story, tell goofy story and talk about dinosaurs.
Potty
Advance by having a adult train the toddler and by using the potty instead of the diaper more.
Level 1: Toddler doesn’t prefer potty over diaper, will not use without an adult present.
Level 2: Can use without an adult, but still diaper sometimes.
Level 3: They will always use the potty over diaper.
Thinking
Advance thinking and independence by being curious. Play with flash cards, nesting blocks, SimShape on the tablet, and make sure to ask ‘Why?’
Level 1: Throw fewer tantrums, can take better care of themselves.
Level 2: Study shapes and acts less defiant.
Level 3: Learn numbers from flash cards and sleeps better through night alone.
Level 4: Starts to ‘Ask Why.’ Will stop splashing in the toilet as much.
Level 5: No tantrums, cann learn letters, practice spelling and sleep through the night like a child would. Solves almost all needs independently.
Imagination
Advance by playing with toys, such as dolls and Draw with Llama on the tablet, watching TV, listening to music and looking at toddler books.
Level 1: Imagination skill starts teaches toddlers to read, and play with imagination and creativity.
Level 2: Can play with others and look at picture books.
Level 3: Toddlers can name their toys, dolls, and stuffed animals.
Level 4: Can read toddler books.
Level 5: Can view and react to art.
NEEDS
Bladder: Toddler will use diaper, make them go by clicking on them. Or, train them with the potty chair and they will pee by themselves at Level 2.
Hunger: Use the high chair to feed them or give them a drink. They can eat on the floor, but it will get messy. If they get too hungry, they’ll get super angry and throw a tantrum.
Energy: Must use the special toddler beds, but they can nap on the floor or the sofa. Being extra tired will make them throw a tantrum. Read your toddler to sleep and tuck them in.
Fun : Make sure the toddler plays a lot, just like a child needs. Sometimes they’ll get fussy when they can’t understand what you’re trying to teach them.
Attention: This exist in place of the social meter. Make sure adults interact with the toddler or they won’t develop skills as fast.
Hygiene: Change their diapers and make sure they don’t pee themselves. You have to give them a bath since they can’t do it themselves. Rubber ducky time.
