Age Up Infant in Sims 4: Expert Tips for Faster Sim Development
Managing your Sims’ life stages in The Sims 4 requires patience and strategic planning, especially when dealing with infants. Unlike previous iterations of the game, infants in Sims 4 represent a unique life stage introduced in the Infants Stuff Pack, offering players new gameplay mechanics and interactions. Understanding how to efficiently age up your infant Sims can significantly enhance your gameplay experience and allow you to progress through family storylines more effectively.
Whether you’re building a multigenerational household or simply want to accelerate your Sim family’s development, mastering the aging mechanics is essential. This comprehensive guide covers all the methods, tips, and strategies you need to successfully age up infant Sims in Sims 4, from using cheats to natural progression techniques. We’ll explore both vanilla game mechanics and advanced strategies that experienced players use to optimize their gameplay.
Understanding Infant Life Stage Basics
The infant stage in Sims 4 is fundamentally different from how babies worked in previous games. Infants are interactive Sims that can be held, fed, and engaged with directly by other household members. This life stage typically lasts approximately three in-game days under normal circumstances, though this duration can vary based on your game settings and any active mods or cheats you might be using.
Infants in Sims 4 have their own needs, including hunger, energy, and hygiene, which require constant attention from caregivers. They develop skills during this stage that carry over into the toddler phase, making early development crucial for long-term Sim success. Understanding the mechanics of this stage helps you make informed decisions about when and how to progress your infant Sims to the next life stage.
The aging process for infants is controlled by your game settings. You can adjust life span lengths through the game options, choosing between short, normal, or long lifespans. Short lifespans accelerate aging significantly, while long lifespans extend the infant stage considerably. This foundational knowledge is essential before implementing any aging strategies.
Natural Aging Methods Without Cheats
If you prefer playing without cheats, several natural methods can help you age up your infant Sims within the normal game framework. The most straightforward approach is simply allowing time to pass through regular gameplay. Each in-game day moves your infant closer to toddlerhood, and engaging in age-appropriate activities helps make this transition feel more organic and rewarding.
One effective natural method involves adjusting your game’s lifespan settings. By switching to a short lifespan before your infant is born, you can dramatically reduce the duration of the infant stage. This doesn’t involve cheating and remains within the game’s intended mechanics. Simply navigate to game options, select lifespan preferences, and switch from normal to short before conception or birth. This method works particularly well if you’re focused on progressing through multiple generations quickly.
Another natural approach is to focus on maximizing the infant stage experience while it lasts. Engage your infant in developmental activities, build relationships with caregivers, and enjoy the unique interactions this stage offers. When you’re satisfied with your infant’s development and ready to proceed, simply wait for the natural aging progression to complete. This method respects the game’s design while allowing you to control the pace through your engagement level.
Playing with multiple Sims can also make the infant stage feel shorter. When you actively manage caregiving duties and household tasks, time seems to pass more quickly, and before you know it, your infant will naturally age into a toddler. This gameplay style keeps you engaged and makes the experience more immersive than passively waiting for aging to occur.
Using Cheats to Age Up Infants
For players who want immediate control over aging, The Sims 4 offers several cheat codes that can instantly age up your infant Sims. These cheats are legitimate game features that don’t damage your save file or cause instability. To use cheats, first enable the cheat console by pressing Ctrl+Shift+C on PC or Cmd+Shift+C on Mac.
The most direct aging cheat is “cas.fulleditmode” which allows you to enter Create-A-Sim mode for any Sim in your household. Once you’re in this mode, you can manually advance your infant’s age slider to any desired life stage. This method provides complete control and works reliably across all game versions and updates.
Another effective cheat involves using “testingcheats true” followed by “cas.fulleditmode” to access advanced editing options. Type these commands in sequence, then shift-click on your infant Sim to access additional menu options. This approach offers more flexibility than basic cheats and integrates smoothly with your current gameplay session.
For players preferring a more automated approach, the “bb.showhiddenobjects” cheat combined with specific mods can facilitate faster aging. However, this method requires additional setup and mod installation, making it more complex than direct aging cheats. Most players find the cas.fulleditmode approach simpler and more straightforward.
When using cheats, remember that they’re entirely optional and don’t affect your game’s integrity. Many experienced players use aging cheats to streamline gameplay and focus on storytelling elements rather than waiting for natural progression. Experiment with different cheat combinations to find the method that best suits your playstyle and preferences.
Maximizing Development During Infant Stage
While aging up your infant Sims, you should simultaneously focus on maximizing their development during this crucial life stage. Infants develop skills that directly impact their success as toddlers and children, making early investment worthwhile even if you’re planning to age them up relatively quickly.
Encourage your caregivers to engage in skill-building activities with the infant. Reading to infants develops their communication skills, while playing with them builds social and motor skills. These interactions aren’t just beneficial—they’re genuinely enjoyable and create memorable moments in your family’s story. Dedicating time to these activities makes the infant stage feel purposeful rather than something to simply endure.
Feeding your infant regularly and maintaining their hygiene ensures they’re in optimal condition for aging up. A well-cared-for infant transitions into toddlerhood with better baseline stats and a stronger foundation for future development. This investment pays dividends as your Sim progresses through subsequent life stages, much like how maintaining your home’s foundation is crucial for long-term structural integrity—similar principles to those discussed in our DIY Basement Finishing guide.
Consider the traits your infant will inherit or develop. Certain traits become available based on parental genetics and household interactions. Exposing your infant to positive influences and successful caregivers increases the likelihood of developing beneficial traits. This strategic approach to trait development creates more capable and interesting Sims as they mature.
Building strong relationships during infancy pays long-term dividends. Infants who develop close bonds with caregivers carry these relationship foundations into toddlerhood and beyond. Prioritize quality interactions over quantity, focusing on activities that genuinely strengthen household connections and create positive emotional memories.
Troubleshooting Common Aging Issues
Sometimes infant Sims don’t age as expected due to various game glitches or setting conflicts. If your infant isn’t aging naturally after several in-game days, first verify your lifespan settings are correctly configured. Check that aging is enabled in your household and that no conflicting mods are interfering with natural progression.
If cheats aren’t working as expected, ensure you’ve properly enabled the cheat console. Type “testingcheats true” first to activate the cheat system, then attempt your aging cheat again. Some players find that restarting their game after enabling cheats resolves stubborn issues. Additionally, verify you’re using the correct cheat syntax—capitalization and spacing matter significantly.
Mod conflicts frequently cause aging problems, particularly if you’re using multiple mods that modify life stages or aging mechanics. Try temporarily disabling non-essential mods to identify the culprit. Once you’ve identified the problematic mod, either update it to a compatible version or remove it entirely if updates aren’t available.
If your game crashes when attempting to age up an infant, ensure your game is fully updated with the latest patches. Outdated game versions sometimes conflict with aging mechanics, especially after major content updates. Visit the official EA launcher and verify all updates are installed before troubleshooting further.
Some players experience issues where infants age up but retain infant characteristics or behaviors. This rare glitch typically resolves by saving your game, exiting to the main menu, and reloading. If the problem persists, try using the aging cheat again or allowing additional in-game time to pass for natural progression to complete properly.
When troubleshooting, document exactly which steps you’ve taken and what errors appeared. This information proves invaluable if you need to seek help from the community or contact EA support. Detailed documentation helps other players provide more targeted solutions based on your specific situation.
Remember that patience often resolves minor aging issues. Sometimes the game simply needs additional time to process aging, especially if your household is large or your computer is processing significant graphical demands. Allow several in-game hours to pass before assuming there’s a genuine problem requiring intervention.
FAQ
How long does the infant stage typically last in Sims 4?
The infant stage typically lasts approximately three in-game days on normal lifespan settings. Short lifespans reduce this duration to roughly one day, while long lifespans extend it to approximately five days. These durations can vary based on your specific game settings and any active mods.
Can I age up an infant without using cheats?
Yes, infants age naturally through regular gameplay. You can also change your lifespan settings to short before birth to accelerate aging without cheating. Both methods keep you within the game’s intended mechanics while progressing your Sim family forward.
What’s the best cheat for aging up infants?
The “cas.fulleditmode” cheat is widely considered the most reliable and straightforward method. Enable cheats with Ctrl+Shift+C, type the command, then access Create-A-Sim to manually adjust your infant’s age slider to any desired life stage.
Will using aging cheats damage my save file?
No, aging cheats are legitimate game features that don’t damage save files or cause instability. They’re built into the game specifically for player convenience and don’t violate any game mechanics or safety protocols.
Why isn’t my infant aging up naturally?
Check that aging is enabled in your household settings and verify your lifespan duration is correctly configured. Mod conflicts frequently cause aging problems, so try temporarily disabling non-essential mods. Ensure your game is fully updated with the latest patches.
Can infant Sims develop skills before aging up?
Yes, infants can develop communication, motor, and social skills through interactions with caregivers. These skills carry over into toddlerhood, making early skill development worthwhile even if you’re aging up relatively quickly.
What happens to an infant’s relationships when they age up?
Relationships carry over when infants age into toddlers. Close bonds developed during infancy persist, providing a strong foundation for continued relationship building throughout subsequent life stages.