To adopt a child in The Sims 3, have a young adult, adult or elder Sim use a phone to call for services and choose the adoption service. A social worker arrives shortly afterwards, you pick the age group and gender, and the child joins the household on the spot. Adoption is part of the base game, so no expansion is needed. Below we cover each step, what you can and cannot customize, the rules that can block an adoption, and how to get ready for the new arrival.
Step by Step: Calling the Adoption Service
- Pick the right Sim. The Sim making the call must be a young adult, adult or elder. They can be single, married or in any relationship; The Sims 3 does not require a partner.
- Use a phone. Click the Sim’s cell phone in their inventory, or click a home phone on the lot, and open the services section of its menu. Choose the adoption service. Player guides describe the step as “call for services”, then “Adoption”.
- Wait for the social worker. Per the community wiki, the social worker comes to the home lot right after the call. If no young adult, adult or elder is on the home lot when they arrive, they say they will come back later.
- Choose the child. A window asks for the age group (baby, toddler or child) and the gender.
- Name them. The community wiki says you can set the first name. The adopted Sim takes the last name of the Sim who made the call.
Once the social worker leaves, the child is a normal member of your household and can be controlled like any other Sim.
What You Can and Cannot Choose
You control the age group and gender. You do not choose the child’s appearance or traits. Player guides describe the traits, skin tone and look as generated by the game. Teens are not on offer; the oldest age group you can adopt is child.
If you want full control over looks and traits, an alternative is to create the child in Create a Sim as part of a household, then merge the households in Edit Town. That skips the social worker entirely, but it also skips the adoption moment itself.
Rules That Can Block an Adoption
- Household size. A Sims 3 household holds a maximum of 8 Sims. With The Sims 3 Pets installed, the community wiki reports a combined cap of 10 members (no more than 8 Sims and 6 pets), so pets can use up space you need.
- A child taken away. If the social worker has previously removed a child from your household for neglect, the community wiki reports a waiting period of several days before the family can adopt again. With The Sims 3 Generations installed, Sims also carry memories, and a Sim with the memory of losing a child is reported to be unable to adopt at all.
- No adult at home. Children and teens cannot adopt, and the social worker will not hand over the child if no young adult or older Sim is on the lot.
If the option is missing or the call fails, check the household count first, since a full house blocks every new arrival.
After the Adoption: Time Off and Preparation
Per the community wiki, adopting a baby gives the parents a few days off work, the same as a birth. Whatever the age group, the new Sim needs somewhere to sleep and something to do:
- Babies need a crib, and someone must be home or a babysitter hired whenever the adults leave.
- Toddlers sleep in a crib too, and need a potty chair and teaching time for talking, walking and potty training. Our guide to aging up a baby explains how to move a baby along to the toddler stage.
- Children need a bed and a desk or computer for homework. They start school automatically.
The social worker can also take children away if they are neglected, the same NPC who delivers them. Keep hunger and hygiene up, especially in the first days while you get used to a bigger household.
If you are building a family the usual way instead, see our guides to having twins in The Sims 3 and influencing whether you have a boy or a girl.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does adopting a child cost money in The Sims 3? We found no official or reliable source listing an adoption fee for children in The Sims 3. Pet adoption from the Pets expansion is handled separately.
Can a single Sim or an elder adopt? Yes. Any young adult, adult or elder can call the adoption service, with or without a partner.
Can I adopt a teenager? No. The choices are baby, toddler or child.
Why does the adopted child have a different last name from my partner? The child takes the last name of the Sim who placed the call. Have the other partner call next time if you prefer their surname.
Can I change an adopted child’s traits? Not through normal play. With testing cheats on, the community wiki lists a Shift-click option to edit a Sim in Create a Sim, which is covered in our Sims 3 cheats guide. More family guides are on the Sims hub.