In The Sims 3, babies naturally age into toddlers after a set period, but you can also manually trigger this transition using a birthday cake or cheats. Here’s how to age up your baby Sim:
Automatic Aging
By default, babies will age up to toddlers automatically after a certain number of in-game days, depending on your lifespan settings. This transition typically occurs around 8 PM on the baby’s birthday. Ensure that aging is enabled in your game settings to allow this process to happen.
Using a Birthday Cake
To manually age up a baby:
- Purchase a Birthday Cake: Buy the “Birthday Inferno” cake from the Buy Mode under the Entertainment > Parties section.
- Place the Cake: Set the cake on a table or counter.
- Initiate the Birthday: Have a teen or older Sim click on the cake and select “Blow Out Candles,” then choose the baby Sim.
- Celebrate: The selected Sim will carry the baby to the cake, and after blowing out the candles, the baby will transition into a toddler.
Note: If the “Blow Out Candles” option doesn’t appear, ensure that the baby is within one day of aging up. Also, make sure the cake is placed correctly and not already used.
Using Cheats in The Sims 3
If you prefer to use cheats:
- Enable Testing Cheats: Press
Ctrl + Shift + Cto open the cheat console, then typetestingcheatsenabled trueand press Enter. - Trigger Age Transition: Hold down the
Shiftkey and click on the baby Sim. Select “Trigger Age Transition” from the menu.
This method will immediately age up the baby without the need for a cake.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Baby Won’t Age Up: If the baby doesn’t age up as expected, try resetting the Sim by opening the cheat console (
Ctrl + Shift + C) and typingresetsim [FirstName] [LastName]. - Custom Content Conflicts: Sometimes, custom content can interfere with aging. Try removing or updating any mods or custom items related to babies.
- Game Settings: Ensure that aging is enabled in your game settings. Go to Options > Game Options and check that the “Enable Aging” box is ticked.