Added to The Sims 4 in an update, toddlers are the life stage during which a Sim is not quite a baby anymore but not yet a child. With their own unique skills, objects, and decorations, players are really encouraged to live out the best of the toddler life in the game and appreciate this short but rewarding time in a Sim's family life.
However, raising a toddler in a household that might already have quite a few Sims might not be an easy task. In fact, most working Sim parents will undoubtedly struggle with those challenges as they come along, making it a bit difficult for the player as well. The good news is, there are a few tricks and tips to implement that make raising toddlers into children a breeze, even with a career, two pets, and several other children.
Updated on April 26, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: The Sims 4 has been a pretty mixed entry in the franchise. The dearth of content was something that irritated fans to no end, although subsequent updates, expansions, and content packs have added a ton of things that players can now do in the game. It's far from being the best entry in the series, but The Sims 4 still holds its own... even after a pretty rough launch.
Toddlers were one aspect of the game that wasn't even present in the base game, which drew the ire of many fans. Thankfully, they were added in a later update for players to tinker around with the origins of a Sim from the get-go. However, raising these kids is no mean feat, and here are some things that players need to keep in mind if they wish to make the most of this life stage.
13 Always Keep Track Of Their Needs
One thing to keep in mind for toddlers is the fact that their base needs should always be taken care of. For the most part, this shouldn't pose a major challenge as long as players are attentive enough to satisfy the needs of their child.
That being said, it can also be pretty easy to neglect their needs to the point where child services have to take your child away from you. Don't be a bad parent and always keep these needs maxed out whenever possible.
12 Teach Them How To Walk And Talk
As is the norm with any child, helping them learn to walk or talk can prove to be extremely beneficial for their development. These crucial life skills are pretty much a necessity for any child to learn.
The bonuses these skills offer further down the line are pretty substantial indeed. However, maxing them out can take time so make sure to prioritize both the parent and child Sims accordingly.
11 Their Imagination Shouldn't Be Stifled
Imagination is a core skill of any child that should be improved upon if their creativity needs to take center stage. It's a shame that this skill is ignored by many Simmers who don't find it to be as beneficial as the others.
On contrary, it's the imagination of a Sim that helps them aspire to become something much bigger later in life. Nipping it in the bud is not recommended in the slightest, and this skill should be prioritized equally along with the rest of the pack.
10 Regular Naps
Since toddlers are still developing and growing, they obviously need more rest, just like toddlers in real life. It's pretty common to see their Energy need drain faster during the day, which when left unaddressed can leave them super cranky by the end of the day.
The solution to this is simple: make sure the toddler gets a nap somewhere around the middle of the day, preferably in the afternoon. This allows them to then have a normal night's sleep without turning in super early and waking up in the middle of the night.
9 Keep Them On Ground Floor
Players who have a household living in a bigger house that might have multiple floors will benefit from all the space that they have when building a family. However, when it comes to toddlers, it's better to make sure they have a room on the first floor rather than anywhere else.
This is because it does take them a while to come down the stairs on their own. Otherwise, they need to be carried by their parents, which is just extra time off the clock when Sims need to do things in a hurry. So, avoid putting stairs between a toddler and their basic needs.
8 Read Them To Sleep
Many toddlers will at least at some point receive a whim that makes them want to listen to a story read by their parents. It might at first seem like just a nice thing to do, but it definitely shouldn't be ignored as an important activity.
Toddlers who are read to are less likely to wake up during the night, which in turn will allow the parents to sleep deeper and get to work energized the next morning. It's a thing that helps the entire household, above all else.
7 Develop Thinking Skill
There's nothing more annoying with a toddler than their temper tantrums and defiance. When the parents just want to make sure things go smoothly, it's a real headache to have to argue with a toddler that just doesn't want to obey.
That's why one of the first skills to develop with toddlers is the Thinking skill. Not only will toddlers be more docile the more they progress, but they'll also be more independent, and will be able to take care of themselves rather than constantly waiting on their parents to guide them.
6 Keep Up A Routine
Living with a toddler or even several toddlers is almost like having a second full-time job. It requires quite a bit of work and planning, but with the right schedule in mind, it's possible for players to organize their days in a way that makes managing a household much easier.
Try to come up with a solid schedule that gets followed every day with the toddlers. Every activity should have a time frame, and bedtime and wake-up times should match day to day to keep things simple and easy to follow. That way, catastrophes don't happen.
5 Prioritize Potty Training
Before even considering the Thinking skill, the first skill any parent should teach their toddler is the Potty skill. It's pretty easy to level up quickly, and if it's focused on properly, the toddler will gain a huge boost in independence from their parent.
At best, it means parents don't have to supervise their toddler every single time their Bladder need goes down. In fact, players can simply guide the toddler to use the potty when their Bladder is down, which also saves them from low hygiene by using a diaper.
4 Get The Wabbit Tablet
For households that have enough money to spend, investing in the Wabbit Tablet is an excellent idea. It might not be the nicest, most wholesome toy due to being an electronic device, but it's really useful in a pinch or when players want to ensure their toddlers have great skills.
The tablet not only increases Fun for the toddler easily, but it also develops Communication, Imagination, Thinking, and Movement skills depending on which apps the toddler is using. It's sort of an all-in-one skill item, which means less space is used to buy separate skill items.
3 Hire A Nanny
If all else fails, hired help is a perfectly valid option as well. Nannies are a great choice for households that have a lot of toddlers, babies, and children in general, and only a few adult Sims. It does require a bit of pocket money to fund, however.
Nannies can help with homework as well as cook food and ensure everyone is taken care of. Alternatively, toddlers can be sent to daycare, but they'll usually get very sad as a result of this, and it's overall better to keep them home with a nanny.
2 Fence Them Off
Those who own the Toddler Stuff Pack will probably recognize these colorful fences. Well, they do have their own unexpected utility when it comes to managing toddlers, and it ties into the idea of keeping the toddlers close to all their necessities, which reduces the time and need to move them around the house.
Players can fence off an area specifically for toddlers with all their needs inside, from a bed to toys, to a potty and even a food area with a fridge. Make sure it's on the first floor as well, and close to a bathroom in case they need to be bathed. These fences can be used to mark the area off and prevent the toddlers from wandering out.
1 Avoid High Chairs
High chairs are a bit of a hot topic among Simmers. While technically they're a great tool for feeding toddlers, they can also be extremely inconvenient and time-consuming in the long run. Many have also reported some bugs related to the high chair, which has made it difficult to use it.
Instead of using the high chair, a toddler can sit on the floor or on a cushion while eating. They can else grab the food autonomously from the counter, so making food in advance and just pulling it out of the fridge at dinner time is the best and easiest way to feed them without hassle.