The recent update to The Sims 4 base game, commonly referred to as the "Infants Update," has revolutionized the way babies are portrayed in the game. The update has introduced a new life stage known as "infants," bridging the gap between the newborn and toddler stages, thereby addressing the limitations of the previous baby life stage. Unlike their previous iteration, infants are no longer portrayed as mere objects and instead come with unique challenges and activities, offering an entirely new dimension of gameplay. With this update, players can now experience a more realistic and engaging simulation of parenting, as infants require more attention and care from their caregiver Sims. This not only adds a layer of complexity to the game but also makes the experience of raising a Sim family more rewarding and immersive.
Just two days after the release of the Infants Update, players were treated to the Growing Together expansion pack on March 16, 2023. This expansion pack brought with it a wealth of new features, interactions and objects designed to enhance the family gameplay experience even further. As a result, the range of activities available for infants expanded exponentially, with some of these activities requiring players to reach certain milestones before they can be accessed. One such milestone is the ability to feed infants on a high chair, a new and exciting interaction that requires players to take a whole new approach to feeding their babies. This feature allows players to enjoy a more realistic family dynamic, as they navigate the challenges of feeding a growing infant in a safe and comfortable manner in The Sims 4.
Sources for this article and its images include EA.com and Growing Together Trailers and Official Livestream.
How To Feed Infants In Base Game
Feeding infants in The Sims 4 has become more intricate since the addition of the Growing Together expansion pack. In the base game, feeding infants is relatively simple, with three different interaction options available. Players can choose to breastfeed or bottle-feed their baby, or feed them baby food by interacting with a high chair. The first option has been available since before the Infant Update, and both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding can be chosen depending on the player's preference. However, if the caregiver Sim is unable to produce breast milk, they won't be able to breastfeed their baby.
The high chair is a new addition to infant care in the game, which was previously only available for toddlers. However, unlike toddlers who can eat regular food, infants are limited to "baby food" with a total of 14 different options to choose from. This adds a fun and unique element to infant care, allowing players to observe their reactions to different tastes and preferences. While the impact on hunger levels is similar across all feeding methods, certain moodlets can be triggered depending on their reactions to the food. For example, a baby may become angry or feel betrayed if they dislike a particular type of food, while positive moodlets can be triggered by foods they enjoy. These small details add a level of realism and uniqueness to each individual infant in the game. It is important to note that baby food does not require any cooking skills from the caregivers, nor does it require any ingredients or Simoleons.
How To Feed Infants In Growing Together
With the Growing Together expansion pack, players can closely monitor the growth stages of their infants through the newly added Milestone feature and objects. While older Sims have Milestones that are more akin to Memories, Milestones for infants are focused on their developmental abilities, and each day of an infant's life can feel unique. Even though infants depend heavily on their caregivers, there can be a significant difference between a Day 1 infant and a Day 10 infant. As newborns age up to infants, players can directly feed them through bottle-feeding or breastfeeding, but giving them baby food is only possible after reaching a certain milestone, which is the "Sit Up" milestone.
Therefore, players are required to go through a series of motor activities for their infants to learn how to sit up. To achieve this, caretaker Sims must engage in the Tummy Play interaction with their infants for an extended period. As they progress, infants will master skills such as moving on their back, rolling onto their front, and other milestones before finally being able to sit up. Once enough milestones have been achieved, infants will be able to engage in Tummy Play interactions independently, without the need for a caregiver, enabling them to complete certain milestones on their own.
It is worth noting that, apart from being locked behind the Tummy Play interaction, "Help Try First Baby Food" on the high chair interaction works the same way as in the base game since there are no new food recipes, and the like and dislike mechanics are the same as well. Nevertheless, by experimenting with different foods, infants can attain new milestones that demonstrate their progress.
The Sims 4 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.