So, you’re playing The Sims 4. You have a burning question: “Can I choose my baby’s gender?” Control freak, huh? Let’s explore how to influence, or maybe cheat, your way to getting that mini-Sim you dream of.
Pre-Natal Gender “Preferences”: Food and Tunes
Want to shift the Sim-verse toward a specific gender before your little bundle arrives? The game offers quirky methods with food and music. Think of it as Sim-astrology with more tangible effects.
Team Blue: Boy-Boosting Tactics
If you dream of a Sim son in tiny digital trousers, here’s how:
- Carrot Consumption: Yes, carrots. They are apparently testosterone boosters. Where to find them?
- Wild Carrots: Look around Oasis Springs for these orange wonders. They are waiting to be plucked.
- Homegrown Goodness: Got the Seasons Expansion Pack? Buy seeds and plant carrots. Self-sufficiency and gender preference manipulation—two birds, one trowel.
- Market Magic: City Living or Cottage Living players can check market stalls! Sometimes, retail therapy is the simplest solution.
- Alternative Anthems: Crank up the alternative music. Find a stereo, click on it, select “Listen To…”, then choose “Alternative”. Let the guitars pave the way for a baby boy.
Pink Power: Girl-Getting Strategies
Maybe you see frilly dresses and a Sim daughter mastering skills. For a girl Sim, do this:
- Strawberry Snacking: Strawberries are your go-to for girl power. Here’s how to get them:
- Wild Strawberries: Search in Willow Creek. Forage for wild strawberries and feel the Sim-estrogen in the air.
- Cultivate Your Own: If you own Seasons, buy strawberry seeds and start a mini-farm. Fresh and potentially gender-influencing!
- Market Finds: Again, markets support local Sim businesses. Quick and easy.
- Pop Princess Playlist: Switch the stereo to Pop music. Stereo, “Listen To…”, “Pop”. Let the catchy beats summon a baby girl.
Reality Check: It’s Not an Exact Science
Before you change your Sim’s diet to solely carrots and strawberries, remember: these methods improve chances, not guarantee outcomes. Think of it as a gentle nudge, not a forceful shove. Screen Rant notes it’s all about boosting probabilities.
The Sims 4 functions on a random number generator’s whims. Game Rant reminds us that long spells of baby boys or girls are just statistical quirks. Blame RNG gods, not your Sim’s music taste.
Cheat Your Way to Gender Nirvana: Post-Birth Edition
So, maybe carrots and pop music failed you. Or you want instant gender gratification. Don’t fret; Sims 4 cheats are here! We’ll rewrite the code, Sim-baby style.
The CAS Full Edit Mode Power Play
This is your cheat code to gender-bending glory. Follow these steps:
- Cheat Console Summoning: Press Ctrl + Shift + C (or Cmd + Shift + C on Mac). This summons the cheat portal.
- TestingCheats Activation: Type in “testingcheats true” and hit Enter. This activates the cheats.
- Full Edit Mode Engaged: Now type “cas.fulleditmode” and press Enter again. You’ve entered God Mode for editing Sims.
- Shift-Click Shenanigans: Find your baby Sim and shift-click on them. This is part of the mystic ritual.
- Modify in CAS Magic: A menu appears. Choose “Modify in CAS” or “Edit in CAS”. Both lead to Create-a-Sim.
- Gender Reassignment: Now in CAS with your baby Sim, change their gender. Click the gender icon and make your choice.
Cheat Caveats: A Word of Warning
This is cheating. It’s probably not how the game founders intended to play.
You can’t edit babies in CAS normally. They are too… baby-like. Use this cheat only on babies. For older Sims, you can use the same cheat, but not for babies in regular CAS.
Sims 4 Side Quests: Gender-Adjacent Mechanics
While on the topic of Sims and gender, let’s explore some related in-game features that might amuse you.
Gender Reveal, Sim-Style
If you have the “Get to Work” Expansion Pack, doctor Sims can predict baby genders during pregnancy. It adds realism (Sim-realism). Friendly interaction -> Interest -> Determine Baby’s Gender.
Multiply Your Minis: Twins and Triplets
If you want more than one baby, cheats can ensure twins or triplets. The “Fertile” trait boosts chances of multiple births for 3,000 satisfaction points. Double the trouble or fun, depending on your Sim-parenting skills.
Pregnancy Time Warp
Sim pregnancies last about 3 Sim days, regardless of lifespan settings. No long waits here. It’s practically speed-running in Sim-gestation.
Teen Moms (Without the Drama… Mostly)
Teen pregnancy exists in Sims 4, even without mods. Teens can also face WooHoo urges, leading to rapid reproductive outcomes.
Miscarriage? Not in Vanilla Sims
No miscarriages are part of Sims 4 without mods. Pregnancies are generally smooth sailing (or pixelated sailing). No spontaneous Sim-miscarriages to worry about.
WooHoo = Baby Maybe
Regular WooHoo can lead to pregnancy. It’s the Sim-circle of life. Risky WooHoo is a tweakable gameplay setting to amp up baby-making drama.
Homeless and Hormonal?
Do homeless Sims get pregnant? It depends on settings. Disable homeless pregnancy in your options and no babies will come from dumpster WooHoo.
Gender Identity and Sims: Beyond Biology
The Sims 4 focuses not just on biological sex but also on gender identity and expression. It goes beyond pink or blue onesies.
Sim Sexuality Spectrum
You can customize your Sim’s sexual orientation in CAS. Click three dots under gender icons to access the sexual orientation menu. EA Help provides a guide for deeper insight into Sim sexuality.
Editing Existing Sims: Full Makeover Mode
Remember cas.fulleditmode? Use it to revamp any Sim—appearance, age, gender, personality, everything. It’s like plastic surgery for Sims.
Polyamorous Pixelated Relationships
Sims can have multiple loves through mods or specific game features. The Sims community creatively expands relationship possibilities.
Grim Reaper Romances (and Babies?)
You can edit the Grim Reaper in Sims 4. You can marry them too! You can even have a baby with them due to the “Life and Death” expansion.
Real-World Baby Biology (Sim-Contextualized)
Now let’s step out of the Sim-verse and touch upon real-world baby gender stuff. Why? Because…
It’s kind of fun. This could make you laugh. It relates to the Sim-mechanics we just talked about.
Sex vs. Gender: The Biological Basics
In real life, “sex” means biological traits, like chromosomes. “Gender” is a social construct. In Sims, it’s simpler. The game now offers more nuanced gender options.
Conception and Chromosomes: The Real Deal
At conception, biological sex is set. Sperm meets egg. XX means female. XY means male.
Influencing Sex at Conception (Maybe, Sort Of)
Real methods for influencing baby sex aren’t foolproof. The Shettles Method involves timing intercourse. Y-sperm (male) are faster but shorter-lived. X-sperm (female) are slower but survive longer.
For more reliable (though complex) gender selection, there are sperm sorting and IVF (in vitro fertilization). These are medical interventions and cost a lot.
Sperm Speed and Lifespan: X vs. Y
X-sperm and Y-sperm differ in speed and lifespan. This underlies methods like Shettles. Y-sperm are fast; X-sperm are steady.
50/50-ish Odds: The Great Gender Lottery
The odds of having a boy or girl are about 50/50 in reality. Slightly more boys are born statistically. It’s close to a coin flip.
Infertility and IVF: When Nature Needs a Hand
IVF helps treat infertility. It’s crucial for couples facing reproductive issues, unlike Sim-WooHoo leading to instant pregnancy.
Early Gender Reveals: Blood Tests
Technology allows for early gender detection with blood tests,
Multiple Pregnancies: Twins and Triplets in Real Life
Twins and triplets can occur naturally, but odds depend on genetics and other factors. Unlike Sims, you can’t cheat into instant multiples.
Sperm Sorting: Global Availability
Sperm sorting for gender selection is legal in some countries like Mexico, Japan, and Switzerland.
Female Embryo Resilience: A Biological Curveball
Some research suggests female embryos might face
Health and Conception: Real-World Factors
Real fertility turns on health factors and timing. There are “safe” and “fertile” days in a cycle. Diet may impact health, but
Gender Transitioning: A Real-World Journey
Transitioning gender is complex and personal in reality. It involves social, medical, and sometimes surgical steps. It aligns identity and expression, not changing biological sex, which
Genetics Jumbles: Real-World Rarities
Intersex conditions, like babies with both male and female anatomy, are rare. They arise from complex genetic factors at conception. XY females (Swyer syndrome) can use donated eggs to get pregnant but remain infertile naturally.
Fetuses don’t “start as female.” That’s a myth. Genetics determine sex from the start. While sibling incest poses genetic risks in real life, it’s not a gameplay mechanic in Sims (yet?).
Sperm lifespan differs: X-sperm live longer while Y-sperm are quicker.
So there you go, Simmers! A comprehensive guide to baby gender in The Sims 4 with real-world biology insights for fun. Craft your perfect Sim families, whether by carrot power or cheats. Happy Simming!