Talking Toddlers

[Schipperke]

I've always played one- or two-Sim households and thought I'd try a household with children to see if I dare take on the "50 days of extreme parenting" challenge coming up.  There are a couple of things I'm wondering about.  First, when you've had the parent teach the toddler to talk, how do you then get the toddler to talk?  I have been totally unable to get them to initiate a conversation with an adult or another toddler.  They can read books, but (at least in my game) they can't actually talk to anyone -  how weird is that?  I must be doing something wrong, but can't for the life of me figure out what.

Second, is there a limit to how many children a household can have?  We're up to 6 now, and I'm wondering if I need to add another bedroom.  Thanks for the help.

[Pam]

The only way a Toddler will actually talk is when an Adult or Teenager initiates the "chat" interaction with the Toddler.  Additionally, if you put two Toddlers who know how to talk at a blocks table together, they will talk to each other and gain relationship status.  It's actually quite adorable to see tiny tots talking about athletics or the garbage.  Children can also initiate interactions with Toddlers.  I'll leave those for you to discover.

There is a limit of eight ( 8 ) Sims in a household.  It doesn't matter what the mix is.  If you have six children and two parents, you're at the max.

[Schipperke]

The only way a Toddler will actually talk is when an Adult or Teenager initiates the "chat" interaction with the Toddler.  Additionally, if you put two Toddlers who know how to talk at a blocks table together, they will talk to each other and gain relationship status.  It's actually quite adorable to see tiny tots talking about athletics or the garbage.  Children can also initiate interactions with Toddlers.  I'll leave those for you to discover.

There is a limit of eight ( Sims in a household.  It doesn't matter what the mix is.  If you have six children and two parents, you're at the max.

Pam, thanks so much for clearing that up for me.  I had found out that children could interact with toddlers, but didn't realize the toddlers could talk at the blocks table so that's very useful to know.  It's also a relief that I won't have to deal with any more children; 6 is enough!  Although it's not as bad now that several of them have aged up.  When there were 3 toddlers and a baby, it started feeling like an assembly line.  No wonder the poor mother went stir crazy.

[Pam]

You're welcome.  I'll be happy to answer any other questions you have.  The upcoming challenge will be, well, challenging.  I hope lots of people gather up the courage to play it! 

[jmz95]

No wonder the poor mother went stir crazy.

What you could do is take a family "vacation" to the park. Take the children to the park and teach them the different skills, you could also bring some children or teens along so they could help out. While I'm thinking about it, can you take cribs to the park and set them down without going to edit town?

[Pam]

You can't take cribs like you describe.  You have to use either Edit Town or Buy on This Lot with testing cheats enabled.  It's totally worth it, believe me.  I put cribs, potty chairs, and toys at the park.  I also put cribs and potty chairs in the library.

[jmz95]

You can't take cribs like you describe.  You have to use either Edit Town or Buy on This Lot with testing cheats enabled.  It's totally worth it, believe me.  I put cribs, potty chairs, and toys at the park.  I also put cribs and potty chairs in the library.

Okay, thanks for that info. The reason I ask is it could be helpful in the challenge if it were allowed, but it's obviously not.

[Schipperke]

Ok, I am trying to learn everything I can about toddlers before the Baby Boom challenge starts next week.  Here's another question:  is there any way to get the toddlers to sleep other than by having an adult put them in the crib?  I ask because the toddlers I've been playing in my test family seem to be nocturnal in nature, which means that when they start getting tired in the middle of the night, one of the parents has to rouse themselves from bed and put the toddler in the crib.  Then, of course, in the morning the toddler is stuck in the crib until an adult notices they're awake and lifts them down.  I remember in Sims 2 that the toddlers could put themselves to bed by sleeping on the dog bed, which made them quite self-sufficient except for eating.  Bring back the dog beds!!!

[Metropolis Man]

Ok, I am trying to learn everything I can about toddlers before the Baby Boom challenge starts next week.  Here's another question:  is there any way to get the toddlers to sleep other than by having an adult put them in the crib?  I ask because the toddlers I've been playing in my test family seem to be nocturnal in nature, which means that when they start getting tired in the middle of the night, one of the parents has to rouse themselves from bed and put the toddler in the crib.  Then, of course, in the morning the toddler is stuck in the crib until an adult notices they're awake and lifts them down.  I remember in Sims 2 that the toddlers could put themselves to bed by sleeping on the dog bed, which made them quite self-sufficient except for eating.  Bring back the dog beds!!!

Ha ha. Toddlers in dog beds. That would be funny. No, I don't believe there's any other sleeping option for Toddlers than the crib. But, I've never tried putting a Toddler to sleep in a full-sized single bed. I'm assuming it's not an option. It's too bad there aren't toddler beds.

[Pam]

Eventually, toddlers will pass out just like an adult does if they get exhausted.  It's not really a good thing, though.  One way to break the cycle is to wake the toddler up during the day so that he'll be tired when night comes. 

[Schipperke]

Thanks, Metro and Pam.  I'm just looking for ways to spare those poor parents.  In my test game when they had 5 nooboos, the parents were on the run from morning to night.  It was late afternoon before the father even had time for a quick shower.  This challenge is definitely going to be - well, challenging!

[Metropolis Man]

Thanks, Metro and Pam.  I'm just looking for ways to spare those poor parents.  In my test game when they had 5 nooboos, the parents were on the run from morning to night.  It was late afternoon before the father even had time for a quick shower.  This challenge is definitely going to be - well, challenging!

No doubt about it — much harder than BB I for lots of reasons.

[samoht04]

I have to start turning the sound up to hear the word nooboos! I have my plan set out, which is almost the same as the one I am using for my Legacy with 3 Teens, 2 Toddlers and a Baby.

[TheLostGirls]

Ha ha. Toddlers in dog beds. That would be funny. No, I don't believe there's any other sleeping option for Toddlers than the crib. But, I've never tried putting a Toddler to sleep in a full-sized single bed. I'm assuming it's not an option. It's too bad there aren't toddler beds.

My toddlers have slept on the floor before and they weren't passed out. Is this a glitch?

[Pam]

My toddlers have slept on the floor before and they weren't passed out. Is this a glitch?

What was the exact situation?  How did you get them to sleep on the floor?