When The Sims 4 was released by Electronic Arts (EA), longtime players were disappointed to see that the Toddler life stage, which has been around since The Sims 2, was cut out. Babies in The Sims 4 would age up to a child that looked like it was eight or nine, taking out the realism that is so important in a life simulator. Some players decided to forgo getting The Sims 4 because of the lack of Toddlers. This changed on Jan. 12, 2017, when EA released a patch for The Sims 4 that introduced Toddlers into the game.

Toddlers are much different in The Sims 4 than in the previous games. Because of the emotions that the Sims have, the Toddlers can become angry, sad, playful, or happy. They can throw tantrums or cry at your Sim if their needs are low or if they’re tired of playing with the slew of toys made especially for the Toddlers. These emotions change how the Toddlers interact with the world around them. A happy Toddler’s skill will go up quicker than a sad one.

Unlike in previous games, Toddlers can do some stuff on their own. They can put themselves to bed and grab food off of counters and tables instead of waiting to be fed. This is great to have if the player is dealing with multiple Toddlers. However, they require attention to keep them happy. The best way to keep their attention level high is if the Toddler is played with and gets to engage with an older Sim often.

To help keep the Toddlers entertained, interactive items were added especially for them. Toys like blocks or a tablet can help them build skills while also giving them some fun. Toddler beds allow older Sims to put them to bed by tucking them in or by giving them a bedtime story.

Along with the items that Toddlers can play with, their are Create a Sim (CAS) clothing for the Toddlers. This includes hats and glasses as well as the normal shirts, shoes, pants, and full body outfits. As another surprise in the patch, players can now change Sim’s teeth. Toddlers, for example, can have developing baby teeth or the default complete teeth. This addition of changing teeth is likely for the game pack featuring vampires coming out on Jan. 28.

The new addition of the Toddlers to The Sims 4 adds a level a realism that the life simulator was lacking. It gives the Sim parents a better bond with their child then they did before. The interactions are amazingly done and fit well with the game style. The Toddlers are an adorable and very welcomed addition to the game.