The Sims 3/Ages

Aging
Sims are always aging in the Sims 3. On the lots and in the neighborhood. There are 7 stages of life in the Sims 3. Baby, Toddler, Child, Teen, Young Adult, Adult, and Elder. Each stage has a different number of days to complete that age. At the end of a stage, a Sim moves on to the next stage of life. To change the life span of a your Sims, you can go to Options in the game, click on Game Options and slide the Sim Life Span bar to the left or right. This will let you choose how long or short you want your Sims life span to be. All Sims on the lot (the household you are playing) are effected using this option. You can shut off aging by removing the check mark next to the "Enable Aging" box. You can freeze the neighborhood outside your Sims household by turning off "Enable Story Progression". Sims in the neighborhood will not get married, have children, or socialize.

Age Transition
When a Sim moves on to the next stage of life you are given a 2 day warning. When a baby grows up to be a toddler, you want to make sure the baby has had a positive experience in order to pick the first 2 traits of that Sim. If the baby Sim has had a negative experience, negative traits will be chosen. If the baby Sim has had a moderate experience, the Sim's traits will be randomly chosen. When a toddler grows up to be a child and a child to a teen, the Sim picks up an additional trait. If the Sim is doing well in each stage of life, you will get to pick a new trait. If they are doing poorly, a trait will either be randomly picked or picked from a list of negative traits. Below are the number of days in each stage of a Sims' Life.
 * Baby: 3 days
 * Toddler: 7 days
 * Child: 7 days
 * Teen: 14
 * Young Adult: 21 days
 * Adult: 21 days
 * Elder: 16 days
 * You can have a Sim buy a Birthday Cake from the grocery store and throw a party for a Sim. Click on the cake and choose "Blow Out Candles". You can then choose what Sim you want to blow out the candles and advance to the next stage of life. (This is helpful if you tire of taking care of babies and toddlers. It's a quick way to advance to the next stage in life.)

Baby
Babies require a lot of care, but have fewer needs than other Sims. Parents who carry around their babies can to sit on the couch or in a chair away from a table, use the phone, and perform any other interaction that doesn't require touching. A list of baby's needs are listed below:
 * Energy: Babies get tired quicker. Babies sleep in cribs, so it is a good idea to buy one either before or right after baby arrives. Babies sleep cycles aren't like other Sims. Baby Sim's parents won't be getting much sleep at night, so it is probably best to hire a sitter from time to time so parent Sims can get some rest.
 * Hygiene: Babies relieve themselves in their diapers. This makes the baby Smelly and causes a negative "Disgusted" moodlet on other Sims. Click on Baby and choose the "Change Diaper" option to change baby's diaper. If the "Change Diaper" option isn't selected right away, baby's crying can wake up other Sims in the house.
 * Hunger: Babies need a lot of feeding. To feed baby click on baby and choose "Feed Baby".
 * You must tend to the baby or the baby will get lonely. If you neglect any Sim younger than a young adult, there is a strong chance the Social Worker might show up. The Social Worker will take away the neglected Sim.
 * Babies can only be left with Sims who are teens or older. Child Sims can't take care of babies. If all adult Sims need to leave the house, it is best to call a Babysitter to come over.

Baby Interactions

 * Change Diaper: Baby will smell and give a negative "Disgusted" moodlet to Sims that are around. Baby's Hygiene drops also. Click on Baby and choose "Change Diaper" to clean baby up.
 * Hold: Use Hold to pick up baby and carry him/her around and interact with him or her.
 * Put in Crib: When baby is sleepy you can put him/her in the crib for a nap.
 * Feed Baby: Select Feed Baby to give the baby a bottle when it is hungry.

Baby Socials

 * Snuggle: Snuggle with baby to bring up his/her Social need and to build a better relationship with baby.
 * Play With: Play with baby to bring up his/her Social need and build a better realtionship with baby.

Toddler
Babies grow up to be toddlers. Sim parents can teach toddlers to Walk, Talk, and use the Potty. These are 3 lessons that should be taught to a toddler before he/she ages into a child. Toddlers need attention like babies, so if they are fussing or crying, you should socialize with him/her.
 * Energy: Toddlers sleep more regularly than older Sims, and a little less than babies. Toddlers also sleep in a crib.
 * Fun: Toddlers can play with toys or with other Sims for fun. Buy toys and set them on the floor for toddlers to play with.
 * Hunger: You can feed a toddler in a high chair or give them a bottle while they are sitting on the floor. To feed a toddler actual food you need a food processor.
 * Hygiene: Toddlers will go to the bathroom in their diapers if they are not Potty Trained. If they go in their diapers, they will give the negative "Disgusted" moodlet to Sims around them. Click on the toddler to change it's diaper or play as the toddler and click on the potty if the toddler has been potty trained.

Child

 * Child Sims attend school during the day from 9AM - 3PM.
 * Children can use the toy stove to cook muffins, and can grab snacks and quick meals from the fridge. They can't cook full meals until they become teens. They can, however learn cooking skills by clicking on the toy stove and cooking there. They can't read cooking books or learn recipes until they are older.
 * Children have curfew warnings letting them know it's time to get home, unless they are on a lot or at a Sim's house they were invited to.

Teen

 * When a Sim becomes a teen they get to choose a Life Time Wish.
 * Teen Sims can get part-time jobs while attending school. Teens must do well in school so they can pick the fifth and final trait.
 * Teens can perform most socials an adult Sim can, except get married and Woo-Hoo. Teens can not have romantic relationships outside their age group.
 * Teens can have a Best Friend Forever. They can only have one BFF at a time. If a Teen chooses a new BFF while already having a BFF, the first BFF relationship takes a loses points.
 * Teens also have curfews. Curfew is between 11PM - 6AM. If the Teen is out during curfew, the teen recieves an "Out After Curfew" moodlet. If a teen is out after 11PM and not on the lot of a Sim who invited them over or at home, they risk getting caught by the police. The police will bring them home and teens will recieve the negative "Caught After Curfew" moodlet.

Young Adult/Adult

 * Young Adults and Adults have their 5 traits, and are working on their careers and relationships. They now can perform all socials and interactions relating to their traits and thus far their skills. Young Adults and Adults can get engaged, get married and have children. They now have lots of responsibilities and choices to make.

Pregnancy
Young Adult and Adult Sims have the option to "Try For Baby" when their relationship is high enough. Click on "Try For Baby" and the two Sims will head to the bedroom and "Woo-Hoo." If the "Try For Baby" is successful, a short twinkling verse of "Rock-A-Bye Baby" will sound. (It may take more than one try for the stork to come, so don't give up hope! Practice makes perfect in this case!)
 * When a female Sims first gets pregnant she will get the "Nauseous" moodlet and need to use the bathroom to vomit shortly after. The pregnant Sim will also get hungry more often and need to use the bathroom more frequently to relieve herself. The pregnant Sim recieves paid time off for maternity leave.
 * The second day of pregnancy the pregnant Sim's belly will be more pronounced and do more of a waddle than a walk everywere. The "Nauseous" moodlet is replaced by the positive "Pregnant" moodlet which is also accompanied by the negative "Aching Back" moodlet. To relieve the "Aching Back" moodlet, go to the Day Spa in town for a massage or have the pregnant Sim's spouse give her a massage. Another way to make all Sims happy is to use the "Feel Tummy" and the "Talk To Tummy" social.
 * The third day of the pregnancy the birth will take place at some point. Two hours before the actual birth will be the "Baby Is Coming" moodlet. At this point up up until the mother is in labor (and during) you can send the "mother to be" to the Hospital. When at the Hospital, click on the "Have Baby" option. Mother, baby and spouse, partner, or who ever was with the pregnant Sim will come out of the hospital a few hours after entering.

Twins, Triplets, Girls, Boys, and Newborn's First Traits
There are some things you can do to influence twins, triplets, the gender of the baby, and getting to choose the first two traits of the newborn Sim.
 * Twins and Triplets: Either watching the kids channel on the TV or listening to the children's music station on the stereo during pregnancy slightly increases the chance to have twins or triplets. Doing both gives the pregnant Sim an even better chance of having twins or triplets.
 * Baby Boy: Eating 3 apples during the pregnancy increases the chances of having a baby boy.
 * Baby Girl: Eating 3 servings of watermelon increases the chances of having a baby girl.
 * Newborn Sim's First Traits: How happy the mother Sim is during the pregnancy has an effect on what the baby's first 2 traits will be. If the pregnant Sim was very happy during the pregnancy, you can pick the baby's first 2 traits yourself. If the pregnant Sim was pretty happy, you will get to pick at least one trait and the other trait is random . If the pregnant Sim was in an okay mood during the pregnancy both traits are assigned randomly. If the mother was somewhat unhappy during the pregnancy,then one trait is randomly chosen and the other is picked from the negative trait list. If the pregnancy was a disaster and the mother Sim was completely miserable, both traits will be randomly picked from the negative trait list.
 * To increase the chance that you will be able to pick the newborn Sim's first 2 traits, go to the Bookstore in town and buy the two pregnancy books there. "Baby Incoming: Preparing With Vigilance" and "Totally Preggers: An Expectant Mother's Tale". Have the pregnant Sim read them both if she can.

Adoption
To adopt a baby you just need to pick up the phone and call the Adoption Service. A social worker will come to the house and will ask you what age Sim you want to adopt. You can choose a baby, toddler, or child Sim and can also choose the gender of the Sim you want to adopt. You can then name the little Sim. Be sure to check what traits the new Sim has so there are no big surprises later on!
 * Sims who adopt get days off for maternity leave just as pregnant Sims do.

Elder

 * Elder Sims are the same as Adults, but closer to the end of the road. Keep your elder Sims going strong to the end so they can keep their dignity and have little or no regrets before passing on.

Death
Everything must come to an end. When a Sim dies, they crumple to the ground and the Grim Reaper comes to take them away. Sometimes the Grim Reaper will hang around and you can chat with him before he leaves.
 * When a Spouse or Partner dies a Sim gets the "Heart Broken" moodlet. Family members or dear friends get the "Mourning" moodlet.
 * When a Sim dies they leave behind the remains. Depending on the type of death, it could be just ash or a marker. You can carve an epitaph on a marker, mourn over the marker, or put the marker in the graveyard.

Several Simly Ways To Die
There are several ways a Sim can die. Burning, drowning, electrocution, starvation, and old age.
 * Burning: Children, Teens, Young Adults, Adults and Elders can catch fire. If a Sim is next to an object that is on fire, they can catch themselves on fire. The "On Fire" moodlet shows up with a timer. If the fire is not extinguished in time by another Sim or the Sim doesn't reach a water source, the Sim dies. If the Sim makes it to water, the "On Fire" moodlet changes to a "Singed" moodlet. (Just take a shower or bath to get rid of the "Singed" moodlet".) To avoid catching fire buy a fire alarm, don't get too close to fire, and put out a Sim on fire right away. Ghost is Red.
 * Drowning: Children, Teens, Young Adults, Adults and Elders can drown. Swimming when fatigued can cause a Sim to drown. The "Fatigued" moodlet has a timer. If the Sim is not out of the pool by the time the timer runs out, they will drown. If you don't want the Sim to drown, get the Sim out of the pool when they are fatigued. Ghost is Blue.
 * Electrocution: Teens, Young Adults, Adults and Elders can get electrocuted. Trying to repair an electrical object without having higher Handiness skills will cause a Sim to get electrocuted. Standing in a puddle of water when using an electrical object will also cause electrocution. To avoid getting electrocuted, watch for the warning sign. A Sim who tries to repair an electrical object with low Handiness skills will get the "Singed" moodlet. Trying to repair the object again after being Singed will cause electrocution. Ghost is Yellow.
 * Starvation: Teens Young Adults, Adults, and Elders can die from starvation. Failure to feed a Sim will eventaully result in the "Starving" moodlet that has a timer. If the Sim does not eat something before the timer runs out, the Sim will starve to death. If you don't want a Sim to starve to death make sure the Sim eats food. The Social Worker will come and take away babies, toddlers, and children if they are starving.Ghost is Purple.
 * Old Age: Every Sim will eventually die. If not by any other Simly death, then by old age. Death from old age cannot be avoided. Ghost is White.

Warding Off Death
There are a few ways a Sim can ward off death. If a Sim has a Death Fruit in their inventory at the time of death, they can offer it in exchange for more time. Another way is to eat Life Fruits. Life Fruits add a few days to your Sim's life. You can grow both of these plants by reaching the highest of the Gardening skills and discovering their seeds. One other way to ward off death is to challenge the Grim Reaper in a game of Chess when he comes calling. If you beat him in the game, he will give you a second chance at life.

Ghosts
Sims who have passed sometimes appear around their grave stones. If you put a grave stone somewhere on your lot you might see a ghost sometime after 11 P.M. Ghosts can interact with objects on a lot, make noise and scare living Sims, but won't harm them. Ghosts appear in the Graveyard after midnight- before dawn. Look for rattling objects as the sign of a ghost. Living Sims can talk to ghosts, but can't have romantic relationships with them and can't ask them to move back in. If you want to see a ghost on your lot, send a Kleptomaniac Sim to the Graveyard. They might steal a grave stone and bring it back with them. Put the stone on your lot and you might see a ghost in the future.
 * If you feed a ghost ambrosia, there is a chance it will come back to life.
 * Sims who have the Daredevil, Brave, Insane, Childish, and Party Animal traits are happy to see ghosts.
 * Sims with the Neurotic and Coward traits get the "Scared" moodlet.
 * Playable Ghosts: If a loved one has died and you still have their grave stone or remains, Landgraab Industries Science Facility might give you a call. Zoom out to the map and click on the Sience Facility. Choose the "Restore Ghost" option to bring back the loved one from the dead. The ghost appears as a playable ghost. The ghost is selectable with all regular and social interactions. They can cook food and develop skills. Living Sims can be romantic with playable ghosts that are young adult or adult Sims. You can have a high enough relationship with playable ghosts to "Woo-Hoo" and "Try For Baby". If the "Try For Baby" is successful there is a chance that the baby will be a "Ghost Baby." You can start a whole family of ghosts this way!