With the offspring project having our favorite sims procreating like mad, I thought I'd offer some tips about getting through the toddler stage:
This is a must! It's a toddler bed that the toddler can get into and out of without help. No more shaking the crib rail and shrieking like a banshee!
Now for the three things a toddler needs to learn: Use the potty, talk, and walk:
Ideally, the toddler wakes up with a lot of energy, hungry, and with a somewhat full bladder (not overfull, because then the toddler might just go in his/her diaper). Have the parent sim with the best mood - platinum is best - teach the child. Essential are "Smart Milk" and "Thinking Cap". Make smart milk for the toddler. While the toddler's drinking it empty the potty and put on the thinking cap. Then take the toddler to the potty. When the toddler is done, he may not have learned to use the potty just yet. Go on to teach talking and walking. By now the toddler probably has a little bit in the bladder. Empty the potty and take the toddler back to it. The smart milk effect might have gone away but the thinking cap should still be working. Taking the toddler back to the potty should be enough for her to learn to use the potty.
All three skills learned in a few hours
- one dose of smart milk and the thinking cap. Put the smart milk into the parent's inventory and get whatever use the parent can out of the thinking cap.
For the rest of toddlerhood, fix ordinary milk for the toddler as needed, bathe as needed, etc. The toddler will go to bed and awaken (usually) without any trouble. I'm inclined to have the toddler concentrate on logic and charisma, mechanical can eventually be learned from the bookshelf, and creativity from the easel.