Expanding your family in Stardew Valley brings a new level to the game. Not only is it a mid to late-game goal but it also enhances your daily farm life. In this article, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about how to have kids in Stardew Valley, from building strong relationships to raising kids, and more. There are a few milestones throughout the game, and progressing far enough with one NPC to have children is a big one.
Establishing a Relationship
Before you know how to have kids in Stardew Valley, you need to build a relationship with one marriage candidate. To build a bond, you’ll want to focus on increasing heart levels by giving loved gifts, completing their special requests, and engaging in daily conversations. Each marriage candidate has specific items they love, so learn their likes, loves, and dislikes, and be sure to give them a gift on their birthday for an extra heart boost.
Once you’ve reached a 10-heart level with your chosen partner, it’s time to propose. Start by giving them a bouquet to signal your romantic intentions. Afterward, present the Mermaid’s Pendant, available from the Old Mariner on rainy days. The wedding ceremony will be held three days after the proposal. It’s a pretty simple process, but it only happens after a long period of work. It takes a long time to get to 10 hearts.
Preparing for Parenthood
To welcome children in Stardew Valley, you must first upgrade your farmhouse. This upgrade is required as it adds a nursery. To start the second house upgrade, visit Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop. You’ll need 50,000 gold and 150 hardwood. Once you provide the materials, Robin will begin construction and the upgrade will be completed in three days. After that, your house will of course be bigger, but you can then have children, too.
How to Have Kids in Stardew Valley
Before you can start having kids, you need to fulfill two primary prerequisites:
- 12-Heart Relationship: You must achieve a 12-heart relationship level with your spouse. This requires consistent interaction, gifts, and fulfilling their requests.
- Second House Upgrade: As mentioned above, you’ll need to complete the second house upgrade.
You’ll also need to wait 14 in-game days after your marriage before you can start trying for children. Once you meet these requirements, your spouse may express a desire to start a family. The dialogue typically indicates their readiness for kids. They might say something like, “I’ve been thinking about us having a family. What do you think?” How you respond matters. If you choose to express your interest, the game will proceed with the next steps for having children. If you decline, your spouse will eventually bring it up again, so your decision can be revisited. The process differs slightly depending on whether you’re having a biological child or adopting:
- Pregnancy Timeline: If you choose to have a biological child, the female character will become pregnant, and the baby will arrive after 14 days of in-game time. The nursery in your house will be where the baby stays.
- Adoption Process: For same-sex couples, adoption is how to have kids in Stardew Valley. The process is similar in terms of waiting time, but there’s no pregnancy involved. The adoption will be finalized after a short wait, and your child will appear in the nursery.
Raising Kids
Here’s what you need to know about how to have kids in Stardew Valley. Your children, once born, will progress through four stages:
- Baby: After you’ve had a child, they will start as a baby. They stay in the crib in the nursery and require little interaction. The baby stage lasts for 14 in-game days.
- Crawling Baby: After the baby stage, your child will start to crawl around their nursery. This stage lasts for 14 in-game days.
- Toddler: Next, your child will grow into a toddler. They can now walk around and interact with their environment. This stage also lasts for 14 in-game days.
- Child: Finally, your child will reach the child stage, which continues indefinitely. They will leave the nursery and start moving around the house more freely. In this stage, they have the ability to help with farm chores and participate in events.
Having children in Stardew Valley offers several rewards:
- Event Participation and New Dialogue: Family events, like birthday celebrations and special dialogues, become available for enriching gameplay.
- Help Around the Farm: As children reach their final stage, they can help with tasks around the farm, such as gathering items or taking on simple chores.
Wrapping Up
Having kids in Stardew Valley is a nice change of pace from the hustle of farm life. However, many players are unclear on how to start this journey in their game. Having and raising kids in Stardew Valley involves having a fulfilling relationship with one of the marriage candidates of Pelican Town, completing the second farmhouse upgrade, and navigating pregnancy or adoption. There are several children’s mods available on Nexus for those looking for a more in-depth experience. That’s all you need to know about how to have kids in Stardew Valley.
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