Sims 2 screenshot of a couple holding twin alien babies.
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Sims 2 first-born syndrome fix

Here's how to fix this frustrating glitch

Looking for a Sims 2 first-born syndrome fix? The first-born syndrome is a curious glitch that makes all siblings in one Sims household look identical to the first baby born. If you’re looking for a way to fix this bizarre Sims 2 bug, read on. 

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First born syndrome fix

Sims 2 screenshot of the 'Create a Child' menu.
Image by Destructoid

There are a few ways you can reset your household if you encounter the first-born syndrome bug. Follow these steps:

  • Enter ‘Create a Family’ from the neighborhood menu. Make sure you do it just before your pregnant Sim gives birth (if you exit the game beforehand, you’ll need to repeat these steps).
  • Create a new Sim.
  • Click the ‘randomize’ button a few times.
  • Delete the Sim and exit the menu.
  • Return to your family.

Or

  • Enter ‘Create a Family’ from the neighborhood menu.
  • Create a new male and female Sim.
  • Enter into the ‘Make a Child’ menu (click on the pacifier symbol on the left side of the screen).
  • Delete the Sims and exit the menu.
  • Return to your family.

If the problem persists, there is a well-known mod in the community that is said to help fix the glitch. The mod is called the Sims2RPC, created by LazyDuchess and shared on Mod The Sims.

First-born syndrome bug explained

The Sims 2 has a built-in genetic sequencer that determines what traits and features the offspring of two Sims will get. Often this sequence ‘resets’ and starts from the same position when a game is loaded. This means that unless you have multiple children in one play session, every time you reload your game the genetic sequence will start over.

The above tactics effectively ‘reset’ the genetic randomizer and ensure that the next baby Sim born into the household will look different.

That rounds up our guide to the first-born syndrome in The Sims 2. If you’re in the mood for more, check out our list of Sims 2 cheats and the best Sims 2 mods and Woohoo locations to spice up your gameplay. 


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Kiera Mills
Kiera is a freelance gaming writer with a BA in Journalism and a background covering the latest RPGs, cozy games, horrors, crafting and survival games. When she's not spending time scaring herself silly or building farms, she likes to paint Warhammer minis and play DnD. Her current alter-ego is a half-orc paladin warlock called Roxa who chronically speaks in the third person.