My favorite Sims 3 mods for family gameplay (2026)

I already made this entire post but somehow deleted it on accident, so here it is again finally! And here are the links back to part 1 and part 2 of this series showcasing my favorite mods!

TheSweetSimmer

More Pregnancy Interactions

More Baby Interactions

More Toddler Interactions

Pick Up Toddler Fixes

Toddler Routing Fix

Adults can Play Peek-A-Boo & Hug Toddlers

Toddlers can Ride Rocking Rider

Autonomous Play with Teddy

Toddlers Can Learn to Walk Alone - May be a bit cheaty, but feels realistic to me so I like having it in my game

Replaced Child Hug Animation - This one is an override for the default hug animation for children

Toddlers Can Escape Crib - This mod is not yet released and currently just a prototype, but the interaction is functional!

Nona

Breastfeeding Mod - I like this mod for additional realism!

Don't Put the Baby Down - Fixes the behavior of sims using the changing table from the Sims 3 Store

Twoftmama (requires registration)

Puddles When Water Breaks - Causes a puddle to form under your sim when they go into labor, I've used this mod so long I almost forgot it wasn't base game

Additional Traits For Babies - This mod makes it so sims born in your world will end up with a wider variety of traits, because so many are locked behind ages by default

Toddlers Sleep With No Social Decay - Admittedly a bit cheaty, but I like this change

Less Autonomous Read To Sleep - This interaction can happen a bit too often by default so I like the "Less" version, but there's also a flavor to disable it autonomously altogether

Other mods from various creators

Read Toddler to Sleep - Fixed Interaction - EA broke this interaction in a patch so here's a fix for it! Goes in overrides

Baby Swings For Eight Hours (requires registration) - For the swing from the Sims 3 Store. A little cheaty as well, but makes my life easier

Just Like My Parents! - Allows toddlers and children to play with their parent's makeup, really cute!

NO More Imaginary Friends! - Personal preference, but I prefer not having imaginary friends in my games

Annoying Child Activity Fix - Before this mod released recently, preside over royal court (and the like) were driving me nuts!

Enhanced Hospitals - Adds new interactions at the hospital - Sperm Donor / Egg Donor Pregnancy, Surrogate Pregnancy, Gender Affirmation Surgery, and Pregnancy Termination. I used to use the ancient version of this mod by Sims MX, but this one is fully updated for Patch 1.67 / 1.69

Supernatural Babies - Children of the Full Moon - Makes it so there's a chance that babies born on the Full Moon will be born as an occult

Mixed Feelings About Pregnancy - Makes it so pregnancy isn't just a static +20 moodlet and more dependent on the sim's traits

School Additions (Call In Sick, Manually Attend After School Clubs) - I haven't gotten as much of a chance to test this mod as much as the others, but love the concept!

Toddler Interactions Mod (ClaudiaSharon Remake) - I currently don't have this one in my game because the "Explore Around" interaction was making things harder for me in the Daycare Profession, but still worth shouting out for the cool features it adds!

White Formula Default Replacement Bottle

In addition to the other mods that didn't fit neatly into previous categories, next I'd like to share the aesthetic mods I have in my game; like default replacements for objects, lighting and environment mods, and eventually my favorite clothes, hair, and build/buy objects, so look out for future posts!

More Sims 3 mods I couldn't live without (2026)

Here's the link back to the first part if you missed it

Default Easel Paintings (Mediafire Link) by fillyfoal - Couldn't find this one online anymore, but I LOVE this default replacement for paintings and have used it for years, so I'm re-uploading it here. The original post for this mod is inaccessible even through the WayBackMachine, unfortunately. But you can take my word for it that these paintings are really beautiful!

Here's an example of what one of the paintings looks like from my game. To my knowledge they change based on the traits of your sim.

To preview this mod further, you can open the package file in S3PE to view the images used for the paintings!

One With Nature - Allows your sims to pee outside, bathe in nature, relax outside, and "sleep here" without a bed

Insane Converse - Expands interactions for sims with the Insane trait

RandomGenetics (Download Link) by NeuroBlazer - mod description from WayBackMachine. This randomizes genetics from parents in a way that's more random. Unfortunately the UI for this mod is a little intrusive, but I still feel it's worth it for my own game

Food Affects Weight - This is a feature in Sims 4 that I'm glad finally made it to this game in mod form! Definitely more realistic and gives you a new way to influence weight other than exercise

Break into house Mod - Super cool for klepto sims

Sleep On Sofa - Allows the sleep interaction on sofas!

Set The Table & Call To Meal - This can be super handy if you have guests over or want your whole household to eat together

Seasons & Barista Bar Beverages on the Coffee Machine - Allows you to make more beverages with coffee machines

Have Coffee With Me

The Professional Juice Bar Mod - Allows you to use professional bar interactions on the regular juice bars that are 2x1 tile. This is soo nice so you don't have to go into edit town and place professional bars on lots in worlds other than Bridgeport

University Life: 'Juice' to 'Alcohol' Override - Changes the word juice to alcohol in moodlet descriptions

Taxi Charge Mod - I have a bone to pick with this mod where if multiple sims get in the same taxi, it charges all of them, but it still adds realism and makes the game slightly harder!

Moar Interactions - This one has a ton of useful interactions. Although this mod has been around for a while, I added it to my game fairly recently and it's such an enhancement!

Longer Romantic Drink Moodlet

Cat Fishing Skill - Allows cats to fish in ponds + adds a new skill for it

More filling "minor pets snacks" for cats and dogs - For pets, makes eating minor pets more filling for their hunger motive

Take a stroll - New interaction for sims to take a walk around town

Buzzler's Scribbling Pad - Write books without a computer! I actually avoid putting computers on my home lots most of the time so this comes in handy (also good for Technophobe sims)

Meals Anytime v12 (2 Flavors) (requires registration) - I love this one because who says you can't make breakfast food for dinner?

Dumpster Diving - More Objects To Find (requires registration) - Expands the selection of items your sim can find from dumpster diving

Visiting Situation 3 Days (requires registration) - Visitors from out of town will stay for longer

Subtle Build Grid Active Level Only - Build/Buy UI enhancement

Shiftable Curtains [Base Game - Island Paradise]

TwinSimming

Yoga Mod - Do Yoga, Meditate, Host Classes, & Train Sims

Let Me Take a Selfie

Host Guest Lectures

Famous Artists

University Valedictorian - I put this mod into my game recently and sent my sim to college, got straight As, and they happened to be valedictorian when they graduated which was cool!

New Skill Classes - I'm not the biggest fan of how EA locked a lot of the World Adventures skills (like Nectar Making, Martial Arts, etc) to mostly only being attainable in foreign worlds. Also adds classes for Ambitions and University Life skills

Spray Tan - Allows you to buy a bottle of spray tan at the grocery store

Take Practice Shots Mod - Having the photography skill being almost entirely active where you have to constantly micromanage and clutter your inventory with photos wasn't my favorite design choice, so this is helpful for when you want to raise your photography skill while actively playing other sims

Next, I'll be linking to some mods that are oriented towards family gameplay so be on the look out!

Sims 3 mods I couldn't live without (2026)

I really appreciate links to resources on other simmer's blogs, so I thought I would share my favorite sims 3 mods! This list has been curated for years in my own personal gameplay but I've never shared it as a resource (and it's good bookkeeping just in case I need to find them again). With some I had to link to internet archive and/or re-upload because they've disappeared from the internet

☆ = I find this mod essential

Nraas Mods

Okay, I have a ton of Nraas mods! Some are definitely less essential than others but I love what they add to the game (aside from preventing game breaking bugs)

Nraas Overwatch ☆

Nraas ErrorTrap ☆

Nraas MasterController ☆ - I also recommend the Cheats and Integration modules

Nraas Saver ☆ - This one is a must for me! Crashes can destroy so much of your progress and it's nice to just remind you of real world time (lol)

Nraas StoryProgression - I also use a bunch of modules for it, Extra, Money, Relationship (allows townies to break up), and Skill. Occasionally I add the personality modules too, but tailor the ones I use to the specific game I'm playing

Nraas Dreamer - I personally love being able to fulfill pending wishes, but I can see how some might find it cheaty

Nraas GoHere - An improvement compared to the default behavior, imo!

Nraas Woohooer - I also use the KamaSimtra and Scoring modules. As well as the ones for objects like the Sauna

Nraas Tempest - This can be cool for importing tuning settings for specific worlds.

Nraas WrittenWord - Allows you to buy your sims books in the bookstore which is nice!

Nraas Decensor

Nraas OnceRead

Nraas SleepFreedom - Sometimes sleeping restrictions feel a little overbearing so this can come in clutch. Doesn't apply to beds outside of ones from expansion packs or base game

Nraas Porter - I use this occasionally to move lots of sims to a new world at one time when playing a legacy

Nraas Register - Handy for turning off paparazzi and adjusting the number of stray animals

Nraas Traffic - I use this to put food trucks in worlds other than Bridgeport

Nraas Careers - There are some good custom careers. I also like the Homemaker module where you can have your sim get paid for raising their kids and maintaining the house

Nraas DebugEnabler - Allows more cheaty / debug options in game

Performance Enhancing Mods

Only Important Memories ☆ - This one reduces save bloat, because all of the townies around town also have memories associated with them

Reduce/Remove Lag caused by Houseboats ☆ - This is necessary for playing in Isla Paradiso, but there are other things you should do as well to help performance in that world

Sims 3 Settings Setter ☆ - This is a new mod for Sims 3 that improves performance of the game by making it use more efficient functions. It contains useful features like a warning for when you are approaching the memory limit and the ability to change GraphicsRules settings while in game. Highly recommend! If you already have LazyDuchess SmoothPatch, this has its own version built in, so you will need to take those files out. From my experience, it's a big improvement from just having SmoothPatch installed

ellacharmed World Fixes - These need to be installed differently than most other mods. There's some debate in the community as to whether these world fixes are always necessary. I've heard the World Adventures world fixes can cause issues for some players, so I don't use those ones in my game

Mods that Reduce Annoyances

Make those elevators go faster! ☆ - LIFESAVER for playing in Bridgeport. I use the very fast flavor

No Wishes: Gifting, Groups, Jamming, Pillowfight, Simport, Karaoke ☆ - These wishes can come up WAY too often! You can pick and choose which ones you want to remove from your game

More/Less Attraction Calls & Love Letters - 4 Flavors ☆ - I use the Reduced flavor

Reaction Remover - I specifically use the one for Simbots, because if you have one in your household it can become borderline unplayable when everyone nearby cancels their interactions to freak out over them existing

No More Autonomous Autograph Signing

No Social Groups - I use the Uni Only Favor, so social groups are only really a thing when at university. You can still join the top level social group careers back in your home world if you got to a high level at uni, but the levels will be hidden on your sim

No more cell phone idles!

No Motive Fail tantrum or whining

No Emigration (requires registration) - I use the NoEmigrationNoImmigration flavor. This stops sims from moving out of town randomly (I got burned by my own legacy sims leaving once), and I think prevents new random sims from moving into your world? Having new random sims populate your world just isn't necessary with stuff like Nraas SP where you'll likely have tons of sims anyway

Correction: From researching the mod further, this should not be used with Nraas SP. I think the time where I had my sims leaving town was actually during a brief period where I was using simler90's Gameplay Core Mod instead of Nraas SP. Hasn't caused any issues for me to leave this in, but since learning that I've removed it from my set up. Still useful if you are using EA SP or simler90's mod

No Route Fail and No Foot Tapping Animations Mods (requires registration)

No Mascot Intro Situation (requires University EP) (requires registration)

No Capture The Moment on the Smart Phone (requires University EP) (requires registration)

Less Bartender Conversations (requires Late Night EP) (requires registration)

Sit On More Comfy Objects and Better Routing for Game Objects (requires registration)

No Coughing While Eating (requires registration)

No NPCs Performing for Tips (Mediafire Link) by madamesims - Could only find mod description through WayBackMachine (scroll down the page). This is specifically for the Showtime Singer performances

No autonomous berate ignorance and practice school cheer 3 flavours (Mediafire Link) by JustAnotherSimsFan - Could only find mod description through WayBackMachine. This one I had to resurrect and upload myself as I could not find it online anywhere. The version I uploaded is the flavor that blocks three interactions (Trivia Challenge too) for autonomous

General Fixes

Fix: Sims need less Space ☆

Fix: Bass needs less Space for playing ☆

Fix: Guitar needs less Space for playing ☆

Opportunity phone call fix - Fixes a bug with Into the Future

Fixes for Three EA Wall Sets from the Base Game and Ambitions

Tileable Items Shader FIX

Base Game Half Walls FIXED!!!!

Trait Discovery Fix

Portrait, StillLife, MemorizeScene quality fixer

Throw a Great Party Dreams Fix

Restoration Spell Fix

Nicer Vendors + Ask Animation Edits

Get to Know Fix +

Money Tree Bug Fix (requires registration)

To be continued...

I think I'm close to exceeding the maximum size for posts on tumblr. Look out for the second part where I'll be linking more mods that enhance gameplay! Those will be the more fun mods as opposed to just fixing the game