If you caught our recent blog, RealCare Baby 4: The Next Generation of Infant Simulation, you’ll know that the brand-new RealCare Baby 4 has arrived, and it’s packed with exciting new features designed to take your students’ infant care learning to the next level.
But what if your classroom has a mix of RealCare Baby 3 and RealCare Baby 4 simulators? Don’t worry, both versions work perfectly together. With a little planning, you can create a consistent, engaging learning experience for all students, no matter which baby they’re using.
What’s the Difference Between RealCare Baby 3 and RealCare Baby 4?
While both simulators provide realistic, hands-on learning experiences, RealCare Baby 4 includes several new features designed to enhance realism and data tracking.
Some of the key updates include:
Playtime tracking - encourages engagement and development through play.
Tummy time event - records important developmental activity.
Babbling responses - Baby interacts when spoken to.
Noise sensitivity - tracks loud sounds as mishandling events.
Bluetooth connectivity - faster setup and improved reporting.
You can download our RealCare Baby 3 vs RealCare Baby 4 comparison guide to see a full breakdown of all the new features.
Although Baby 4 adds more data points, most of these are not graded care events within the curriculum, meaning you can easily teach both models together with minor adjustments.
Tips for Teaching with Both RealCare Baby 3 and RealCare Baby 4
1. Playtime
RealCare Baby 4: Automatically tracked in reports.
RealCare Baby 3: Not tracked.
Your options:
To ensure fairness, ask Baby 3 users to engage in play and reflect on their experience through making notes or discussion. Alternatively, use simulation schedules 1–15, which exclude playtime for both models.
2. Tummy Time
RealCare Baby 4: Tracked in the report.
RealCare Baby 3: Not tracked.
Your options:
Encourage all students to complete tummy time sessions.
For Baby 4, this data appears on page 2 of the report. For Baby 3, students can manually record tummy time in the RealCare Baby Guide app notes.
You can also add written prompts such as: “How does tummy time benefit an infant’s physical development?”
3. Talk Time
RealCare Baby 4: Baby babbles in response to speech (tracked).
RealCare Baby 3: No response feature.
Your options:
Ask all students to talk to their Baby several times during the simulation.
For Baby 4, instructors can review data.
For Baby 3, students can log interactions manually in a notebook or app note.
4. Loud Sound Exposure
RealCare Baby 4: Detects loud sounds and records them as mishandling events.
RealCare Baby 3: No sound detection.
Your options:
To keep grading consistent, simply set the mishandling event weight to zero for Baby 4 when programming.
5. Awake/Asleep Monitoring
RealCare Baby 4 allows students to check their Baby’s sleep status via the RealCare Baby Guide app. This feature is optional and does not affect grading.
Making the Most of the RealCare Baby Guide App
The RealCare Baby Guide App works with both models for note taking, scenario responses, and care notes.
RealCare Baby 4 users have extra convenience features like real-time feedback and sleep tracking.
RealCare Baby 3 users can still use all core app functions for consistency.
Encourage students to use the app’s notes section for:
Reflections on care events.
Answering daily infant care or safety questions.
Responding to developmental prompts such as safe sleep positions or feeding routines.
The app also includes 50 daily scenarios that spark discussion and assessment opportunities in class.
Using Your Existing Curriculum with Both Simulators
Good news, if you’re already using the RealCare Baby curriculum, you won’t need to make major changes to teach with both RealCare Baby 3 and RealCare Baby 4. The core content is compatible with both models, so you can continue using the same lesson plans, activities, and assessments you’re familiar with.
Both simulators teach essential infant care concepts like basic caregiving skills and responsibility. The few new features in Baby 4, like tummy time and play time, can easily be incorporated as optional enhancements or discussion points. However, if you’re using the Basic Infant Care or Healthy Life Choices curriculum, you may want to check out the updated versions that come with RealCare Baby 4!
Managing Mixed RealCare Baby 3 and 4 Classrooms
Teaching with both RealCare Baby 3 and RealCare Baby 4 in one classroom is easier than you might think. With minor grading adjustments and consistent use of the RealCare Baby Guide app, your students will receive high-quality, hands-on experience, regardless of which simulator they’re using.
Both models continue to build empathy, responsibility, and real-world infant care understanding, making them invaluable tools for childcare, health and social care, and parenting education.
Bring RealCare Baby 4 to Your Classroom
The RealCare Baby 4 Infant Simulator is available now, exclusively from AnatomyStuff, the UK’s trusted distributor for Realityworks educational products.
Order online or request a quote today at anatomystuff.co.uk. Or email us at orders@anatomystuff.co.uk for more information.
