Baby Steps

 is the very first Fallout 3 quest.

Walk to Dad
Goal: Walk to Dad

This quest starts after you finish choosing your character's name and appearance. It is intended to teach the player how to navigate around the world.

The Great Escape
Goal: Open the Playpen Gate

After the PC's father speaks for a little while, he will lock him/her in the playpen and leave. A new objective is given at this point: open the playpen's gate. Walk up to the gate and press the action button. The gate will swing open, and the next part will start. This is also when you learn how to grab and move objects without putting it in your inventory.

You're S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
Goals: Read the 'You're S.P.E.C.I.A.L.' Book

Choose your primary stats

The next objective is to find the "You're SPECIAL!" book. It is lying right in front of the toy box. Once examined, you are prompted to decide what your character's initial S.P.E.C.I.A.L. statistics should be. The book gives a description of what each attribute does on each page. The last page allows for all to be adjusted from one location.

Things to remember:
 * No primary stat can be raised above 10
 * Stats can be "invisibly" raised above 10. It won't affect the stat in any way, but if it somehow suffers a reduction, it can be offset by these boosts. For example, if you have a 10 in Agility, get the Bobblehead, and equip Metal Armor (which gives -1 AGL), the loss will be effectively nullified.
 * There is a Bobblehead for each primary stat to raise it by 1 point, but not above 10. (Keep this in mind when considering to immediately raise a stat to 10)
 * Various items may be equipped or received to affect stats. In particular, many pieces of basic equipment can give a +1 to Agility, and/or +1 to Endurance. Some Power Armors give Strength boosts, albeit at the cost of weight. Lots of headwear can give a +1 Perception boost. Lucky Shades can give a +1 to Luck, as does Ranger Battle Armor and the quest reward Lucky 8 Ball.
 * Chems can be used to affect your stats temporarily.
 * If you are not satisfied with your SPECIAL stats, you will be given an opportunity to change them after the "Escape!" quest.

Follow Dad
Goal: Follow your Dad out of the room

James will come back into the room, perfectly aware of the player character's escape (even if he/she returns to the pen and closes the door). He reads his wife's favorite Bible verse, Revelation 21:6, to the player. He then tells the player to follow him to see if his friend Amata wants to play. After entering into the hallway, the game skips forward nine years to the PC's tenth birthday party, starting the "Growing Up Fast" quest.

Transition Quotes
You may not be able to listen to all the voices talking at the same time during the transition from being a newborn to an infant, so in the interest of adding depth, these are the lines:


 * I'm sorry, Madison. I am. But what choice do I have?- Dad
 * I thought I knew you... I trusted you! We all did! How can you be so selfish? -- Doctor Li
 * Selfish? This is my child we're talking about, Madison! My child! -- Dad


 * It's you and me, now, okay? You and me. But that's okay. So long as we've got each other, that's all that matters. -- Dad


 * No, no, put that away. This one's on the house. And now a toast. To James and his cheery cherub. May your future be safe, bright, and boring as hell.-- Colin Moriarty


 * Shh... You're safe now. No more monsters. No more nightmares. Shh... That's it. Daddy's got you… -- Dad


 * Yes, yes. Cardiology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry. Whatever your needs. You'll find I can handle, well… I can handle just about anything. -- Dad
 * All right. Just remember one thing. We need a doctor, not a deadbeat. Fail to meet my expectations, and there will be repercussions. -- Overseer


 * Not so bad, huh? A bit chilly maybe, but we'll get used to that. A few decorations, some donated toys, and this place will feel just like home. Home… -- Dad


 * Hmmmm... Good? Huh, is that good? Here you go... No... Not too fast. That's it. That's it. Everything on the spoon. Come on, you can do it. -- Dad

Bugs

 * After the line where Dad says "I want to show you something," he may simply stand still. You have to create a new file in order to get him to move. Another workaround would be to save the game, exit to the menu, then reload the save. (confirmed on PC)

Behind the scenes

 * The music coming from the baby mobile is a portion of the Tranquility Lane music.