Holding a Baby or a Siddur During Prayer
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Question
Is it permissible to hold a baby in one's arms during prayer, and what is the ruling regarding holding a siddur in one's hand during prayer?
Answer
Baby: It is certainly forbidden to hold him in one's hands, and even to seat him in front of oneself during prayer (unless praying at home and it helps to concentrate by holding the baby). Regarding the siddur: only if one is praying from it and it aids in concentration. But if not praying from it, it is forbidden to hold anything in one's hands during prayer.
Source
Mishna Berakhot, page 23b: "The Rabbis taught: A person should not hold tefillin in his hand and a Torah scroll in his arm and pray." And in the Gemara there: "Shmuel said: A knife, money, a bowl, and bread are similar." Also in Sukkah 41a, it is explained that it is permitted to hold a lulav in one's hand during prayer, because it is a mitzvah and does not distract. In explaining the difference between a lulav and a Torah scroll and other items, Rashi in Sukkah wrote that a lulav, since it is a mitzvah, its carrying and guarding are not burdensome, unlike a Torah scroll and tefillin, which are not a mitzvah in the act of holding. And the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 96, Paragraph 2, wrote: "It is permitted to hold a prayer book in one's hand during prayer, since it is held for the purpose of the prayer itself, it does not distract, similar to a lulav, since its holding is a mitzvah, it does not distract."
Rashi in Berakhot wrote that a knife might fall on one's feet, a Torah scroll and tefillin might be dishonored, money might spill and be lost, and bread might become spoiled. And the Beit Yosef deduced from his words that only a knife, Torah scroll, tefillin, and a bowl full of money, and bread, which one is concerned about, are forbidden, but other things are permitted. However, Rabbi Yona disagrees and holds that one should not hold anything in one's hand during prayer.
The halacha in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 96, Paragraph 1, ruled according to Rashi's opinion that only these items are forbidden, but other items are permitted, and the Mishnah Berurah there, Seif Katan 5, is concerned with Rabbi Yona's opinion. And in Seif Katan wrote: "And wrote in Be'er HaGolah, that it is also forbidden to seat a baby in front of oneself during prayer."