Holding a Baby During the Thirty Days of Mourning

Shiva (7 Days of Mourning)

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Question

Is it permissible to hold a baby in one's lap during the thirty days of mourning?

Answer

It is permitted, and it is only prohibited during the seven days, not during the thirty.

Source

It is stated in the Gemara Moed Katan, page 26b: "Rav Papa said: It is taught in Avel Rabbati: A mourner should not place a baby in his lap because it leads to laughter, and he becomes contemptible in the eyes of people."

The Tur, Avelut, Siman 391, writes: "A mourner is prohibited from joy for all 30 days, even a baby should not be taken in his lap lest it leads to laughter, but this is only during the seven days," and so writes the Beit Yosef, noting that the language in the Gemara implies it is specifically during the seven days, and so writes the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 391: "A mourner is prohibited from joy; therefore, he should not take a baby in his lap all seven days, lest it leads to laughter."

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