Infants on Shabbat: Difference between revisions
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#In a case where the child is under three months and appears to be ill, if his temperature is not that high, but merely a notch over 100 degrees, one can still desecrate the [[Shabbos]] (call a doctor, drive if a non-Jew cannot be found etc.) as temperature for a newborn can be indicative of something more serious<ref>Igros Moshe O.C. 1:129</ref>. If time is not of essence one should obviously initially look to engage a non-Jew in any prohibited activity. <ref>Rabbi Heshy Kahn (What's Doing, Greater Connecticut, 3/3/11)</ref> | #In a case where the child is under three months and appears to be ill, if his temperature is not that high, but merely a notch over 100 degrees, one can still desecrate the [[Shabbos]] (call a doctor, drive if a non-Jew cannot be found etc.) as temperature for a newborn can be indicative of something more serious<ref>Igros Moshe O.C. 1:129</ref>. If time is not of essence one should obviously initially look to engage a non-Jew in any prohibited activity. <ref>Rabbi Heshy Kahn (What's Doing, Greater Connecticut, 3/3/11)</ref> | ||
#If a child needs a vaporizer to alleviate discomfort (from bronchitis etc.), one may ask a non-Jew to plug it in on [[Shabbos]] to ease his pain. While some prohibit adding cold water to a cold water vaporizer<ref>Minchas Yitzchok 7:28, Be'er Moshe 6:51</ref>, others permit it if you pour it through the spout<ref>Sefer Hilchos | #If a child needs a vaporizer to alleviate discomfort (from bronchitis etc.), one may ask a non-Jew to plug it in on [[Shabbos]] to ease his pain. While some prohibit adding cold water to a cold water vaporizer<ref>Minchas Yitzchok 7:28, Be'er Moshe 6:51</ref>, others permit it if you pour it through the spout<ref>Sefer Hilchos Shabbos 8: footnote 64, B'shem R' Moshe Feinstien ZT”L</ref>. If it is a hot water vaporizer one may take previously boiled water from an urn and refill it<ref>Shalmai Yehudah pg. 44</ref>. | ||
==Diapering== | ==Diapering== | ||
#The issue of using baby wipes has been widely discussed ever since they've arrived on the market. Some poskim are lenient to use baby wipes if one does it gently and doesn't press down,<ref>Rabbi Heshy Kahn (What's Doing, Greater Connecticut, 3/3/11) quoting Rabbi Moshe Plutchok based on the Har Tzvi and R' Shlomo Zalmen Aurbauch Zt”l, [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=2277 Rabbi Mansour] on Dailyhalacha.com</ref> while others prohibit using diaper wipes entirely and give preference to wetting the baby (with oil, water, "baby shpritz" etc.) and then using a dry tissue to clean the child.<ref>Minchat Yitzchak 10:25, [[Shevet Halevi]] 8:59, 39 Melachos (vol 2, pg 351-3). Nishmas | #The issue of using baby wipes has been widely discussed ever since they've arrived on the market. Some poskim are lenient to use baby wipes if one does it gently and doesn't press down,<ref>Rabbi Heshy Kahn (What's Doing, Greater Connecticut, 3/3/11) quoting Rabbi Moshe Plutchok based on the Har Tzvi and R' Shlomo Zalmen Aurbauch Zt”l, [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=2277 Rabbi Mansour] on Dailyhalacha.com</ref> while others prohibit using diaper wipes entirely and give preference to wetting the baby (with oil, water, "baby shpritz" etc.) and then using a dry tissue to clean the child.<ref>Minchat Yitzchak 10:25, [[Shevet Halevi]] 8:59, 39 Melachos (vol 2, pg 351-3). Nishmas Shabbos 233 requires the wipes to be squeezed out prior to [[Shabbos]] to the extent that if someone touches the wipe he won't be able to moisten something else. </ref> | ||
#The older baby wipes are made from more similar to paper materials and today they are made from cotton materials.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_wipe Wikipedia entry "Wet Wipe"] describes some of the history of baby wipes. It points out that originally wipes were paper clothes and today more of them are made with cotton materials. For example, [https://www.pampers.com/en-us/about-us/diapers-and-wipes/article/pampers-baby-wipes-how-do-they-work Pampers] wipes are made from cellulose, which is 90% of cotton, and polypropylene, which is synthetic. See also, [https://www.target.com/p/baby-wipes-unscented-216-ct-up-up-153/-/A-14896916 Target wipes] which are made from cotton fiber.</ref> Although this change according to some poskim makes using the baby wipes forbidden, nonetheless, there are some who are still lenient.<ref>Yalkut Yosef 2 p 90 writes that it is muter to use a diaper wipe on Shabbat. But Yalkut Yosef 2 p. 688 in a later edition he limits it to paper wipes and not cloth ones. Chazon Ovadia Shabbat v. 4 p. 148-154 says all baby wipes are permitted on Shabbat. Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 14:37 says only paper ones are muter and not cloth ones. Har Tzvi 190 is lenient about using diaper wipes made from paper. Igrot Moshe 2:70 as understood by Rivevot Efraim 6:194:3 writes that paper wipes are permitted. Chazon Ovadia writes four reasons to say why it is derabbanan: | #The older baby wipes are made from more similar to paper materials and today they are made from cotton materials.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_wipe Wikipedia entry "Wet Wipe"] describes some of the history of baby wipes. It points out that originally wipes were paper clothes and today more of them are made with cotton materials. For example, [https://www.pampers.com/en-us/about-us/diapers-and-wipes/article/pampers-baby-wipes-how-do-they-work Pampers] wipes are made from cellulose, which is 90% of cotton, and polypropylene, which is synthetic. See also, [https://www.target.com/p/baby-wipes-unscented-216-ct-up-up-153/-/A-14896916 Target wipes] which are made from cotton fiber.</ref> Although this change according to some poskim makes using the baby wipes forbidden, nonetheless, there are some who are still lenient.<ref>Yalkut Yosef 2 p 90 writes that it is muter to use a diaper wipe on Shabbat. But Yalkut Yosef 2 p. 688 in a later edition he limits it to paper wipes and not cloth ones. Chazon Ovadia Shabbat v. 4 p. 148-154 says all baby wipes are permitted on Shabbat. Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 14:37 says only paper ones are muter and not cloth ones. Har Tzvi 190 is lenient about using diaper wipes made from paper. Igrot Moshe 2:70 as understood by Rivevot Efraim 6:194:3 writes that paper wipes are permitted. Chazon Ovadia writes four reasons to say why it is derabbanan: | ||
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*If it is only derabbanan or a double derabbanan a pesik reisha is muter (even if it is nicha leh). Also it could be that we matir derabbanans for child who is like a choleh shein bo sakana.</ref> | *If it is only derabbanan or a double derabbanan a pesik reisha is muter (even if it is nicha leh). Also it could be that we matir derabbanans for child who is like a choleh shein bo sakana.</ref> | ||
#Most diapers have an adhesive that needs to be unfastened and then taped onto the diaper. While it is praiseworthy to to be stringent and unfasten them and then refasten them again before [[Shabbos]]<ref>Shemirat | #Most diapers have an adhesive that needs to be unfastened and then taped onto the diaper. While it is praiseworthy to to be stringent and unfasten them and then refasten them again before [[Shabbos]]<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 16:81</ref> [hence when putting on the diaper you would not be "[[ripping]]" something that was "sewn" for over twenty four hours], one can be lenient if he failed to do so<ref>Sha'arim Metzuyanim L'Halacha 80:45</ref>. | ||
#It is permitted to open a diaper on Shabbat even if the flaps are stuck to the back of the diaper and they need to be torn on the perforations to be opened.<ref>39 Melachot v. 3 p. 846 writes that the flaps are only connected to the back of the diaper in the cutting process and because of the friction they are connected. The same is true of the packaging process. Since they are only connected temporarily it isn't koreah to tear it apart see Mishna Brurah 340:45 regarding pages stuck together. Similarly, it isn't makeh bpatish since it already resembled a diaper when it was cut even before it was completed. Therefore, tearing these flaps isn't creating a diaper.</ref> | #It is permitted to open a diaper on Shabbat even if the flaps are stuck to the back of the diaper and they need to be torn on the perforations to be opened.<ref>39 Melachot v. 3 p. 846 writes that the flaps are only connected to the back of the diaper in the cutting process and because of the friction they are connected. The same is true of the packaging process. Since they are only connected temporarily it isn't koreah to tear it apart see Mishna Brurah 340:45 regarding pages stuck together. Similarly, it isn't makeh bpatish since it already resembled a diaper when it was cut even before it was completed. Therefore, tearing these flaps isn't creating a diaper.</ref> | ||
==Diaper rashes== | ==Diaper rashes== | ||
#In the event that the child requires cream for a diaper rash (i.e. Desitin, Balmax etc.), one may squeeze it out onto the affected area and allow the child to smear it on himself via his movement<ref>Shemirat | #In the event that the child requires cream for a diaper rash (i.e. Desitin, Balmax etc.), one may squeeze it out onto the affected area and allow the child to smear it on himself via his movement<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 33:14, 39 Melachos (v. 3, p. 922)</ref>. | ||
==Feeding a baby== | ==Feeding a baby== | ||
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==Baby bottles== | ==Baby bottles== | ||
#One may clean a bottle with a bottle brush providing that the bristles are spread apart<ref>Shemirat | #One may clean a bottle with a bottle brush providing that the bristles are spread apart<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 12:footnote 45</ref> and, ''l'chatchila,'' the brush should be designated just for [[Shabbos]] use<ref>M.B. 303:87, Igros Moshe O.C. 2:88</ref>. One is reminded to only use cold water from the sink to avoid [[Bishul]]. <ref>Rabbi Heshy Kahn (What's Doing, Greater Connecticut, 3/3/11)</ref> | ||
==Cribs & Strollers== | ==Cribs & Strollers== | ||
#While R' Moshe Feinstein ZT"L<ref>Igros Moshe O.C. 4:105:3</ref> held that the hood needs to be opened one [[Tefach]] (approx. 3.75 inches) prior to [[Shabbos]], many other Poskim<ref>Chazon Ish O.C. 52:6, Be'er Moshe 6:87</ref> permitted it no matter what, claiming that there is no issue of [[Assiyas Ohel]] (making a covering). Spreading over a mosquito net is different, and would be prohibited according to all Poskim unless it was spread out a the required 3.75 inches prior to [[Shabbos]]<ref>Shemirat | #While R' Moshe Feinstein ZT"L<ref>Igros Moshe O.C. 4:105:3</ref> held that the hood needs to be opened one [[Tefach]] (approx. 3.75 inches) prior to [[Shabbos]], many other Poskim<ref>Chazon Ish O.C. 52:6, Be'er Moshe 6:87</ref> permitted it no matter what, claiming that there is no issue of [[Assiyas Ohel]] (making a covering). Spreading over a mosquito net is different, and would be prohibited according to all Poskim unless it was spread out a the required 3.75 inches prior to [[Shabbos]]<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 24:9, Shevet Halevi 3:54</ref>. | ||
==Playpens== | ==Playpens== | ||
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==Baby Swing== | ==Baby Swing== | ||
#There is a dispute amongst the Poskim whether or not one may wind up a baby swing on [[Shabbos]]. While R' Moshe Feinstein ZT"L<ref>Sefer Tiltulai [[Shabbos]] 1: footnote 36 </ref> prohibits it on the account that it is similar to winding a watch that has stopped (which is prohibited), there are many others who are lenient, as unlike a watch, when a swing is not in motion it is not considered "broken", so winding it up is not considered "fixing" it<ref>Shemirat | #There is a dispute amongst the Poskim whether or not one may wind up a baby swing on [[Shabbos]]. While R' Moshe Feinstein ZT"L<ref>Sefer Tiltulai [[Shabbos]] 1: footnote 36 </ref> prohibits it on the account that it is similar to winding a watch that has stopped (which is prohibited), there are many others who are lenient, as unlike a watch, when a swing is not in motion it is not considered "broken", so winding it up is not considered "fixing" it<ref>Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 17:39</ref>. | ||
==Credits== | ==Credits== | ||
