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Trimming Hair Before 3 Yrs Old

HELLO, WE ARE JEWISH, MY SON HAS A LOT OF HAIR,HE IS 11 MONTHS AND HAS A PONYTAIL, BUT HIS HAIR IS IN HIS FACE AND IN HIS EYES AND BOTHERS HIM SO BAD. HE TAKES OFF HIS SCRUNCHY ALL THE TIME, ESPECIALLY IN BED AND THEN HE CANT SEE ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND IS VERY ADAMANT ABOUT NOT CUTTING HIS HAIR UNTIL HE IS 3 AND I AGREE BUT IF ITS IMPEDING HIS VISION AND IS DANGEROUS WHEN HE IS ALONE IN HIS CRIB I AM THINKING OTHERWISE. I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO TRIM THE FRONT BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THAT HE CAN HURT HIMSELF. WHAT DO YOU THINK? THANK YOU

Answer:

The custom of not cutting a boy’s hair until the age of three is mentioned by Arizal (Shaar Ha-Kavanos 87a), and is generally seen as being related to the mitzvah of leaving the pe’os ha-rosh, in bringing the child to love the mitzvah (Nechpah Bekesef p. 18). Some add that the three year delay is related to the mitzvah of orlah, and indicates a certain spiritual readiness (Ayalah Shluchah) — according to one Midrash Avraham was three when he discovered Hashem.

In any case, although the custom has become fairly widespread, it is not mentioned in rulings of halachic works, and it is certainly permitted to cut hair before the age of three if the long hair disturbs the child. Many trim the front of the hair when this is diburbing, though doing so depends on how strongly your husband and yourself feel about the custom, and on how big the disturbance is.

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