Intimacy with baby in room

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03/03/2025

Question

My husband and I had a baby a few weeks ago and I will be going to the mikvah for the first time in a long time soon.
He just told me that he remembers learning that it is prohibited to have sex when the baby is in the same room.
I can’t imagine that’s true given that babies, even small kids, historically always slept in the same room as parents.
If the baby can’t be in the same room I don’t see us even being able to have sex for months, until we can move to a new living situation, because we have a studio apartment and there is no other room for the baby to be in.
Is it actually halacha to not have sex with a baby in the same room?

Answer

Mazal tov on the recent birth of your baby!
The Shulchan Aruch prohibits having relations if there is somebody else in the room who is awake. However, it is permitted to have relations if there is a baby who cannot yet talk (i.e., active, descriptive talking) in the room, even if he or she is awake.
Please feel free to get back to us with any further questions.

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