❓Must Parents Wake a Sleeping Child to Perform a Mitzvah?

Author: Rabbi Yaakov GoldsteinPublished: October 6, 2026

A child who is sleeping:[1] A child who is asleep does not need to be awakened in order to fulfill mitzvot. For example, if a child has fallen asleep and did not daven, count the Omer, recite Birkat HaMazon, or say Keriat Shema, there is no requirement to wake him

  1. A child who is sleeping:[1]

A child who is asleep does not need to be awakened in order to fulfill mitzvot. For example, if a child has fallen asleep and did not daven, count the Omer, recite Birkat HaMazon, or say Keriat Shema, there is no requirement to wake him for the sake of chinuch.

[1] See Bach Y.D. 273 regarding a child who is sleeping in Ohel Hameis that there is no need to awaken him and the 2nd opinion in Admur 70:2 regarding the morning Shema that one is exempt from waking him up in the morning; See Or Letziyon 2:45-13; Piskeiy Teshuvos 70:2; Toras Hakatan 14:18-21

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