How Many Hours Do Children Need to Wait Between Meat and Milk?

Shalom,

For a minor [even if they have reached the age of education] who has eaten meat, it is permissible to allow them to eat dairy afterward without waiting six hours from the meat. It is also permitted to give them dairy to eat by hand since it causes distress for young children to wait six hours. Even one hour is reasonable for those who are lenient about this for minors.

All this applies when eating essential foods for a meal, but one should not allow children who have reached the age of education to have sweets or chocolate containing a mixture of milk within six hours of eating meat. This holds even for a child who does not have understanding; it is right to be stringent in this regard.

Nonetheless, it is appropriate to educate children one year before the age of bar/bat mitzvah, as they are considered close to adulthood, and to warn them not to eat dairy after eating meat until they have waited six hours in between. Currently, there is a practice to be particular even with a minor who has reached the age of education [before the age of thirteen], and we educate them to wait six hours. However, in cases of necessity, one can be lenient, as mentioned (Yalkut Yosef Yoreh De'ah 87:21).

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs