Nine Days FAQs

No. Even new clothes which do not require a Shehecheyanu should not be worn unless one has no other clothes.

If necessary, e.g., your prescription has changed. To get a new pair of glasses for fashion purposes is forbidden.

One should refrain from polishing shoes during the Nine Days but one may do so for the honour of Shabbos.

The prohibition of washing oneself during the Nine Days is when it is done for enjoyment. If you need to take a shower because you need to wash off dirt or because you feel uncomfortable due to sweat then a shower is permitted with cold or lukewarm water, washing limb by limb (rather than washing the whole body in one go).

A child may be washed with soap and lukewarm water to remove dirt and sweat. If a child refuses and will not be washed in lukewarm water then warmer water is permitted. A child up until the age of three may be washed in the usual manner.

Yes, this is permitted.

This is perfectly fine.

Cutting nails is permitted on Erev Shabbos for the honour of Shabbos even when Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos.

Laundry is forbidden during the Nine Days even if the clothes will not be worn until after Tisha B’Av. This is to ensure one does not detract from the feeling of aveilus during these days.

This is not a problem as long as it was given before Rosh Chodesh.

Clothes of young children which get dirty very often may be laundered in private.

A detached button may be sewn back on but other adjustments which give the item of clothing a new look are forbidden.

Washing and cutting a sheital is forbidden during the Nine Days but a regular combing of a sheital is permitted.

Yes.

If they are under the age of mourning for the Beis Hamikdash (8/9 years old), then they may.

Yes.

Aside from on Tisha B’av itself, gifts are generally permitted unless they are a matonoh shel simcho, e.g. an engagement ring.