Can hajj be delayed for childcare?

It should be noted that once Hajj becomes obligatory, delaying its performance without a valid Shar‘i excuse is sinful. However, if a child is so young that he/she is dependent upon the mother’s care, and there is a fear that the child may suffer harm if the mother goes for Hajj, then in such a situation the woman may delay going for Hajj because of the child, and she will not be sinful for this delay.

However, if the child is not dependent upon the mother’s care and it is possible for the child to be properly cared for through some other means in the mother’s absence, then the woman may go for Hajj with her husband or another reliable Mahram.

Therefore, in the situation you have described, if both children, particularly the one-and-a-half-year-old child, genuinely require your presence and care, and there is a fear that the child may suffer harm or serious difficulty because of your absence during Hajj, then there is scope for delaying Hajj for some time due to this valid excuse. However, if the children can be properly cared for in your absence by your husband or another trustworthy person, then merely the young age of the children or your reluctance to be separated from them would not, by itself, be sufficient reason to delay Hajj.

Once Hajj becomes obligatory upon a person, it is necessary for them to perform it as soon as reasonably possible. It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

تَعَجَّلُوا إِلَى الْحَجِّ، فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَا يَدْرِي مَا يَعْرِضُ لَهُ

“Perform Hajj without delay, for none of you knows what may happen to him later.”

Delaying Hajj after it has become obligatory, despite having the opportunity to perform it, without a valid Shar‘i excuse is sinful. However, if the delay occurred because of a valid Shar‘i excuse and the person subsequently performed Hajj during their lifetime, the Hajj will be valid and the sin of delaying it will no longer remain. On the other hand, if a person continues to delay Hajj without a valid Shar‘i excuse and dies without performing it, they will be sinful.

And Allah knows best.