Health tips for (expectant) parents and their young children
Santé publique France offers informational materials and websites to provide remote support, helping parents find reliable answers to their questions about parenting and the prevention of illnesses and accidents. These resources also provide practical advice on how to incorporate healthy habits into daily life that promote children’s health and parents’ well-being.
For (expectant) parents before and during pregnancy
The First 1,000 Days
1000-premiers-jours.fr provides parents and future parents with the tools to create an environment conducive to their child’s development. The site answers questions that concern parents of children up to two years old—even before pregnancy begins—on a wide range of topics: nutrition, breastfeeding, physical and chemical environments, emotional relationships, parental well-being, support, and child development…
To ensure everyone can access information in their own way, the content on the site is presented in various formats: articles, videos, testimonials, Q&As, as well as an engaging and interactive tool that provides practical advice as users navigate through different areas of the home.
Because 1000-premiers-jours.fr is the go-to website for everything from pregnancy to age two, all content on the site is based on the most recent scientifically validated data and has also been co-developed with institutional partners and professionals.
Becoming a Parent
The arrival of a child is a time of major changes, both for the expectant mother and for the other parent. Pregnancy is certainly experienced physically, but also emotionally. To help prepare for this, Santé publique France offers the brochure Becoming a Parent, which aims to give parents confidence while encouraging them to seek support and assistance from resources when needed.
Alcohol and Pregnancy / Alcohol and Breastfeeding
The resource site: alcool-info-service.fr
Bringing up the topic of alcohol consumption during pregnancy can be difficult. That is why the Alcool Info Service addresses various questions such as:
Pregnancy and Smoking
Resource website: tabac-info-service.fr
Willpower alone isn’t always enough to quit smoking. To help smokers in their journey to quit, Tabac Info Service (TIS) offers various solutions, including phone consultations with tobacco specialists via 39 89, and email-based e-coaching (website + app). The Tabac Info Service app for smartphones and tablets can be downloaded directly from the tabac-info-service.fr website and from app stores. The app offers: personalized coaching, Q&As, tips for staying on track, and testimonials…
Diet and Physical Activity
The "Expectant Mothers" section of the mangerbouger.fr website provides clear information on nutritional recommendations to follow during pregnancy. Real-life examples will help you find answers to your questions.
For young children
Nutrition
The breastfeeding guide contains simple, illustrated information, answers to frequently asked questions, advice and practical tips, as well as resources and useful contacts to support you in continuing to breastfeed day by day.
The guide "Step by Step: Your Child Eats Like a Big Kid" supports parents in introducing solid foods to their child up to age 3, offering nutritional recommendations as well as educational advice on how to adapt, communicate with your child, and guide them toward independence.
The Manger Bouger website features sections on Children under "Eating Better at Every Age" and "Moving More at Every Age." There you’ll find reliable information and activity ideas tailored to the nutritional needs of your child from 0 to 11 years old. The La fabrique à menu website helps you plan meals for the whole family.
Vaccination Schedule for Young Children
Vaccinations are essential for babies and children. They provide effective and long-lasting protection against various serious infectious diseases, some of which can be fatal for young children. The vaccination-info-service.fr website offers verified information on how vaccines work, their quality, and their effectiveness. The Infants and Children section of the site allows you to quickly view the vaccines required from birth through age 13. Answers to the following questions can also be found:
What should I do if my baby has a cold on the day of the vaccination?
What vaccinations do my children need if they were adopted from abroad?
Why vaccinate your child against common childhood diseases like measles?
Why are vaccines required for entry into childcare settings?
Secondhand smoke
Smoking in the presence of an infant increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking in the presence of a child causes: irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; an increased frequency of upper respiratory infections and ear infections; a higher risk of asthma attacks and respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis; and a small but significant reduction in lung development. To help parents find support to quit smoking and feel comfortable asking loved ones not to smoke around their child, all resources are available at tabac-info-service.fr
Making Your Home Safe for Children
The brochure Protect Your Child from Household Accidents - Children 0-6 Years Old compiles advice and precautions to take to avoid these risks, of which young children are the primary victims. It outlines the right reflexes to adopt and also explains how to teach children about dangers.
The website Les 1000 premiers jours provides information on the risks of household accidents for very young children: learn how to prevent them and how to put the recommendations into practice.
Preventing Medical Complications
The brochure "Diarrhea in Young Children: Prevent Dehydration!" tells parents what to do if their child has diarrhea to prevent dehydration.
The brochure "Your Child and Bronchiolitis" provides parents with key information about bronchiolitis: What is it? How can you reduce the risk? When should you be concerned?
Children 0–3 Years Old and Screens
Television, tablets, computers, smartphones… Young children are spending more and more time in front of screens. There is a lot of information circulating about the risks and benefits of screen time for children under 3. Guidelines for parents of young children are included in the health record updated in 2018:
Playing and interacting “in person” with your child is the best way to support their development
Before age 3, avoid leaving your child in a room where the TV is on, even if they aren’t watching it
Do not give them a tablet or smartphone to calm them down, either during meals or before bedtime
Set family rules regarding screen time, encourage shared play, and plan screen-free activities
In addition, guidelines for pediatricians and families are provided by the General Pediatrics Group of the French Society of Pediatrics, in collaboration with the French Audiovisual Council (CSA) and the National Union of Family Associations (UNAF):
Understand the evolution of screens without demonizing them.
Screens in shared living spaces, but not in children’s bedrooms.
Screen-free time.
Be bold and support parenting when it comes to screens.
Ensure that social isolation is prevented.
Digital technologies are evolving rapidly, raising new questions and sometimes concerns. It is important for parents and early childhood professionals to stay informed. Everyone can also reflect on their own relationship with screens, the role they play in daily life, and how they are used within the family. The most important thing for a child’s development, of course, is to interact and play with them and to let them play and explore alongside you.
If you’re having trouble managing your children’s screen time, talk to your doctor or an early childhood professional.
Useful links:
