What Are the Essential Health Care Services for Children?
Regular medical checkups remain the foundation of children’s health in France. Key milestones:
- Mandatory medical checkups until age 6 according to the HAS schedule, then recommended thereafter
- Vaccination schedule updated annually (Ministry of Health, HAS): 11 mandatory vaccines before age 2 since 2018
- Growth measurements (weight, height, head circumference) recorded in the health record
- Psychomotor and languagedevelopment assessments at key ages
- Scheduled hearing, vision, and dentalscreenings
- Specialist consultations (ENT, ophthalmologist, dentist, allergist) as needed
- Annual dental checkup starting at age 3 (M'T Dents program through age 24)
- Orthodontic follow-up recommended around ages 9–11
The health record remains the primary reference tool. Consult your pediatrician or primary care physician if you have any concerns, without waiting for scheduled visits.
How to Choose Children’s Skincare Products?
A child’s skin remains thinner and more permeable than an adult’s until about age 5. Here are some selection criteria:
- Hypoallergenic formulas tested under pediatric and dermatological supervision
- Fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and dye-free
- Short, easy-to-readingredient lists; free of MIT/MCIT (methylisothiazolinone) and phenoxyethanol for diaper area products for children under 3 years old
- Physiological pH close to 5.5
- Organic certifications: Cosmebio, Ecocert, Cosmos Organic
- Age-appropriate textures (gentle cleansing gels, moisturizing lotions, emollient balms)
- Free of essential oils for children under 3 years old
- Approval required from your licensed pharmacist for reactive, atopic, or allergic skin
For daily bath and hygiene routines, product lines specifically formulated for children are available at drugstores.
What good hygiene practices should children learn?
Hygiene is part of a gradual learning process:
- Wash hands with soap and water before meals, after using the restroom, after going outside, and after contact with an animal
- Regularbaths or showers —ideally daily for active children—using age-appropriate products
- Brushing teeth twice a day for 2 minutes, starting as soon as the first teeth appear, using an age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste
- Clean, season-appropriateclothing
- Nasal hygiene with saline solution in case of a cold
- Disposable tissues and respiratory etiquette (cough into the elbow)
- Regular nail trimming
- Wash the scalp 2 to 3 times a week with children’s shampoo
- Regularly check the scalp for head lice
Play, routine, and parental example are the best ways to learn. For oral care, our children’s toothpaste section offers suitable products.
How can you ensure a balanced diet?
A varied diet supports growth and cognitive development:
- 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
- High-quality protein: lean meats, fish (twice a week, including one serving of fatty fish), eggs, and legumes
- Whole grains at every meal (whole-grain bread, rice, whole-grain pasta)
- 3 dairy products a day for calcium
- Water as desired—the only recommended beverage between meals
- Healthy fats: olive oil, canola oil, nuts, fatty fish
- Limit added sugars, sodas, fruit juices, and sweets
- Limit ultra-processed foods
- Portion sizes appropriate for age and activity level
- Meals eaten at the table, screen-free, as opportunities for family interaction
The National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS) provides concrete guidelines. In cases of specific needs (vitamin D or iron deficiency, growth, exam periods), a targeted supplement may be recommended by a pharmacist: see our children’s vitamins section.
How can you recognize and manage stress in children?
Several signs may indicate distress:
- Repeatedmood swings, unusual irritability
- Sleep disturbances: difficulty falling asleep, nightmares, waking up during the night
- Loss of appetite or new eating behaviors
- Withdrawal or sudden aggression
- Difficulty concentrating, declining academic performance
- Physical symptoms: stomachaches, headaches, secondary enuresis
- Regression (returning to behaviors typical of younger children)
To support the child: maintain a stable environment, listen actively without downplaying their concerns, encourage the expression of emotions, suggest physical and creative activities, and ensure time for free play. Persistent nervousness or a child who is restless on a daily basis may warrant a consultation with a doctor, psychologist, or child health clinic (PMI), depending on the child’s age.
How can you promote healthy sleep in children?
Sleep needs vary by age (recommendations from the French Society for Sleep Research and Medicine):
- 0 to 3 months: 14 to 17 hours per 24-hour period
- 4 to 11 months: 12 to 15 hours
- 1 to 2 years: 11 to 14 hours
- 3 to 5 years: 10 to 13 hours
- 6 to 13 years: 9 to 11 hours
- 14 to 17 years: 8 to 10 hours
To promote quality sleep: a regular bedtime routine (a soothing 20–30-minute ritual), a cool bedroom (18–20 °C), darkness, silence, no screens at least 1 hour before bedtime, a light dinner eaten at least 2 hours beforehand, and physical activity during the day. Always place the baby on their back to sleep to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For persistent difficulties, consult our guidelines on children’s sleep.
How important is physical activity?
The WHO recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day for children and adolescents ages 5 to 17. Documented benefits:
- Motor development: coordination, balance, fine and gross motor skills
- Bone and musclegrowth
- Maintenance of a healthy weight
- Strengthened immune system
- Cardiovascular health
- Better-quality sleep
- Mental health: reduced anxiety, improved mood
- Socialization and self-confidence
- Concentration and academic performance
Prioritize fun activities: free play outdoors, biking, swimming, team or individual sports—whatever they feel like doing. Limit sedentary screen time to 1 to 2 hours a day depending on age, and avoid screens before age 3.
How can you protect your child from common illnesses?
Several habits can help prevent illness:
- Followthe vaccination schedule according to the annual recommendations of the Ministry of Health
- Regularhand hygiene and teaching children early on
- Ventilate the homedaily
- Avoiding secondhand smoke
- A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and vitamin D
- Adequate sleep to support immunity
- Limiting contact during outbreaks (stomach flu, flu)
- Early treatment of minor winter illnesses: colds, coughs
- Annual fluvaccination for at-risk children (HAS recommendation)
- Seek prompt medical attention in case of prolonged fever, refusal to eat, or unusual behavior
In the event of an outbreak or if you have any concerns, your pharmacist or pediatrician will guide you on the appropriate steps to take.
What allergy symptoms should you watch for in children?
Allergies in children are on the rise and can take several forms:
- Skin: hives, eczema, red patches, itching
- Respiratory: repeated sneezing, clear runny nose, conjunctivitis, cough, wheezing, asthma
- Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea after eating
- Immediate reaction within a few minutes to 2 hours (IgE-mediated)
- Delayed reaction occurring up to 48 hours later
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency: facial swelling, difficulty breathing, dizziness, altered consciousness. It requires an immediate call to 15 or 112 and the use of an epinephrine auto-injector if prescribed. For comprehensive management: an allergy consultation, avoidance of identified allergens, a written action plan (PAI at school if needed), and prescription antihistamines. Our section dedicated to allergies offers helpful advice.
How can you prevent household accidents?
Accidents at home are a major cause of injuries in children. Preventive measures:
- Safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs
- Electricaloutlet covers in all accessible rooms
- Secure unstable furniture to the wall (chests of drawers, shelves, televisions)
- Storehazardous products (household cleaners, medications, cosmetics) out of reach and out of sight in locked cabinets
- Constant supervision in the kitchen: pot handles turned inward, hot plates secured
- Maximum vigilance during bath time: never leave a child alone, even for a few seconds
- Secure windows; never place climbable furniture nearby
- Secureswimming pools and water sources (barriers, alarms)
- Workingsmoke detectors
- Knowledge of first aid procedures: parent training (PSC1, IPSEN)
- Post emergency numbers: 15 (SAMU), 18 (fire department), 112 (European emergency number), regional poison control center
Gradually teaching safety rules, tailored to the child’s age and level of understanding, complements the physical safety measures in the home.
