Children’s health, a key development issue :

“A healthy mind in a healthy body” – this well-known expression sums up the crucial importance of good physical and mental health, right from the very first years of life. The conditions in which a child grows up play a decisive role in his or her future development, particularly during the first 1,000 days, when poor health can have profound repercussions on adult life.

Inequalities in health appear as early as pregnancy. In France, mothers with no qualifications or on low incomes are twice as likely to give birth to a low-weight child (9% versus 4.5% for qualified mothers). This situation is often linked to factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and stress during pregnancy, and low birthweight is associated with increased risks of long-term ill-health.

What’s more, from an early age, children from disadvantaged backgrounds are exposed to difficult living conditions: poor-quality food, substandard housing and limited access to healthcare. These deprivations make them more vulnerable to chronic illnesses such as obesity, asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular problems. What’s more, the stress experienced in such situations, especially if it occurs before the age of 2, can seriously compromise the development of essential psychosocial skills, such as emotional management and interpersonal skills, creating obstacles that will persist throughout their lives. For these reasons, it is crucial to tackle social inequalities in health from the earliest age, in order to guarantee every child a healthy, balanced future.

Today, children from disadvantaged backgrounds face many hardships:

Today, almost 300,000 young children aged 0-3 in France live in extreme poverty, dependent on food aid to meet their basic needs. Among them, 120,000 do not have access to adequate nutrition and hygiene. By way of example, underprivileged families spend 87% of their budget on necessary expenses: housing, water, energy, food, etc., leaving just €80 a month for other needs such as leisure or equipment. This makes it difficult to set aside part of the budget for the child’s well-being.

What’s more, the Covid-19 health crisis has considerably worsened the situation of France’s most precarious families. In 2021, a survey carried out by Break Poverty revealed that over 2 million people were dependent on food aid, 17% of whom had a child under the age of 3 in their care. Deprivation has been exacerbated by rising prices: between 2022 and 2023 the average packet of diapers rose by 10.2% (plus 1.25€, a packet was then worth 13.65€)[1] and infant milk by 17.3%, jeopardizing the health and well-being of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Faced with this inflation, parents are forced to make difficult choices: more than one in three underprivileged parents say they have to cut back on the amount of baby food they give their children. The situation is even more critical for hygiene products, with 51% of food aid recipients unable to buy enough diapers for their toddlers.

It is therefore essential to work to reduce these inequalities:

In response to increased financial constraints and alarming levels of household deprivation during the Covid-19 crisis, Break Poverty actively participated in the government’s “Urgence Premier Pas” initiative. This operation highlighted the scale of child poverty in France, prompting the government to adopt a more sustainable approach.

As a result, the “First Steps Pact” was launched in October 2023 by the Ministry of Solidarity and Families to renew its support for the most disadvantaged toddlers with 7 associations: Break Poverty Foundation, Agence du Don en Nature, Dons Solidaires, Restos du Cœur, Secours Populaire, Croix Rouge, Banques Alimentaires and the ANDES network. Thanks to a subsidy of over 6 million euros, the aim of the operation is to reach 100,000 babies by supporting them on the dual front of food and hygiene. Its impact assessment will aim to build a joint, relevant and sustainable response over the long term.

On the hygiene front, Break Poverty Foundation, Agence du Don en Nature and Dons Solidaires have committed half the budget to collecting and redistributing 13.5 million diapers, 11.2 million wipes and 200,000 care products across the country. At the same time, 3 million euros will be allocated to the purchase of food products, such as powdered milk and baby food, ensuring comprehensive assistance for toddlers in the most precarious situations. The operation is intended to run until the end of 2023 and most of 2024.

Our impact assessment will be available by the end of the year, with testimonials from over a hundred distribution associations. You are also welcome to consult our articles on the subject of early childhood.

Sources :

• Break Poverty Foundation, « Les inégalités dès le plus jeune âge », 2024
• L’IFOP et Dons Solidaires, La précarité hygiénique, Volets Grand Public et Bénéficiaires d’associations », 2021
• L’IFOP et Dons Solidaires, Baromètre hygiène et précarité, 2023
• France Info, « On développe des stratégies pour pouvoir survivre » : au rayon bébé, l’inflation pèse fortement sur le budget des jeunes parents », 2023
• France Info, « Inflation : rayon par rayon, où les prix ont-ils le plus augmenté depuis un an ? », 2023

[1] In 2021, the average monthly budget for diapers is estimated at 87€ (IFOP and Dons Solidaires survey).

Crédit photo : Monkey business images, Canva Pro