In 2025, an enhanced health record for children and more control for parents

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As of January 1, 2025, the children's health record is getting a makeover. More than just a medical follow-up, it becomes a parental control tool, with recommendations on screen exposure, physical activity, and even the detection of mental disorders. The recipe is well-known: infantilization and surveillance.

The idea of ​​a health record that tracks the smallest details of a child's development is not new. But with this revision of the document, a wind of control is blowing over parents' practices. It remains to be seen where the line will be drawn between laudable intentions and misplaced obligations. 

From the first examination at birth, recommendations are imposed to prevent sudden infant death syndrome or shaken baby syndrome. The highlight ? A mandatory examination at age 6 that does not just observe physical health, but also scrutinizes the child's psychological and behavioral dimensions. The General Directorate of Health specifies that this step will allow “developmental disorders to be identified” and vaccinations to be renewed, an almost systematic approach that leaves no room for forgetfulness.

And, as reported by The Epoch Times, the new features don't stop there. The notebook also becomes a vector of recommendations related to screens and physical activity, with the aim of preventing children from becoming slaves to their tablets and smartphones. A major challenge, as studies on the impact of screens on the mental health of young people are multiplying. And what about advice on diet and sleep ? The objective seems more oriented towards controlling parental habits than a simple well-being guide.

Parents will now have to adapt to this 2.0 notebook, which obviously plans to be dematerialized in the future, to integrate the information into the digital health space. Digitized and personalized medical monitoring, or disguised health surveillance ? The question arises. This reform raises questions about respect for the privacy of families, while the State is increasingly interfering in the smallest aspects of daily life.

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