[Preventive clinical messages for children from 0 to 3 years of age]

Prevention is a part of the medical visit during this critical period. The main preventive messages for children up to 3 years concern the immediate environment of the child and its consequences on his health. Sleeping position, passive tobacco use, his nutrition: prevention of infantile obesity, food imbalances, impairment of the mother to child relationship. Hygiene procedures have to be discussed with the families. Injury prevention is based on the vigilance of the human entourage, the safety environment, more than eventual modifications of the child behaviour. The detection of lead exposed children is a public health priority so the consequences are fearsome. The knowledge of the seriousness signs of the usual diseases is the basis oh health education to achieve two goals: behaviours to adopt to avoid the complication, early diagnosis of complications.