At a time when screens are taking up an ever-growing place in our daily lives, the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital is committed to creating a more attentive hospital—one that is truly connected… to children. The maternity ward is launching an innovative project: installing a phone box in each room, inviting parents to place their device in airplane mode during care and the newborn’s waking moments. The goal is to encourage early interactions and strengthen the parent-child bond from the very first days of life.
This project stems from a simple observation: the presence of screens in maternity or pediatric wards can disrupt essential exchanges between parents and their newborn.
Smartphones and televisions often capture attention, reducing the quality of interactions and increasing the risk of inattention during care. This phenomenon, known as ‘technoference,’ refers to daily interruptions in communication caused by technology.
‘We don’t want to ban phones, but rather raise parents’ awareness. These boxes symbolize a moment of pause—an invitation to refocus on their child and on what truly matters: eye contact, voice, and touch,’ explains Julie Gony, midwife in the maternity ward and project lead.
180 phone boxes will soon be installed in the rooms of the maternity ward and pediatric units at Estaing Hospital: pediatric intensive care and perinatal care, general pediatrics, pediatric hematology-oncology, and pediatric surgery. They will be accompanied by information pointing to preventive resources. These boxes will help caregivers address the impact of screens with families more easily, in a caring and non-judgmental approach.
This project is the result of a multidisciplinary effort led by the maternity and pediatric teams: midwives, nurses, childcare assistants, pediatricians, and obstetricians. It is based on national and international recommendations that encourage limiting screen exposure for children under 2 years old and promoting direct interactions (eye contact, voice, touch), which are essential for their development.
Houda Benabdeldkader, Director of the Estaing siteThe production of these boxes by workers from the ESAT of Brézet highlights the University Hospital’s commitment to local and solidarity-based partnerships.
Pierre Lionnet, Sector Director at ADAPEI 63The ESAT of Brézet, managed by ADAPEI 63, supports 200 workers facing vulnerabilities and disabilities every day through a variety of activities. The delivery to the University Hospital illustrates their expertise, versatility, and commitment to serving demanding partners such as the hospital.
A committed maternity ward
With nearly 3,500 births per year, the maternity ward of the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital places the well-being of the newborn and their family at the heart of its priorities. This project is part of a broader initiative by the Women and Children’s Department of the hospital, focused on prevention, the quality of the parent-child relationship, and innovation in perinatal care. It also reflects the institution’s commitment to combining medical excellence, compassion, and social responsibility.
