Les P’tits Doudous, an organization that transforms children's experiences in hospital

Maël : The Les P’tits Doudous association was founded in 2011 at Rennes University Hospital. Its goal is simple : to improve the experience, reassure, and reduce anxiety for children (and their parents) before, during, and after their time in the operating room. Initially, it was a local initiative led by dedicated healthcare professionals. Then, given its success, it gradually expanded. By 2017, there were already around 30 local associations. A national structure was created to coordinate all of this. Today, in 2025, we have 170 associations across France, Belgium, and Canada. This growth demonstrates the importance of our mission and the commitment of hospital teams. 

Maël : We have three pillars :

• Accompanying children to the operating room to make their experience more pleasant. This involves games, gifts, mascots, but also adapted digital tools.
• Working towards a greener hospital, in particular by recycling metals from operating rooms. These funds are used to finance initiatives for children. 
• Improving the well-being of caregivers, because their comfort and peace of mind are essential to the quality of care. 

Maël : In 2020, we launched an innovative project called Keep Contact. The idea was to enable parents to follow their child's surgical journey in real time : when they enter the operating room, what stage they are at, and when they will be discharged. This greatly reduces stress for families. 

The need was clear : to improve communication between medical teams and families, while respecting confidentiality and data security. We came up with a simple and intuitive digital solution. 

I was heavily involved in the design and management aspects of the project. We worked closely with the Sully Group team, who contributed their expertise in UX/UI design and mobile development. This project was a very rewarding professional experience for me, as it allowed me to put into practice concepts that I had previously only known in theory. 

Olivier : This project was a very rewarding human and professional experience. We drew on a range of skills: UX, technical, project management. The main contributors were Elisa (UX/UI), Clément and Reda (React Native, Node.JS, Mongo DB development), with me overseeing the project. 

What motivated us was the meaning behind the project. In an IT career, you don't often get the opportunity to contribute to something that has a direct impact on the well-being of children and families. It's truly satisfying. We worked in an atmosphere of trust, with constructive exchanges and a shared desire to succeed. 

Elisa : My role focused on the user experience. We knew that the tool had to be simple, reassuring, and intuitive, as it is intended for parents in stressful situations. I worked on mock-ups and user journeys to ensure that each step was clear, thereby helping to reduce stress.  

We weren't just designing an interface, but a link between families and the hospital. It's very different from a traditional project where you think mainly in terms of performance. Here, it was about creating trust and reassurance. 

Maël : The main challenge was scaling up: transforming an initial proof of concept into a robust, fully operational application that could be sustainably integrated into the care pathway of the 250,000 children supported each year by 170 local associations. 
Next, the solution had to be adaptable to different hospital contexts, as each institution has its own constraints.  

We also had to think about ergonomics so that the tool would be intuitive, even for people who are not comfortable with digital technology. 

Elisa : Another challenge was finding the right visual tone. We wanted the interface to be clear and professional while remaining warm and welcoming. We kept the soft colors of the hospital and the bright colors of the association's charter. Illustrations help users understand the steps of the operation, and reassuring messages explain what is going to happen. 

Olivier : A very positive outcome. We worked in good conditions, with real synergy between our teams and the association. Seeing the project roll out and knowing that it brings tangible benefits to users is rewarding. It's an experience we won't forget. 

Elisa : For me, it's a meaningful project. When our work helps reduce parents' stress and makes the experience easier for children, we realize that our job can help families cope better with difficult situations. 

Maël : We want to continue innovating. The association is growing, and needs are changing. We are thinking about new features to strengthen the bond between families and medical teams, and we are also working on a project involving virtual and augmented reality to make the experience even more reassuring for children. We also have ambitions in terms of sustainable development, particularly with regard to the recycling of medical titanium. 

Maël : I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project. It is thanks to this collaboration that we can offer children and their families more humane and reassuring support. 

Olivier : Thank you to Maël and the association for their trust. And thank you to our teams who have invested themselves with passion. This type of project gives meaning to our work.

Elisa : I am proud to have been part of this adventure.