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This article describes the implementation of rigourous protocols for the observation of 127 children sent for care placement in a public day nursery for 0–3-year-olds in the Paris region. The objective is to study the effects of placement within such an institution on child development. The initial condition of the child on arrival, his or her development, and work done with the family, are all carefully studied and compared to the child’s condition upon leaving the institution. Clinical and statistical results confirm that the vast majority of infants within the population studied showed improvements in their relational skills, their capacity for interaction, and their development. The results indicate a significant improvement in the condition of the infants following the placement, on condition that certain institutional conditions and procedures—also described here—are observed.