Finland to support new parents with bigger baby box, higher maternity grant

Finland has begun distributing its 2026 maternity package, providing expectant families with a collection of 52 items following six consecutive years of item reductions.

The national social insurance institution, known as Kela, manages the maternity package as part of Finland’s public social security system. Expectant parents in Finland can choose to receive either the physical baby box or a one-off tax-free cash payment.

This year, the cash grant and the value of the package have increased from 170 euros to 210 euros. This funding boost allowed Kela to add 14 more products compared to last year’s edition, breaking a downward trend that saw 25 items cut over the past six years.

The tradition of the Finnish baby box dates back to 1938, originally introduced to help reduce infant mortality and ensure every child receives an equal start in life.

The cardboard box itself is designed to double as a safe first bed for the newborn. The 2026 edition includes a variety of clothing, care products, and a soft, brightly coloured exercise ball.

The ball is funded by a government fitness program called Suomi liikkeelle to encourage early family interaction and physical activity.

“The maternity package we begin to distribute now will be even more useful for the new mother and the baby than before, because of the increase in the value of the maternity grant,” said Veera Petäjä, a Kela specialist.

Kela says it selects items based on quality, safety, and customer feedback, emphasizing sustainability so items can be passed down when children outgrow them.

The exterior of the box features a new space-themed pattern in peach colours called Kuvitellaan tulevaa. The design was created by illustrator Eveliina Muotkavaara.

“I wanted to create a pattern that expresses happiness and warmth at this new stage in the life of young families,” said Muotkavaara, noting that the space-themed pattern encourages dreams of the future as the child grows.

Previous annual editions of the box featured steady decreases in item counts, dropping from 63 items in 2019 down to 38 items in recent years, before this season’s expansion.