Finland’s 2026 maternity package, widely known as the baby box, contains 52 products, up from 38 in the previous edition, following an increase in the state maternity grant from EUR 170 to EUR 210.
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) has begun distributing the new package, which includes additional baby supplies, a soft play ball and a redesigned cardboard box. The expanded contents reflect the government’s decision to increase the maternity grant by EUR 40 at the beginning of 2026.
Parents who qualify for the maternity grant can choose between receiving the package or taking a one-off payment of EUR 210. The choice allows families to decide whether the supplied items meet their needs or whether they would prefer to buy baby essentials themselves.
The 2026 package contains clothing, blankets, a sleeping bag, muslin cloths, a book, nail scissors and a toothbrush, among other items. Condoms and personal lubricant have also returned after being absent from the previous edition.
Kela specialist Veera Petaja said the additional funding had enabled the agency to expand the package while maintaining its focus on product quality, safety and durability. These considerations remain central to the selection process, alongside feedback from families who use the products.
The latest edition also includes a soft play ball funded through the government’s Finland on the Move programme, which aims to encourage physical activity among people of different ages. The ball features illustrations of animals and fruit, alongside English words such as “grapes” and “orange”.
According to Kela, the ball is intended to encourage babies and parents to interact through play. Its inclusion adds an activity-focused item to a package traditionally associated with clothing, sleeping essentials and everyday baby care.
The box has also received a new look. Finnish illustrator Eveliina Muotkavaara created the 2026 design, titled “Kuvitellaan tulevaa”, which translates as “Imagining the Future”. The peach-coloured design uses a space theme to represent families’ hopes and expectations for their children’s future.
Beyond its role as packaging, the cardboard box can also serve as a sleeping space for newborn babies, continuing one of the best-known features of Finland’s maternity package. The box is part of a system designed to provide families with practical supplies during the early stages of a child’s life.
Kela reviews the contents of the package each year, taking product safety standards, durability requirements and family feedback into account. The selection can therefore change between editions, with the exact range of products depending on the annual package.
Finland introduced the maternity package in 1938. Since then, it has become an established part of the country’s support system for families preparing for a new baby. The annual updates allow Kela to adjust the contents while preserving the package’s central purpose of helping parents obtain essential items for newborn care.
Distribution dates can vary because the new edition is introduced as stocks of the previous package run out. As a result, eligible families may receive different editions depending on when their package is issued.
