The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) has unveiled the 2025 Maternity Package, featuring a light colour palette with bunny patterns, the return of the beloved baby blanket, and the removal of two long-standing items — condoms and lubricant.
Kela’s designer Anniina Kuokka explained that the reason is a lack of bids.
"Kela did request bids for both condoms and lubricant, but none were submitted for either," Kuokka said.
Fewer products, better quality
One factor driving changes to the maternity package is cost. The purchase price of the package has remained at 170 euros since 2018. With inflation running high, the same amount of money now buys less.
"There aren’t as many products, but we have aimed to improve their quality and versatility," says Kuokka.
Alternatively, recipients can choose to receive the maternity grant as cash instead of the package. Last year, 62 percent of those receiving the maternity grant chose the package. Among first-time mothers, 82 percent opted for the maternity package.
New features added
This year’s package includes 39 items, all chosen through a competitive bidding process—which means Finnish-made products can't be given preference. However, most textile production has long since moved outside Finland’s borders.
Features requested by customers can also be added to the clothing — this year, the smallest bodysuits include an adjustable crotch, allowing for longer use.
Kela plans to continue developing the package based on customer feedback in the future. The aim is to respond to what families truly need.
Distributed Since 1938
In 2018, Kela conducted a survey with 30,000 respondents. After the name "Maternity Package," the most popular alternative suggestions were "Baby Package" and "Family Package."
The aim of the survey was to spark discussion about whether the name "Maternity Package" should better reflect all types of families and whether the current name excludes fathers. Kela said that the name will not be changed.
The baby boxes have been distributed in Finland since 1938. Initially, only low-income families received them, but since 1949, all families have been eligible regardless of income.
The quintessentially Finnish baby box has also gained international attention over the years. According to the BBC, the package has already been adopted in several countries across Africa and Asia.
