Finland's maternity package provides essential supplies and infant sleeping boxes

Finland's maternity package, a welfare policy spanning nearly 90 years, provides essential items for mothers and infants in a cardboard box that can also serve as a sleeping space for newborns.

Originating from a 1937 maternity allowance law to combat high infant mortality rates, the program initially targeted low-income mothers before expanding to all citizens regardless of income. Managed by Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, the program issues approximately 50,000 allowances annually, with about 30,000 recipients choosing the physical maternity box over cash.

The contents of the box have evolved over decades to reflect changing childcare norms. For example, baby bottles were removed to encourage breastfeeding, and sleeping bags were once included to promote outdoor sleeping. Today, the items are selected through annual competitive bidding and often feature gender-neutral colors.