Baby Box in Finland: Who Is Eligible and How to Get It
A baby box is a starter kit for a newborn that Kela provides free of charge to expectant mothers. Its official name is äitiyspakkaus, and entitlement to it is granted by the äitiysavustus benefit. The baby box in Finland can be obtained if you live in the country permanently or work there, and the pregnancy has lasted at least 154 days.
Instead of the kit, you may choose a cash benefit of 210 euros, which is not taxed. The application must be submitted no later than two months before the expected date of birth. For this, you will need a pregnancy certificate from a neuvola or a doctor.
Our experience at International Law Firm "Zahist" shows that families from abroad most often get confused about two questions, namely whether they are entitled to the benefit and when to submit the application. Below we explain who is entitled to the baby box in Finland and how to obtain the kit without delays.
What äitiyspakkaus and äitiysavustus are
Äitiysavustus is a benefit from Kela that you choose in one of two formats. The first option is a kit with clothing and care items. The second is money paid to a bank account. The choice does not affect other benefits for parents.
| Format | What you receive | Features |
| Äitiyspakkaus (baby box) | A kit of 52 items in the 2026 edition | Delivered via Matkahuolto; not available for sale |
| Cash benefit | 210 euros to a bank account | Not subject to tax |
The contents of the kit change every year, but the overall list is largely similar. A new edition is released when stocks of the previous one run out. Therefore, the contents of the box you receive may differ from what you have seen with friends.
What is included in the baby box
According to Kela, the 2026 edition contains 52 different items. They are grouped into several categories, and most of them are clothing and items for the first months of a child’s life. The kit also includes small care and hygiene items for the mother.
| Category | Examples of items |
| Bodysuits and sleepwear | Long-sleeved bodysuits, nightgowns |
| Trousers | Trousers with stretch waistbands in various sizes |
| Hats, mittens, socks | Merino wool hat, mittens, socks, balaclava hood |
| Outerwear | Windproof overall, wool overall, sleeping bag blanket |
| Bedding | Duvet cover, sheet, blankets, mattress, the box itself with a lid |
| Baby care | Muslin cloths, bib, towel, brush, bath thermometer, scissors, ball, book |
| Hygiene for the mother | Sanitary pads, reusable breast pads, and other products |
The box itself, with its lid, can serve as a bed for the baby in the first weeks. It is this feature that has made the Finnish baby box known worldwide. However, sleep safety depends on how you use it, so we recommend checking the advice at the neuvola.
Who is entitled to the baby box in Finland
Pregnant women who live permanently in Finland or work there are entitled to äitiysavustus. Adoptive parents may also be entitled once a specific child has been designated for placement in their care. Kela assesses your situation separately, including your place of residence and the nature of your stay.
- You are pregnant and live in Finland permanently, or you work there.
- You have had a medical examination by a doctor or at a neuvola by the end of the fourth month of pregnancy.
- You have a certificate stating that the pregnancy has lasted at least 154 days, that is, about five months.
- For adoption: the service-providing authority has already designated a specific child for placement.
Those who are not entitled include, for example, persons who have come to Finland solely to study, as well as asylum seekers. Kela separately considers cases of moving from other EU and EEA countries for work. We advise Ukrainians under temporary protection to first check their status and place of residence with Kela, as everything depends on individual circumstances.
When and where to apply for äitiysavustus
You can apply after 154 days of pregnancy, once you have received a certificate from a doctor or a neuvola. Kela recommends doing so no later than two months before the expected date of birth. Missing this deadline is risky, because the kit is not delivered instantly.
| Situation | Application deadline |
| Pregnancy | After 154 days, no later than 2 months before the date of birth |
| Adoption | Within 2 months of the child being placed in care |
The application is submitted via OmaKela, which is available in Finnish and Swedish, or on paper form SV 15e. The paper form is sent to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA. If you live in the Åland Islands, contact the municipal social services.
Delivery, collection, and problems with the kit
The kit is sent via Matkahuolto approximately two weeks after Kela’s decision. A notification of arrival is sent to the Paketit app, by SMS, or by email. If you have not received a notification within three weeks, call Kela’s customer service.
- The collection point is determined by your postal code and cannot be changed.
- The kit is issued only to the person to whom it was granted; it cannot be issued to an authorized representative.
- Items are missing or defective: notify the distributor within two weeks.
- An item broke during normal use: contact them within six months of receipt.
- The kit is not sent to addresses outside Finland.
The distributor of the kit is Suomen Kirjastopalvelu Oy, and only the recipient may file a complaint. You will be given a new item in place of a defective one. Therefore, inspect the box immediately after receiving it.
Twins, adoption, and moving
Additional benefits apply to families with multiple births. In the case of twins, you are entitled to three benefits, and in the case of triplets, to six. Each of them can be chosen separately: as a kit or as cash, in any combination. For example, two kits and one cash benefit.
| Situation | Number of äitiysavustus benefits |
| One child | 1 |
| Twins | 3 |
| Triplets | 6 |
The same rule applies when you adopt several children at the same time. If you plan to move, notify Kela, because a long-term stay abroad usually removes entitlement to the benefit. A temporary stay abroad is assessed separately.
Kit or cash: what expectant parents should choose
Both formats have the same value, since 210 euros corresponds to the value of the kit. The difference lies only in convenience and the family’s needs. Therefore, make the decision based on your budget and plans.
| Criterion | Kit | Cash |
| What you receive | Ready-made clothing, care products, a box | 210 euros to an account |
| Who it suits better | Those buying items for a child for the first time | Those who already have items or want to buy what they need themselves |
| Taxes | Not taxed | Not taxed |
| Receipt | Matkahuolto collection point by postal code | Transfer to a bank account |
From our clients’ experience: those who arrived recently and do not have items for the baby usually choose the package. It saves time and money in the first months. Families with a ready layette more often take the cash benefit, because they can buy exactly what is missing.
If you are expecting twins, choose a combination, since each benefit can be taken in a different form. One package and two cash payments is a perfectly acceptable option. This provides flexibility when two boxes for two babies is too much.
Typical mistakes when applying for a baby box
Because they are unaware of the nuances, families lose time or receive a refusal. Here are the mistakes that occur most often.
- Submitting the application too late, when less than two months remain before the birth.
- Lack of a pregnancy certificate or an examination after the fourth month.
- Incorrect contact details, as a result of which the notification from Matkahuolto does not arrive.
- Attempting to change the collection point or transfer the package to another person.
- Assuming that entitlement exists automatically, without checking one’s status with Kela.
- Failing to notify Kela of a change of address or a move.
Most of these problems can be avoided if the application is submitted on time and the documents are checked before they are sent. That is exactly how we advise our clients to proceed.
Why it is difficult to obtain a baby box on your own
Kela checks status, residence, documents, and deadlines. The OmaKela interface and decisions are available in Finnish or Swedish, and logging in requires bank codes. For people who have recently arrived, this is a real barrier.
In addition, an error in the application may delay the package and sometimes other benefits for the family as well. That is why legal support helps ensure that how to obtain a baby box in Finland is not a mystery, but a clear plan with specific dates.
On your own or with International Law Firm "Zahist": a comparison
| Criterion | On your own | With International Law Firm "Zahist" |
| Entitlement check | Based on information from the Kela website | Analysis of your status and residence |
| Documents | You collect and submit them yourself | Assistance with certificates and the application |
| Language | Finnish or Swedish | Explanation of decisions in a language you understand |
| Deadlines | Your own monitoring | A calendar of application deadlines |
| Refusal or delay | You deal with it yourself | Preparation of an appeal and support |
We do not guarantee the decisions of public authorities, as they are made by Kela. We help you submit a complete application on time and explain your rights.
How International Law Firm "Zahist" helps expectant mothers
We support each client so that she understands her actions and the deadlines.
- Analysis of entitlement to äitiysavustus and related benefits
- Preparation of a calendar of application deadlines
- Assistance with the pregnancy certificate and documents
- Preparation of the application to Kela and selection of the package or cash format
- Advice on collecting the package and on what to do in the event of defects
- Preparation of appeals in the event of a refusal or delay
- Support until the benefit is received
At every stage, you know what is happening and are not left alone with the bureaucracy. This matters when a young family’s budget is at stake.
Legal assistance for pregnant women in Finland
Do not postpone the application: the two-month deadline before childbirth passes quickly. The earlier you submit the documents, the greater the chance of receiving the package before the baby is born.
Contact the lawyers of International Law Firm "Zahist", and we will help determine how to obtain a baby box in Finland in your situation and prepare the necessary documents.
