Kela unveils 39-item baby box for 2024

The national social insurance institution- Kela on Tuesday released its maternity box for 2024 containing 39 items, said Kela in a press release.

The number of items in this year´s box is one higher than the number in the maternity box for 2023, which contained 38 items .

The baby box released in 2022 contained 43 items, the box released in 2021 contained 50 items, the box released in 2020 contained 56 items and the baby box for 2019 had 63 items.

This year, quality has once again been the most important criterion when procuring products. Kela will start distributing the 2024 edition when stocks of the 2023 edition run out. 

The aim of the maternity grant provided by Kela is to support the wellbeing of the parent and the child. Recipients of the maternity grant can choose between a maternity package and a tax-free cash benefit of EUR 170.

About two-thirds of the parents choose the maternity package.  

“First-time parents usually choose the maternity package, while the cash benefit is often chosen by parents who already have small children and products from those children’s maternity packages or by parents whose friends or family have given them products from the earlier editions of the maternity package,” said Veera Petäjä, coordinator of Kela.

Parents can see the products included in the maternity package on Kela’s maternity package page and use that information to decide whether they want the maternity package or the cash benefit.

While the range of items remains almost the same from year to year, the colours of the textiles and the number of products vary. 

The products in the maternity package are selected via a yearly competitive tender process. Kela tests the products to ensure their quality and safety.  

“It is important to us that the products are safe and durable. Zippers must not scratch the baby, and there must be no long pieces of loose threads, since they can wrap around the baby’s toes or fingers. Seams and snap buttons must be durable,” said Johanna Aholainen, lawyer of Kela.

Aholainen said that the package contains a book intended to strengthen the interaction between the child and the parent.

The illustration of the maternity package is called Satumetsä (Fairytale Forest). It depicts familiar forest animals in their native environment in Finnish nature. The illustration was designed by the illustrator and graphic designer Heli Hyppönen. The illustration was chosen by a public vote. 

“I am glad to see my illustration on this year’s maternity package. The illustration was inspired by different animal families roaming through Finnish nature at different times of the year. I hope that the rich illustrations and their warm atmosphere bring joy to every family,” Hyppönen said. 

The Satumetsä illustration will also adorn next year’s maternity package.