In 2018, the traditional Finnish baby box celebrates its 80th anniversary
The history of the maternity package, intended for all pregnant women, dates back to 1938. The portal "This is Finland" analyzed this Finnish social innovation that changes lives and told what new things appeared in its 80-year-old version.
The set for newborns is not just a fashion accessory. Every woman in Finland who is about to become a mother has the right to receive this box with baby clothes, care items and accessories. This becomes a wonderful start for every child, and helps parents master their new role. This system appeared in 1938, when the government introduced a cash benefit at the birth of a child to help solve the problems of infant mortality and declining birth rates.
Then, as now, pregnant women had to visit a maternity clinic to qualify for the benefit, and the medical and educational value of these visits remains closely tied to the concept of the baby box. Finland has one of the lowest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world.
Today you can choose either the baby box or a cash benefit of 140 euros. Each year, about 60,000 families receive the box or the money. Ninety-five percent of women giving birth for the first time choose the baby box; for subsequent children, almost a third of mothers prefer the money instead of the box.
Every year, Kela changes and updates the baby box based on feedback from parents and in line with changing trends. The 2018 box added a pair of wool pants and a pair of blue-and-white felt boots. The latter are decorated with the number "80" – in honor of the 80th edition of the baby box.
A video by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) shows the contents of the 2017 version of the baby box, which is updated annually based on feedback from parents and in line with changing trends
The standard set includes a winter suit, mittens, various hats and a zippered blanket that can be turned into a sleeping bag. The presence of winter clothing indicates that Finns are accustomed to spending time outdoors from a very early age, regardless of the outdoor temperature.
The fabric colors, patterns, and even the designs on the box change from year to year, but they are always suitable for a child of any gender. Each family receives the same set. In 2018, the sleeping bag featured sheep drawn in a pointillist style on a blue-green background; in 2017, blue, pink and yellow owls on gray; the 2016 version was decorated with blue and green drawings of bears, berries and fir trees.
In addition to a wide variety of clothing, which includes not only winter items, the baby box includes useful items such as nail scissors, the baby's first toothbrush, a comb and a bath thermometer. A foam mattress lines the bottom of the box, so it can serve as a safe, clean crib for the baby.
Over time, thanks to consumer feedback, the emphasis on environmental sustainability has increased. For example, since 2009, Kela has stopped including disposable diapers, which take hundreds of years to decompose and contain harmful chemicals.
Kela is approached by other countries to implement similar programs. Scotland, Argentina and the US state of New Jersey are experimenting with their own baby boxes. Kela provides reference information about its program but does not give specific recommendations on the contents of the box, as local climate and cultural factors influence what should be included.
In other countries introducing baby boxes, the priorities are the same as in the Finnish program. The main thing is to give children an equal start in life, so the set is designed with their needs in mind.
Expectant parents receive material support as well as the necessary knowledge, starting early to communicate with healthcare workers when it's time to learn something new. If you think about this conceptual idea, you will understand that it benefits the whole society.