International Women’s Club organized an event at the Residence of Finland introducing the famous Finnish baby box. Lassi Härmälä, Chargé d’affaires a.i. welcomed the guests at the Residence after which Sara Härmälä, his spouse gave a presentation about the Finnish maternity package.
Ever since the 1940’s all mothers-to-be in Finland despite the income level have received a governmental maternity package or so called ”baby box”. This cardboard box full of baby necessities has over the years helped to reduce infant mortality rates and offered every child an equal start to life.
Finnish maternity package, the “Baby Box”, has for several decades been the only one of its kind worldwide. It is a state-provided, subjective benefit for any Finnish parent expecting or adopting a child, first introduced to Finnish mothers over 80 years ago. The box contains a wide range of essential and useful items, for example baby clothes and child care products. Altogether there are around 40 different items in the box, and over 35 000 boxes are handed out yearly.
