Support for parenthood

Having a baby will change your domestic life in ways that will require adaptation and flexibility from both parents. You will experience new kinds of challenges – such as looking after your baby’s basic needs, adapting to their sleep patterns, feeding them regularly, and changing their nappies – as you acclimate to your new life. Read more about the baby’s first days at home on the Omaperhe.fi website.Opens in a new window.

Sometimes you may feel like asking for help and guidance for navigating your new life. Wellbeing services counties and organisations offer various types of support and help to families with children.

Support is available from e.g.:

• The Perhepulma service – counselling for families with children – Family Federation of FinlandOpens in a new window.
• Help and chat service for families adapting to their life with an infant – Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Support for parental relationship Opens in a new window.– Opens in a new window.The Family Federation of Finland's Parisuhdekeskus Kataja (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Stepfamily Association of FinlandOpens in a new window.
• Duo Family Training Opens in a new window.– Familia ry, the national expert organisation of intercultural familiesOpens in a new window.
• Finnish Multiple Births AssociationOpens in a new window.
• Support person activities – the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.

The development of children under school age is monitored at child health clinics. You can contact your child health clinic in all kinds of matters related to your child’s care and upbringing, your parenthood, and the well-being of your family.

If you need support for your breastfeeding, you can ask your child health clinic for advice and help. You will also receive breastfeeding-related guidance from your maternity hospital and the family guidance provided by your maternity and child health clinic.

You may face challenges in your breastfeeding, but this is completely normal, and support is always available.

We recommend reading more about the topic and familiarising yourself with the peer support that is available. For example, the Finnish Association for Breastfeeding Support offers free peer support by trained educators in issues related to breastfeeding and parenthood.

Further resources:

• Rinnalla app – Finnish Association for Breastfeeding Support (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Breastfeeding in a rainbow family - Finnish Association for Breastfeeding Support (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Bottle feeding guide – Family Federation of Finland (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Guides for breastfeeding twins and triplets – Finnish Multiple Births Association (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.

Adding a baby to your life will have an impact on your sleep patterns. When your baby is only a few months old, they are likely to wake up a lot during the night. Your baby may be unable to sleep for a variety of reasons.

Learn more about how babies sleep:

• How babies and parents sleep – Family Federation of Finland (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Sleep guide for families expecting multiple children – Finnish Multiple Births Association (in FInnish)Opens in a new window.

If you feel that your ability to cope is being put to the test and that your situation has started to affect your quality of life and mental health, don’t hesitate to discuss your issues with your family, friends, or a professional. Read more about mood swings after childbirth.

You can contact your local health centre, student health care, or occupational health care. In addition, free counselling is available to those expecting a child and parents of underage children, for example via the Perhepulma service provided by the Family Federation of FinlandOpens in a new window..

A child can strengthen the relationship between their parents, but the child’s presence will also introduce new types of demands and challenges to the parents’ relationship. These can also have an impact on the parents’ mutual interaction and level of intimacy. While it is important to look after your household and your child’s everyday needs, you and your partner should also remember to work together and take care of your personal needs, to maintain the balance between your relationship and caring for your baby.  

If you are concerned about your relationship with your partner or loved ones, contact the maternity and child health clinic services of your wellbeing services county. Many different organisations also offer expert assistance for discussing and processing your thoughts and emotions, to support your parenthood and relationship. 

Here are some resources that you can access:

• Perhesuhdekeskus (Family Relations Centre) support services – Sateenkaariperheet – Rainbow Families FinlandOpens in a new window.
• Support for the relationships of adoptive parents – Adoptioperheet ry (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Couple and family counselling - Familia ryOpens in a new window.

Support and services are also available from the Family Federation of Finland and the Family Federation of Finland's Parisuhdekeskus Kataja.

If your family needs temporary help due to, for example, an unexpected illness, you can request home services from your wellbeing services county. A home services worker can help you with your household chores, care and attention duties, and the care and upbringing of your children.

Wellbeing services counties also organise family work services that help strengthen a family’s resources and ability to cope with everyday life. Family work is systematic and long-term process that is usually carried out at the family’s home. If you need support in managing your everyday life, the care and upbringing of your children, or the relationships in your family, discuss the matter at your maternity and child health clinic. You can also contact the family work supervisors in your wellbeing services county.

The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL) offers family mentoring activities. Family mentors are volunteers who participate in a family’s everyday activities and provide parenting support. The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare also offers childcare services in some municipalities. For more information about the MLL’s childcare services, visit the MLL’s website (in Finnish).Opens in a new window.

You can also request a support person for your family from the Save the Children Finland (page available in Finnish).Opens in a new window. The support person can spend time with your child, play and talk with them, and help them with their homework while you rest.

Wellbeing services counties organise meeting place activities for children and their families to strengthen their participation and inclusion while also offering peer support and a space for children to play. You can ask for more details about these meeting places from e.g. your maternity and child health clinic. Many meeting places involve various organisations.

Many organisations and parishes arrange different kinds of activities and meeting places for all types of families, as well as peer support in matters related to parenthood and the everyday life of families with children. You can participate in family cafés, chat online with peers, or participate in other events intended for children and their families. Further resources:

• Sateenkaariperheet – Rainbow Families Finland’s event calendar (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Living rooms, member associations, and their events – YVPL (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Regional associations of the Finnish Multiple Births Association (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• The services provided by the associations of the Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Adoptioperheet ry’s activities for parents and families (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Simpukka ry’s events for single mothers by choice (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Support for postpartum depression - Äimä ry (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Event calendar - Stepfamily Association of Finland (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Peer grups for bi-cultural families - Familia ryOpens in a new window.

If your family is experiencing money troubles or financial issues, do not hesitate to ask for help or advice.

You can contact the social counselling services of your wellbeing services county and ask for information on social assistance and housing allowances. Local organisations and parishes may also provide food and clothing assistance.

If your family is in a debt cycle, you can contact financial and debt counselling. For more information, see Suomi.fi’s Crisis situations in personal finances page.

For more information and counselling on managing the financial affairs of families with children, visit e.g. the Guarantee Foundation's Dept Helpline or Ask About Money web chat serviceOpens in a new window..