Trust in the future increases families’ desire for children – a quarter of first-time parents still hesitate
According to a recent survey, the most common reason for hesitation about having more children is coping as a parent. Factors that increased the desire for children included trust in the future, sufficient income, and positive birth experiences.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) found that 44 per cent of parents who had a child in 2024 in Finland wish to have more children. Among first-time parents, the figure was 67 per cent, whereas 7 per cent said they do not want more children, and 26 per cent were unsure.
The proportion of parents wishing for more children was slightly lower than in a similar study in 2020, when 49 per cent of all parents and 73 per cent of first-time parents expressed a desire for more children.
The most common reason for hesitation was coping as a parent, cited by 35 per cent of those unsure. The second most common reason was satisfaction with the current number of children. Other significant reasons included financial situation, balancing family with work or studies, difficult birth experiences, climate change, and global uncertainty.
Parents who trusted the future, felt mentally well, did not experience financial hardship, and had a good birth experience were more likely to wish for more children.
Nearly 12,000 parents responded to the FinChildren survey for families with babies in 2024, representing 37 per cent of those invited. Among respondents were over 7,500 mothers who gave birth and nearly 4,500 fathers or other second parents.
Feelings of exhaustion are common and affect childbearing plans
Over 90 per cent of respondents viewed the future optimistically, and most considered their health to be good. However, symptoms of exhaustion were common, reported by over one-third of respondents.
About 10 per cent experienced severe exhaustion symptoms, and only a quarter of them wished for more children.
“Services that support parenting and coping are essential to ensure that potential childbearing plans are not diminished due to exhaustion or everyday challenges,” says THL’s research manager Johanna Närvi.
Additionally, one in ten reported significant financial hardship, such as having to cut back on food, medicine, or doctor visits.
“Ensuring sufficient income for families with children is important, as financial concerns affect both parental coping and trust in the future,” Närvi adds.
Parents want more support for baby's sleep problems and their own coping
Parents were generally satisfied with maternity and child health clinic services. Most mothers had positive birth experiences, and nearly all felt well supported by staff during childbirth.
However, more support was desired for breastfeeding, baby’s sleep problems, and parental coping. About one-third of parents who needed professional support felt they did not receive adequate support for baby’s sleep issues, and over 40 per cent for their own well-being after the baby was born.
“Maternity clinics do excellent work in monitoring pregnancy and child development, but it’s important to allocate enough resources to assess parental well-being and support coping. Ideally, part of the appointment time could be reserved for one-on-one discussions with each parent, making it easier to talk about personal matters,” says THL’s senior researcher Miia Paavilainen.
“Additionally, sufficient and early support for baby’s sleep issues and other demanding aspects of baby life would improve parental coping and reduce the need for more intensive support measures.”
Future Finland strengthens the foundation of family well-being
THL will launch the Future Finland data collection, funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, at the beginning of 2026. Initially, families expecting a child in Uusimaa area will be invited, and the project will expand nationwide in the coming years.
A multidisciplinary dataset will be collected over time from participating families, including surveys on family well-being and data from national registers. Families will also be asked to consent to the use of blood samples taken during pregnancy and childbirth for research purposes.
The goal is to strengthen population well-being and provide a reliable knowledge base for decision-making and building a sustainable welfare society.
“Future Finland offers a unique opportunity to follow the lives of children and families from the very beginning. It provides research-based insights into how childhood conditions affect health and well-being throughout life,” says project director Annamari Lundqvist.
“We face new challenges: an aging population, increasing digitalization, accelerating climate change, and growing societal uncertainty. That’s why we need research that meets the changing needs of today’s society.”
More information
FinChildren study (in Finnish, THL)
Miia Paavilainen
Senior Researcher
THL
Tel. +358 29 524 7675
[email protected]
Johanna Närvi
Research Manager
THL
Tel. +358 29 524 7467
[email protected]
Annamari Lundqvist
Project Director (Future Finland)
THL
Tel. +358 29 524 7283
[email protected]
