Children and parents

There are many different types of support for children and their parents in society. For example, we offer free health care for children and new mothers, paid parental leave, municipal childcare and a family advisory service.

Expecting a baby

Expecting a baby is a major life event for many people, and having a baby often involves a major change in the lives of parents. Pregnant women are entitled to take time off work for a certain period before the baby is born, with remuneration from the Social Insurance Office. Pregnant women doing physically heavy work can also receive what is known as maternity allowance. This is also paid by the Social Insurance Office.

Women are entitled to make their own decisions on if and when they want children. This means that a woman is entitled to have a termination even if the baby's father doesn't want that. She can also choose to keep the baby even if the father doesn't want to do so. For advice and support, you can contact the midwives clinic or the maternity clinic in your municipality.

When the baby is born

Parents can get help and support with looking after their babies at the childcare centre. They also have special support groups for single parents or young parents, for example.

Parental allowance

Parental allowance is money given to parents so that they can take time off work in order to look after their children. Parents who share childcare duties are entitled to 240 days of parental allowance. Of this time, two months are earmarked for each of the parents and can't be transferred. This means that both parents have to take at least two months of their parental leave each in order to take all their parental leave with parental allowance.
Parents can apply for parental allowance at the Social Insurance Office.

Establishing paternity and parenthood

Children are entitled to have both their parents. This is why it's necessary to establish who the parents are of all babies born. Children are entitled to know about their own origins, and they're entitled to have someone support them. They're also entitled to an inheritance. If the mother is unmarried or divorced, paternity or parenthood has to be investigated. This is done with social services in your municipality.

Care and socialisation

All children are entitled to have a carer. This means that there has to be someone who's responsible for making sure the child gets everything he or she needs, such as food and clothing, and for ensuring that the child is well. The parents often assume this role, but another person may also take over as carer.

"Joint custody" means that the parents together are to be responsible for the child and make decisions on issues relating to him or her. "Sole custody" means that only one of the parents holds legal responsibility for the child. Married parents automatically have joint custody of their children. When parents are unmarried, the child is automatically in the custody of his or her mother. Parents can report at any time to the Swedish Tax Agency to notify them that they want joint custody.

Children's names

The names which parents want to give their children have to be submitted to the Swedish Tax Agency within three months of the child's birth.

Children's citizenship

When the child is entered in the civil register, the Swedish Tax Agency has to assess the citizenship of the child. If one parent is a Swedish citizen and the child is born in Sweden, the child will become a Swedish citizen. Special rules apply if both parents are foreign citizens. If both parents are foreign citizens, they need to apply to the Migration Authority for a residence permit for the child after the birth.

Rights and obligations of parents

The rights and obligations of parents are described in a special legal text, the Code relating to Parenthood and Guardianship. Parents are responsible for their child and make decisions concerning him or her. For example, parents can decide how long their child is allowed to stay out in the evenings, which school he or she is to attend and how much pocket money the child is to be given.