A method and a network node for handling SCTP packets are disclosed. The network node provides a control instance of a control procedure for handling administrative chunks of the SCTP packets and at least one data instance of a data procedure for handling association specific chunks of the SCTP packets. With the control instance, the network node discards association specific chunks of a received SCTP packet, and processes administrative chunks of the received SCTP packet. With each of the at least one data instance, the network node discards administrative chunks and a first set of association specific chunks of the received SCTP packet, and processes a second set of association specific chunks of the received SCTP packet, wherein the second set of association specific chunks relates the respective set of said at least one association.