Two-Week Maternal and Child Health Visit in Grand Rapids, Michigan

At your baby’s two-week visit in Grand Rapids, you and your nurse or pediatric provider will talk about your newborn’s growth, health, and early development. This is one of the most important early checkups for both you and your baby.

In West Michigan, families often schedule this visit with:

  • Their pediatrician or family doctor
  • A maternal and child health nurse
  • Hospital-affiliated clinics (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health)
  • Community health centers and Kent County Health Department clinics

What Happens at the Two-Week Visit?

At this visit, your Grand Rapids healthcare provider will usually:

  • Check your baby’s weight, length, and head size
  • Review feeding (breastfeeding, pumping, or formula)
  • Ask about wet and dirty diapers
  • Check your baby’s skin, cord stump, and overall health
  • Screen for jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • Review safe sleep practices (important in Michigan’s colder months when extra blankets and heaters can increase risk)
  • Talk about your emotional health and recovery after birth
  • Answer any questions about caring for your baby at home

You can also bring up any other concerns, including:

  • Sleep patterns
  • Crying and soothing
  • Adjusting to life with a new baby
  • Support at home, work, or school

If you need local support, your nurse or doctor may refer you to:

  • Kent County Health Department – Maternal & Child Health programs
  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community parenting programs
  • Lactation support at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health
  • Postpartum mental health services in the Grand Rapids area

What Is My Baby Doing at Two Weeks?

Even at two weeks old, your newborn is already learning about the world. Many babies at this age:

  • Spend a lot of time sleeping, feeding, and crying
  • Look into your eyes for short periods
  • Start to focus on faces and high-contrast objects
  • Grasp your fingers when you place them in their hands
  • Startle at loud noises (a common reaction in busy households or during Michigan’s winter storms)

Tell Your Nurse or Doctor if Your Baby:

  • Is not feeding well (too sleepy to feed, weak suck, or refusing feeds)
  • Has fewer than 5–6 wet diapers a day by the end of the second week
  • Seems very floppy or very stiff
  • Is not making any sounds such as soft cries or grunts
  • Has a fever, trouble breathing, or looks very unwell
  • Is very yellow (jaundiced), especially on the legs, arms, or eyes

If you are worried and your clinic is closed, you can contact:

  • Your hospital’s nurse advice line (Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health)
  • Your pediatrician’s after-hours line
  • Urgent care or the nearest emergency department if it’s an emergency

Helping Your Baby Learn and Develop Early

It’s never too early to support your baby’s development. In Grand Rapids and across Michigan, simple daily interactions make a big difference.

Activity Ideas for Two-Week-Old Babies

You can:

  • Talk to your baby about what you are doing
    • Example: “Let’s have a nice warm bath now” or “We’re getting your diaper changed.”
  • Sing simple songs or hum quietly
  • Look into their eyes and copy their facial expressions
  • Hold and cuddle them close to your chest so they can hear your heartbeat
  • Offer skin-to-skin contact or gentle baby massage (in a warm room, especially important in Michigan’s colder months)

These early interactions support:

  • Bonding and attachment
  • Early language development
  • Emotional security
  • Brain development

Car Seat and Home Safety in Grand Rapids

Safe travel is especially important in Michigan, where snow, ice, and rain can make driving more hazardous.

Car Seat Safety

Make sure:

  • Your baby is in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat
  • The car seat is properly installed and at the correct recline angle
  • Straps are snug and placed at or below the shoulders
  • No bulky coats or snowsuits are under the harness (use blankets over the harness in winter instead)

Local resources for car seat checks in the Grand Rapids area may include:

  • Kent County Sheriff’s Office or Grand Rapids Police Department car seat inspection events
  • Hospital-based car seat programs at Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Community health centers and family resource programs

Home Safety

At two weeks, your baby is not yet mobile, but safety still matters:

  • Always place your baby on their back to sleep in a crib or bassinet
  • Keep the sleep space free of pillows, blankets, bumpers, and stuffed animals
  • Keep your home smoke-free
  • Check the room temperature—not too hot, not too cold (important in Michigan winters when heaters and space heaters are used)

New Parent Support and “Baby Bundles” in Michigan

While the original “baby bundle” program mentioned may not apply, many Grand Rapids and Kent County programs offer support for new parents, such as:

  • Home visiting programs (nurses, social workers, or parent educators)
  • Breastfeeding support groups at local hospitals and community centers
  • Parent education classes on newborn care, safe sleep, and infant CPR

Ask your nurse, doctor, or the Kent County Health Department about:

  • Free or low-cost diapers, clothing, and baby supplies
  • Parenting classes and support groups in Grand Rapids
  • Programs for first-time parents, young parents, and families with limited income

If you did not receive information about local resources after leaving the hospital, tell your nurse or pediatrician at the two-week visit so they can connect you with help.

How Often Should My Baby Have Checkups?

In Grand Rapids and throughout Michigan, most pediatric practices and maternal-child health services follow a schedule of regular well-child visits. These typically include checkups at:

  • Home visit or early follow-up after hospital discharge (if available)
  • Two weeks
  • Four weeks (1 month)
  • Two months
  • Four months
  • Six or eight months (depending on your clinic’s schedule)
  • One year
  • 15–18 months
  • Two years
  • Two and a half to three years
  • Three and a half to four years

Your baby may need additional visits if there are feeding issues, weight concerns, or medical conditions.

Most Grand Rapids clinics offer:

  • Scheduled appointments
  • Some same-day or open consultation times
  • After-hours nurse lines or on-call doctors

Ask your clinic about their specific hours and how to reach them after hours.

Local Resources for Maternal and Child Health in Grand Rapids, MI

If you need help or have questions about your baby’s health, growth, or development, you can contact:

  • Your pediatrician or family doctor
  • Local hospital systems:
    • Spectrum Health (Corewell Health) – Maternal & Child Health and Pediatric Services
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids – Women’s Health and Pediatrics
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health (where available in West Michigan)
  • Kent County Health Department – Maternal & Child Health, WIC, home visiting, immunizations
  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community clinics for low-cost or sliding-scale care

Phone and Support Lines

  • Nurse advice lines through your hospital or pediatric clinic (check your clinic’s website or patient portal)
  • Postpartum mental health and counseling services in Grand Rapids
  • Michigan 2-1-1 – for help finding local parenting, housing, food, and mental health resources

If you need language support, ask your clinic about:

  • Medical interpreters (many Grand Rapids hospitals and clinics offer interpretation services)
  • Phone or video interpreting for non-English-speaking families
  • Support for hearing-impaired parents via relay services

When to Seek Immediate Help

Call your doctor, go to an urgent care, or visit the nearest emergency department in Grand Rapids if your baby:

  • Has difficulty breathing
  • Has a fever in a newborn (follow your provider’s instructions; typically any fever in a baby under 3 months is urgent)
  • Is very sleepy and hard to wake
  • Is not feeding at all or has far fewer wet diapers than usual
  • Looks blue, gray, or very pale
  • Has a seizure or sudden change in behavior

In an emergency, call 911.

Staying connected to your maternal and child health team in Grand Rapids during the first weeks of your baby’s life can help you feel more confident and supported. The two-week visit is an important opportunity to ask questions, check your baby’s growth, and get connected to local resources across West Michigan.