My Health, Learning and Development Book (“Green Book”) in Grand Rapids, Michigan

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, parents of newborns often receive a My Health, Learning and Development Record, commonly called the “green book.” This book is an essential tool to track your child’s health, growth, development, immunizations, and important milestones from birth through early childhood.

Whether your baby is born at Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, University of Michigan Health–West (Metro Health), or another Grand Rapids hospital or birth center, you may be given this record before you go home.

What Is the “Green Book”?

The My Health, Learning and Development book (“green book”) is a comprehensive health record designed to help Grand Rapids families:

  • Understand early childhood development
  • Keep all health and immunization records in one place
  • Track growth, learning, and developmental milestones
  • Connect with local health and family support services in West Michigan

This child health record is especially valuable in a city like Grand Rapids, where families navigate seasonal changes, from cold, snowy winters to warm summers along the Grand River and nearby Great Lakes. Tracking illnesses (like colds, flu, RSV), growth, and development over time helps your healthcare team provide the best care.

What the Green Book Includes

Your child’s green book typically contains:

  • A record of your child’s ten key ages and stages health visits
  • Sections for maternal and child health notes
  • Space to track:
    • Height, weight, and head circumference
    • Developmental milestones (movement, speech, social skills)
    • Immunizations and vaccine dates
    • Medical conditions, allergies, and medications
  • Information on local services and support for families in Grand Rapids and Kent County

By keeping your Grand Rapids green book up to date, you create a clear, long-term record of your child’s journey from birth through early childhood.

How to Use Your Child’s Green Book

Record Health, Learning, and Development

Use the book to note:

  • Growth measurements from pediatric visits
  • Immunizations, including:
    • Routine childhood vaccines
    • Flu shots (especially important during Michigan’s long winter season)
    • COVID-19 vaccines when recommended
  • Observations about:
    • Sleep patterns
    • Feeding and nutrition
    • Behavior and mood
    • Learning and language development
    • Motor skills (rolling, crawling, walking)

This information helps your Grand Rapids pediatrician or family doctor quickly see patterns or concerns, such as frequent winter infections, asthma symptoms, or growth delays.

Prepare for Health Appointments

Before appointments, you can use the green book to:

  • Write down questions for:
    • Your pediatrician or family doctor
    • Nurses
    • Specialists (e.g., ENT, allergist, developmental pediatrician)
  • Note upcoming appointments and follow-up plans
  • Track referrals to services such as:
    • Early On Michigan (early intervention)
    • Speech or occupational therapy
    • Behavioral health or counseling

Bring the green book to every visit so your healthcare team in Grand Rapids can update it.

Where and When to Bring the Green Book

Always take your child’s My Health, Learning and Development book to:

  • Newborn and well-child visits at:
    • Corewell Health / Spectrum Health clinics
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids pediatric offices
    • University of Michigan Health–West (Metro Health) clinics
    • Mercy Health or other local pediatric practices
  • Immunization appointments at:
    • Your child’s doctor’s office
    • Kent County Health Department immunization clinics
    • Grand Rapids Public Health and community vaccine events
  • Visits to:
    • A local GP/family doctor or pediatrician
    • Dentist (for early childhood dental care)
    • Other health professionals (e.g., physical therapist, speech therapist)
  • Hospital or emergency department visits, including:
    • Corewell Health Butterworth and DeVos Children’s Hospital
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids Emergency Department
  • Community health centers and neighborhood clinics
  • Early childhood education and care settings, such as:
    • Child care centers
    • Family day care homes
    • Preschool and kindergarten programs
    • Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program classrooms

Bringing the green book ensures every provider in Grand Rapids has the same, accurate information about your child.

Ten Key Ages and Stages Visits

The green book is organized around ten key ages and stages in your child’s early development. These are common times for well-child visits, where your provider checks growth, development, and overall health:

  1. At birth
  2. Two weeks
  3. Four weeks
  4. Eight weeks (2 months)
  5. Four months
  6. Eight months
  7. One year (12 months)
  8. 18 months
  9. Two years
  10. Three and a half years (3.5 years)

At each of these visits, your healthcare provider will typically:

  • Measure weight, length/height, and head circumference
  • Review feeding and nutrition
  • Check vision and hearing as appropriate
  • Discuss sleep, behavior, and safety (including winter safety, car seats, and water safety around lakes and pools)
  • Review and update immunizations
  • Screen for developmental delays and discuss any concerns

The results and notes from these visits should be written directly into your child’s Grand Rapids green book.

Space for Photos and Important Documents

The My Health, Learning and Development book usually includes:

  • Space for photos of your child at different ages
  • Plastic sleeves or pockets for:
    • Birth certificate copies
    • Hospital discharge summaries
    • Immunization printouts
    • Test results or specialist reports
    • Insurance information

Keeping these documents in one place makes it easier when you need records for:

  • School or preschool enrollment in Grand Rapids Public Schools or surrounding districts
  • Sports or activity physicals
  • Travel or camp forms
  • Specialist appointments

What If You Don’t Have a Green Book?

If you did not receive a My Health, Learning and Development book after your baby’s birth in Grand Rapids, you can:

  • Ask your hospital’s maternity or birth center (e.g., Spectrum Health / Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health)
  • Talk to your pediatrician or family doctor
  • Contact:

These local resources can guide you on getting a replacement record or using alternative tools to track your child’s health and development.

Local Resources for Parents in Grand Rapids, MI

If you have questions about your child’s health, learning, or development, you can reach out to:

  • Your pediatrician or GP in Grand Rapids
    (Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, and independent practices)
  • Kent County Health Department
    • Immunizations, lead screening, WIC, and early childhood health programs
  • Early On Michigan
    • Early intervention for children birth to age 3 with developmental delays or disabilities
  • Great Start Collaborative – Kent County
    • Resources for early childhood education and family support
  • Local community mental health and family counseling services
    • For behavioral, emotional, or developmental concerns

For language support, you can request interpreter services through your hospital, clinic, or public health agency. Many Grand Rapids healthcare providers offer Spanish and other language interpretation to better serve the city’s diverse population.

How the Green Book Supports Families in Grand Rapids

The My Health, Learning and Development (green) book is especially helpful for Grand Rapids families because it:

  • Keeps all child health records in one place
  • Helps you track changes over time, including seasonal illnesses common in Michigan’s fall and winter months
  • Supports communication between multiple providers across different health systems
  • Helps you advocate for your child in medical, educational, and community settings
  • Makes it easier to spot patterns in development, behavior, or health

Key Points to Remember

  • The My Health, Learning and Development “green book” is a free child health record often provided after birth in Grand Rapids, MI.
  • It includes information and space to record your child’s ten key ages and stages visits, growth, development, and immunizations.
  • There is also space for photos and plastic sleeves for important documents, making it a central place for your child’s health and development history.
  • Always bring the green book to:
    • Hospital and clinic visits
    • Immunization appointments
    • Dental and specialist visits
    • Early childhood education and school meetings
  • If you don’t have a green book, contact your Grand Rapids hospital, pediatrician, Kent County Health Department, or Grand Rapids Public Health for guidance.

By using your child’s green book consistently, you help build a strong foundation for their health, learning, and development in Grand Rapids, Michigan.