Your Child Is Growing—But You Don't Have to Navigate It Alone
Free & Helpful Michigan Resources for Babies, Toddlers, and Young Children
Not sure where to turn for help?
Need help finding child care?
Wondering if your child is reaching developmental milestones?
Looking for food, parenting, or financial resources?
Trying to find support but don't know where to start?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you're in the right place.
Parenting comes with plenty of beautiful moments—but it can also come with questions, unexpected expenses, and challenges that you never anticipated.
And sometimes, the hardest part isn't asking for help.
It's knowing where to find it.
That's why KindNest is working to connect Michigan families with practical resources, trusted organizations, and support that can help families take their next step.
Whether you have a newborn, a busy toddler, or a child getting ready for school, you don't have to figure everything out alone.
Is Your Family Going Through a New Season?
As your child grows, your family's needs can change.
Maybe your baby is becoming a toddler.
Maybe you're returning to work.
Maybe you're looking for affordable child care.
Maybe your child is approaching preschool.
Maybe you're worried about a developmental milestone.
Maybe groceries are getting harder to afford.
Or maybe you're simply wondering:
“Is there help available for families like mine?”
The answer is often yes.
You just need to know where to look.
START HERE
You don't have to solve every problem today.
Start with the need that feels most important right now.
Then find one resource that can help.
1. Need Help With Food? Start With WIC
Did you know that WIC can continue supporting eligible children beyond infancy?
Michigan WIC provides nutrition education, food benefits, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and community resources for eligible women, infants, and children.
Eligible children can receive WIC benefits through age five.
If you're already receiving WIC, your child's needs may change as they grow, so it's worth continuing to ask about available benefits and resources.
WIC May Help With:
Nutritious foods
Infant foods
Nutrition education
Breastfeeding support
Health referrals
Community resource connections
Looking for WIC help?
Visit:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/wic
You can also explore WIC and other family resources through the KindNest Resource Library:
https://www.kindnestproject.org/resource-library
2. Wondering If Your Child Is Meeting Milestones?
Every child develops differently.
But if you've ever caught yourself wondering:
“Should my child be talking more by now?”
“Is this behavior normal?”
“Should my toddler be doing this yet?”
“Who can I talk to about my child's development?”
You don't have to sit with those questions alone.
Michigan's Early On program provides early-intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers from birth through age three who have developmental delays or disabilities.
Services may include:
Developmental support
Speech and language services
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Family training
Counseling
Home visits
Service coordination
Have a Concern? It's Okay to Ask.
You don't have to wait until someone else tells you that your child needs an evaluation.
If you're concerned about your child's development, reaching out can be a good first step.
Early On:
1-800-EARLY-ON
1-800-327-5966
3. Want Extra Parenting Support? You May Be Able to Get It at Home
Here's something many parents don't know about:
Michigan has free home-visiting programs for eligible families.
Home visiting programs connect families with trained professionals who can provide support during pregnancy and the early childhood years.
Depending on the program, you may receive help with:
Parenting questions
Child development
Infant care
Feeding
Sleep
Health and safety
Early learning
Finding community resources
Food assistance
Housing
Employment and education
And here's the important part:
You don't have to be in crisis to ask for support.
Sometimes having another knowledgeable person in your corner can make parenting feel a little less overwhelming.
Find a Michigan Home Visiting Program:
https://www.michigan.gov/homevisiting/families
PARENTING TIP
You don't have to know everything.
Parenting is something you learn as you go. Asking questions is part of being a good parent—not a sign that you're doing something wrong.
4. Looking for Affordable Child Care?
Child care can be one of the biggest expenses families face.
If you're searching for:
“Affordable daycare near me”
“Child care assistance Michigan”
“Daycare help for working parents”
or
“Where can I find quality child care?”
Michigan has resources that can help.
Great Start to Quality
Great Start to Quality helps Michigan families search for licensed child care, preschool, and school-age programs.
https://greatstarttoquality.org/
You can search for programs based on your family's needs and location.
Need Help Paying for Child Care?
Michigan's Child Development and Care Program may help eligible families with child-care costs when they have an approved need.
Apply through:
https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/
If you're not sure whether you qualify, check anyway.
You may have options you didn't know existed.
5. Looking for Free Preschool?
If you have a 4-year-old, this is a resource you don't want to overlook.
Michigan's PreK for All initiative provides no-cost preschool opportunities for eligible 4-year-olds.
Michigan's current program information states that children who are 4 by December 1 are eligible, regardless of household income, with enrollment prioritization for families who need it most.
The Best Part?
There is no cost to families.
Michigan estimates PreK for All can save families approximately $14,000 per year in child-care expenses.
Learn more:
https://www.michigan.gov/mileap/early-childhood-education/prek-for-all
You can also search for programs through
https://greatstarttoquality.org/
6. Have a 3-Year-Old? Check This Out.
Michigan is also expanding access to early learning for younger children.
The Strong Beginnings program provides eligible 3-year-olds with access to free, high-quality prekindergarten in participating communities.
And for families in Genesee County, this is especially worth knowing about.
Michigan expanded Strong Beginnings for the 2026–27 school year to additional Intermediate School Districts, including Genesee County.
Because availability and eligibility can vary, families should check with their local program or Intermediate School District.
Learn more about Michigan early childhood programs:
https://www.michigan.gov/mileap/early-childhood-education
7. Raising a Toddler Can Be Expensive. Help Is Available.
As babies become toddlers, the list of things they need doesn't necessarily get smaller.
You may suddenly need:
Pull-ups
Bigger clothing
Shoes
Preschool
Child care
Snacks and groceries
School supplies
Transportation
Developmental resources
And sometimes your family's budget doesn't stretch as far as your child's needs.
That doesn't mean you're failing.
It means you may need additional support.
Michigan 211 can help families find resources for:
Food
Housing
Utilities
Transportation
Health care
Clothing
Child and family services
Emergency assistance
Need Help Finding Help?
Call: 211
Call: 844-875-9211
Text: Your ZIP code to 898211
8. Don't Forget About Mom, Dad, or the Caregiver
Children aren't the only ones who need support.
Parents and caregivers may be dealing with:
Financial stress
Work challenges
School
Housing concerns
Transportation problems
Mental health
Parenting stress
Lack of support
Exhaustion
Sometimes you don't need someone to fix everything.
You just need someone to say:
“Let's figure out the next step.”
That's what community support can do.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Needing help doesn't mean you're failing your family.
It means you're taking another step toward getting your family what it needs.
9. Looking for Local Michigan Resources?
If you're in Flint, Genesee County, or another Michigan community, local organizations may be able to help with needs that aren't always easy to find through a simple Google search.
KindNest's Resource Library brings together resources related to:
Pregnancy
Parenting
Baby essentials
Food
Housing
Mental health
Domestic violence support
Infant care
Employment
Family stability
You'll find organizations and resources such as:
WIC • Feeding America • Michigan 211 • Michigan Housing Locator • Baby2Baby • ZERO TO THREE • Nurse-Family Partnership • Goodwill Industries • Postpartum Support International
And the Resource Library continues to grow as new community connections are identified.
Start Searching:
https://www.kindnestproject.org/resource-library
What To Do Next
Feeling overwhelmed?
Don't try to do everything at once.
Start here:
1. Identify your biggest need.
Is it food? Child care? Housing? Baby supplies? Parenting support? Your child's development?
2. Choose ONE resource.
Start with the resource that most closely matches your immediate need.
3. Reach out.
Make the call. Submit the application. Send the email.
4. Ask what else is available.
One organization may know about another resource that can help.
5. Come back to KindNest.
The KindNest Resource Library is here whenever you need another place to start.
https://www.kindnestproject.org/resource-library
One Search Can Lead to a Support System
Sometimes the resource you're looking for isn't the only resource you need.
You might start by looking for diapers.
Then find WIC.
WIC may connect you with another program.
A home-visiting program may help with parenting questions.
A child-care resource may help you return to work.
One connection can lead to another.
That's how a support system is built.
KindNest Is Here to Help Connect the Dots
KindNest believes families deserve more than temporary assistance.
They deserve support, dignity, connection, and resources that meet them where they are.
Whether you need help finding baby essentials, child care, food assistance, parenting resources, housing support, or developmental services, KindNest's Resource Library can help you find a place to begin.
Explore the KindNest Resource Library
https://www.kindnestproject.org/resource-library
Need Baby or Children's Essentials?
Learn more about KindNest care packages:
https://www.kindnestproject.org/receive-assistance
Your Family Is Growing. Your Support System Can Grow, Too.
Parenting changes.
Your child's needs change.
Your family's circumstances change.
And the support you need may change right along with them.
You don't need to have every answer today.
You just need to know where to start.
Start with one need.
Find one resource.
Take one step.
KindNest is here to help families feel supported today while building toward greater stability, opportunity, and hope for tomorrow.
Important Resource Disclaimer
KindNest shares outside resources as a helpful starting point. Services, eligibility requirements, availability, hours, enrollment periods, and response times may vary by organization and program. Please contact each organization directly to confirm current information before visiting, applying, or relying on a particular service.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not replace medical, developmental, legal, financial, or professional advice. If you have concerns about your child's health or development, speak with your child's healthcare provider or an appropriate professional.