This information is designed to help parents and carers with feeding a baby or child with chronic kidney disease. It should be used alongside specialist advice from healthcare professionals.

Chronic kidney disease and feeding

Healthy kidneys filter blood and remove extra water, salts (potassium, phosphate and sodium) and waste (urea) in urine. Urea is a waste product that the body makes from the food we eat.

However, babies and children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have poor kidney function – their kidneys do not work as well as they should. This means that the salts and urea can build up in the blood stream.

It is important that all children eat well. Good nutrition is essential for growth and healthy brain development. It gives children strength to fight illness and infections.

Some children with CKD struggle with eating and need extra support to make sure they get the energy and nutrients they need to grow and stay healthy.

About your child’s care

If your child has CKD, they will probably be referred to a paediatric renal unit, a specialised unit that treats babies, children and young people with kidney conditions.

The healthcare team will include a:

• A paediatric nephrologist – a specialist doctor who treats children with kidney problems.
• A paediatric renal dietitian – a healthcare professional who gives advice on what and how to feed your child to help control the effects of poor kidney function, and ensure that your child thrives.

The kidney team will link in with your local team so that you also have help nearer to home.

• Your local health visitor can help with feeding advice. They also sometimes weigh and measure your baby’s length
• Nursery staff can help with feeding and can be trained in tube feeding
• Speech and language therapists can help if your child has a problem with swallowing.

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