Early years
Good nutrition throughout a child’s early years ensures they have the best start. For families caring for children with kidney disease, this may be a challenging time. Managing symptoms and following dietary restrictions, whilst progressing with weaning and preparing to start nursery or school can be difficult.
Our Renatots resources are designed to support parents and carers throughout these early years for children with kidney disease, providing nutrition information, practical tips, and mealtime inspiration. From kidney-friendly recipes to advice on how to talk about your child’s condition with nursery staff, all our resources have been written in collaboration with healthcare professionals.
Starting Nursery
If they are well enough, children with kidney disease can attend nursery like any other child. It may be helpful to ask your child’s dietitian to speak to the nursery staff to discuss the basic principles of kidney disease.
Can my child eat the same foods as the other children at nursery?
Depending upon the stage of your child’s kidney disease, your dietitian may have advised on specific dietary advice such as a low potassium, low phosphate or a low salt diet. You will need to speak to the nursery staff to ensure they are aware of which foods your child can and cannot have.
Think about creating a Packed Lunch!
If you child is following specific dietary restrictions such as a low salt, low phosphate or low potassium diet, it may be helpful for you to pack suitable foods for your child to have at nursery.
These foods include:
- Low potassium fruits such as apples, grapes, a small handful of berries
- Carrot or celery sticks
- Unsalted snacks like rice cakes
- Plain or cream biscuits
What happens if there are celebrations involving food at the nursery?
Children with kidney disease can still enjoy the fun that occurs when there are celebrations which include food at nursery. Having fun with food, messy play and seeing other children eat, can all help to embed positive feelings and thoughts about food.
Good communication is key – make sure you keep in touch with the nursery to find out how your child is getting on at mealtimes. This will help provide staff with an opportunity to ask you any questions.
Starting to Wean
Weaning is the time when a baby is introduced to solid foods. Over a period of time, a baby will progress with the textures and amount of solid foods they have, with the amount of breast milk or standard infant formula they have reducing.
When do I start to wean my baby?
Babies usually start weaning around 6 months of age, however all babies are different. Some may be ready to start weaning a little earlier than others. Solid foods should only be given when your baby is ready and not before 17 weeks of age as their digestive systems are not mature enough. The weaning process usually starts with the introduction of solid foods as puréed foods, moving onto soft textures and then to finger foods.
Signs that your baby is ready to start weaning include:
- Being curious and interested when others around them are eating
- Having good hand-to-eye coordination
- Sitting well when supported and being able to hold up their head
Weaning is a fun, exciting (and messy!) time.
How do I start weaning?
It’s best to choose a mealtime when your baby is most receptive and hungry, this is often at breakfast or lunch time as later in the day babies tend to tire out and they may not be as eager to try new foods.
When a baby first starts to wean, they will be having such small amounts of food that they will still need the same amount of breast/bottle feeds to meet their nutritional needs. As they progress with their weaning, their intake of breast milk or bottle feeds can be reduced.
Babies with kidney disease often have poor appetites and may also experience taste changes, which can all affect their desire to try new foods. Therefore, please do not worry if your baby is only managing very small amounts of oral food, or if they are just playing with the food.
Your Dietitian will monitor growth and will advise on dietary intake with breast milk and or standard infant formula and if required a low potassium renal specific paediatric feed to ensure the nutritional needs of your baby are met.
Playing with food or just licking different foods are really positive steps for a child with kidney disease. It shows they are developing a positive relationship with food.
What foods can i try for weaning if my baby has kidney disease?
When starting solids a variety of foods can be offered, however they should be introduced one at a time, waiting 3-5 days between each new food introduction to ensure there is no allergy risk. Family or culturally preferred foods that are puréed or traditional baby food can be offered.
Some suggestions include:
- Infant cereals such as barley or oatmeal
- Carrots
- Green beans
- Peas
- Cauliflower
- Aubergine
- Apple sauce
- Pears
- Blueberries
- Apricots
- Peaches
- Plums
- Beans or lentils
- Chicken or beef
- Tofu
Your dietitian will help you with any changes you may need to make to your baby’s diet.
