Kids with sickle cell trait don't have sickle cell disease and won't get it. But they can pass a copy of the sickle cell gene to their children someday.

Sickle cell trait doesn't usually cause serious problems, but there are some health concerns that parents should know about. Follow these instructions to help your child grow up healthy.

• Encourage your child to be active.
• Older kids who play sports or exercise should:
  • Drink lots of water before, during, and after activity to avoid dehydration.
  • Rest often when exercising hard.
• Teach your child to stop exercising and drink water if they:
  • feel exhausted
  • have muscle pain or weakness
  • feel overheated
  • have fast breathing
• Have your child wear eye protection during sports to prevent eye injuries. Eye injuries can be more serious in kids with sickle cell trait.
• Go to all scheduled checkups with the health care provider.
• Let your doctor know if your child has blood in their urine (pee). This can happen if there are any changes in the kidneys.
• If your child wets the bed past the age when it typically stops, show your support. Tell your child it's normal and not their fault.
• Tell all health care providers that your child has sickle cell trait.

Your child:

• has blood in their pee
• has an eye injury
• feels very exhausted after exercising
• has more muscle pain than usual after being active 

How does sickle cell trait happen? A child inherits sickle cell trait when they're born with one sickle cell copy of the beta-globin gene and one normal copy. The beta-globin gene tells the body how to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an important protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body.

What else should parents know as their kids grow up? Sometimes children or adults with sickle cell trait have blood in their pee. It's usually due to changes in the kidney and not serious. But rarely it can happen because of a type of kidney cancer. If your child has blood in their pee, talk to your child's health care provider.

Should I tell my child about their sickle cell "status"? When your child is ready, it's important to share their sickle cell status with them. When a person knows their sickle cell status:

• They can be aware of the rare symptoms that can develop. 
• The health care team can tell them about new discoveries or treatments. 
• They'll be better prepared when it's time to talk about starting a family. People with sickle cell trait who plan to have kids could have a child with sickle cell disease, depending on their partner's status. To find out how sickle cell trait runs in families, ask your health care provider or talk with a genetics counselor.