Your baby's future

Cystic fibrosis does not affect brain development so children with CF attend nursery, preschool and school in the usual way and can go on to further education, as many children do.

They’ll need time off to attend CF clinic visits and they may be off sick if they have an infection and need to recover. Schools have guidance in place for this and should be very supportive, and your CF team can also offer guidance and support for the school.

We have resources to support your child at school, including information for teachers.

Today Igor is a Year 1 student, he has a wonderful class and teachers. He has many friends and is a very popular child. He is curious about the world and himself. He is aware of the disease, he started asking his first questions two years ago. The whole class already know about his CF, and at birthday parties before they always ask him if he has taken his meds before they start to eat – it's so touching.

 – Marta, mum to Igor (who has CF) and Wiktor, both age 6

When your child reaches their teens and becomes more independent, they can choose to learn to drive, travel, work, study and eventually have a successful and fulfilling career in a profession of their choice.

With the right support and treatment, there are endless life, education and career options that will be open to your child. Your child’s CF team can also offer support with their education and work opportunities.

Enjoy your newborn and keep planning that big, bright future you want for them.

– Jade, whose daughter Penelope, 7, has CF

Our Youth Advisory Group (YAG) ran a careers project in 2022 called When I Grow Up..., showcasing some of the different careers people with CF are enjoying.

Take a look at the project

I’ve just finished Year 10 so I’m halfway through studying for my GCSEs and will sit them next year. I then want to go to Sixth Form and then University to study Medicine and become a paediatrician. I love acting – anything theatre-related really! I also like writing and reading. I’ve taken part in Girlguiding, book clubs, sports teams, YAG and loads of school productions! I don’t do a lot of physio right now – only when I really need it. It’s mainly tablets and exercise. I’ve got a dog called Woody and a tortoise called Minnie!

– Tilly, 15, who has CF

Cystic fibrosis can affect fertility, but the numbers of people with CF having families of their own are rapidly growing.

Learn more about family planning for people with CF

In recent years there have been fantastic advances in research. These have led to new and better treatments for CF, so there is good reason to be hopeful about the future. There are challenges and compromises with CF, and until a cure is found your child will always have it, but CF care is changing all the time, and there is every reason to be positive.

Learn more about research we fund

Your CF team are there to support you and answer your questions if you feel that you want to explore this topic. They are best placed to offer emotional support and up-to-date information.

Life expectancy for people with CF has increased greatly. Today, most people with CF will have full childhoods and adulthoods, and an increasing number are having their own families.

There are lots of articles about life expectancy online, and it’s important to know that such statistics are averages and cannot be applied to any one person – everyone is different. Some information you read about CF may also be out of date.

Improvements in CF care and treatment give us hope that most babies born with CF today will have a life expectancy similar to someone without CF.

If you would like support in exploring this topic, you can speak to your CF team about access to a CF psychologist.