diff --git a/src/core/ReactPropTransferer.js b/src/core/ReactPropTransferer.js
index ed721a3c9b..77d83da6a2 100644
--- a/src/core/ReactPropTransferer.js
+++ b/src/core/ReactPropTransferer.js
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ function createTransferStrategy(mergeStrategy) {
 
 /**
  * Transfer strategies dictate how props are transferred by `transferPropsTo`.
+ * NOTE: if you add any more exceptions to this list you should be sure to
+ * update `cloneWithProps()` accordingly.
  */
 var TransferStrategies = {
   /**
diff --git a/src/utils/__tests__/cloneWithProps-test.js b/src/utils/__tests__/cloneWithProps-test.js
index 774b61de1e..b5aba846ae 100644
--- a/src/utils/__tests__/cloneWithProps-test.js
+++ b/src/utils/__tests__/cloneWithProps-test.js
@@ -126,4 +126,56 @@ describe('cloneWithProps', function() {
       cloneWithProps(<Component />, {key: 'xyz'})
     );
   });
+
+  it('should transfer children', function() {
+    var Component = React.createClass({
+      render: function() {
+        expect(this.props.children).toBe('xyz');
+        return <div />;
+      }
+    });
+
+    ReactTestUtils.renderIntoDocument(
+      cloneWithProps(<Component />, {children: 'xyz'})
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should shallow clone children', function() {
+    var Component = React.createClass({
+      render: function() {
+        expect(this.props.children).toBe('xyz');
+        return <div />;
+      }
+    });
+
+    ReactTestUtils.renderIntoDocument(
+      cloneWithProps(<Component>xyz</Component>, {})
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should support keys and refs', function() {
+    var Component = React.createClass({
+      render: function() {
+        expect(this.props.key).toBe('xyz');
+        expect(this.props.ref).toBe('xyz');
+        return <div />;
+      }
+    });
+
+    var Parent = React.createClass({
+      render: function() {
+        var clone =
+          cloneWithProps(this.props.children, {key: 'xyz', ref: 'xyz'});
+        return <div>{clone}</div>;
+      }
+    });
+
+    var Grandparent = React.createClass({
+      render: function() {
+        return <Parent><Component key="abc" ref="abc" /></Parent>;
+      }
+    });
+
+    ReactTestUtils.renderIntoDocument(<Grandparent />);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/utils/cloneWithProps.js b/src/utils/cloneWithProps.js
index 28c3b4540d..310dd08672 100644
--- a/src/utils/cloneWithProps.js
+++ b/src/utils/cloneWithProps.js
@@ -21,6 +21,14 @@
 
 var ReactPropTransferer = require('ReactPropTransferer');
 
+var keyMirror = require('keyMirror');
+
+var SpecialPropsToTransfer = keyMirror({
+  key: null,
+  children: null,
+  ref: null
+});
+
 /**
  * Sometimes you want to change the props of a child passed to you. Usually
  * this is to add a CSS class.
@@ -42,10 +50,27 @@ function cloneWithProps(child, props) {
   }
 
   var newProps = ReactPropTransferer.mergeProps(child.props, props);
-  // ReactPropTransferer does not transfer the `key` prop so do it manually.
-  if (props.key) {
+
+  // ReactPropTransferer does not transfer the `key` prop so do it manually. Do
+  // not transfer it from the original component.
+  if (props.hasOwnProperty(SpecialPropsToTransfer.key)) {
     newProps.key = props.key;
   }
+
+  // ReactPropTransferer does not transfer the `children` prop. Transfer it
+  // from `props` if it exists, otherwise use `child.props.children` if it is
+  // provided.
+  if (props.hasOwnProperty(SpecialPropsToTransfer.children)) {
+    newProps.children = props.children;
+  } else if (child.props.hasOwnProperty(SpecialPropsToTransfer.children)) {
+    newProps.children = child.props.children;
+  }
+
+  // ReactPropTransferer does not transfer `ref` so do it manually.
+  if (props.hasOwnProperty(SpecialPropsToTransfer.ref)) {
+    newProps.ref = props.ref;
+  }
+
   return child.constructor.ConvenienceConstructor(newProps);
 }