diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 46c7336..3e4bca9 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -1,9 +1,24 @@
 'use strict';
 
 import React from 'react';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import Markdown from 'remarkable';
 
 class Remarkable extends React.Component {
+  static propTypes = {
+    container: PropTypes.string,
+    options: PropTypes.object,
+    source: PropTypes.string,
+    children: PropTypes.oneOfType([
+      PropTypes.arrayOf(PropTypes.node),
+      PropTypes.node
+    ])
+  }
+
+  static defaultProps = {
+    container: 'div',
+    options: {}
+  }
 
   render() {
     var Container = this.props.container;
@@ -15,6 +30,21 @@ class Remarkable extends React.Component {
     );
   }
 
+  shouldComponentUpdate(nextProps, nextState) {
+    if (nextProps.options !== this.props.options) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    else if (this.props.source) {
+      return this.props.source !== nextProps.source;
+    }
+    else if (React.Children.count(this.props.children) === 1 && React.Children.count(nextProps.children) === 1) {
+      return (typeof this.props.children === 'string') && this.props.children !== nextProps.children;
+    }
+    else {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+
   componentWillUpdate(nextProps, nextState) {
     if (nextProps.options !== this.props.options) {
       this.md = new Markdown(nextProps.options);