10 Detox Swaps for Baby #2
Changes we made during our 2nd pregnancy journey
Our OB told us an interesting fact about pregnancy: by 20 weeks, our baby girl would have already developed every egg she'll ever have in her tiny ovaries.
That simple fact made us rethink pregnancy. Our choices during this time don’t just affect us and our baby, but could ripple across future generations.1
Here's a list of 10 things we’ve changed during our second pregnancy to detoxify our home environment. These are the things that, looking back, we wish we'd known the first time around.
Whole, fresh foods: We're reducing ultra-processed foods and choosing more whole foods. Given that CDC data shows 55% of American calories come from ultra-processed foods,2 this shift feels more important than ever. Frequenting the farmer's market has the added benefit of food that doesn't come wrapped in layers of plastic.
Water filtration: We installed a reverse osmosis filter. It was our biggest investment. But clean drinking water became non-negotiable once we learned about the disinfection byproducts and heavy metals hiding in tap water.
Pots and pans: We replaced our nonstick pots and pans with stainless and carbon steel versions. They require more specific cooking techniques to use effectively, but every meal feels safer without “forever chemicals” like PFAS leaching into our food.
Food storage: We purged our kitchen of plastic storage containers and switched to glass. We haven't looked back.
Dishwashing soap: We replaced plastic-coated pods with uncoated detergent tablets. Bonus: they're easy to break in half for smaller loads, and no plastic film dissolving in our water means fewer dishwasher clogs down the road.
Textiles: We gradually replaced polyester clothing items in our closet, prioritizing those that sit next to skin like underwear and socks. Organic cotton alternatives cost more, but feel better mentally and physically.
Laundry detergent: We switched to fragrance-free options. Turns out that “fresh linen” scent comes from synthetic fragrances that often contain phthalates and other undisclosed ingredients.
Dryer routine: We replaced dryer sheets with wool balls for natural fabric softening. And we now wear an N95 mask when cleaning the lint filter. (While we've swapped out polyester basics, items like jackets and athletic wear still contain synthetics that may shed microplastics in the dryer.)
Personal care products: We started scrutinizing ingredient lists and using apps like Yuka or databases like EWG to check items like soaps, shampoos, lotions and lip balm. The goal was eliminating parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.
Toddler products: We replaced all of our toddler's plastic cups and utensils with stainless steel alternatives. When we do buy new toys (which we try to avoid anyway), we only choose wooden options. If we're being careful about our own exposure, why wouldn't we extend that same protection to our children?
(P.S. The challenge of finding truly safe feeding products for our toddler is actually what sparked the idea for Haomomo. We can't wait to share what we've been working on very soon!)
These changes didn't happen overnight.
Not every swap was budget-friendly, so we started with the ones that felt easiest and most impactful, then worked our way up. It was a gradual process of detoxing one area of our lifestyle, then moving to the next.
In the end, every swap has felt like a crucial investment in our family's health, now and for generations to come.
What’s one swap you’ve made (or want to make) to reduce toxic exposure, whether during pregnancy, postpartum, or just everyday life?
It’s not just girls. Boys are impacted too. Research shows that phthalates and other endocrine disrupting chemicals found in pregnant women’s urine correlate with changes in baby boys’ genital development.