Why Detox Matters
Detox is a hot topic, and for good reason! By 2025, over 80% of kids were expected to have a chronic condition—eczema, asthma, allergies, ADHD, autism, anxiety, diabetes, and more. This is unacceptable!

Why is this happening? Kids are more affected by toxins than adults because:

• Due to their small bodies, they can accumulate toxins faster than adults in the same environment
• Their detox pathways (like the liver) are still developing.
• Toxins can pass from mom to baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Our world is full of toxins—food, air, water, skincare, and even medications. Newborns are estimated to have over 200 chemicals in their cord blood.

The Good News? Our bodies are designed to detox daily through sweat, urine, poop, and breath. Problems arise when toxins build up faster than they can be cleared. Think of each child’s body as a bucket—when it overflows, symptoms appear: skin issues (eczema, acne), gut problems (constipation), and brain imbalances (ADHD, anxiety).

Instead of harsh detoxes, focus on daily habits to keep your child’s toxin bucket from overflowing.

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Step 1: Reduce Bucket Fillers

✅ Limit Sugar
Sugar inflames the body, weakens immunity, and overburdens the liver. Check nutrition labels—sneaky sugars hide in yogurt, juices, breads, pastas, granola bars, and gummies. Keep added sugars low!

✅ Choose Non-Toxic Skincare
Most personal care products contain parabens, which disrupt hormones and strain the liver. Swap to cleaner options!

✅ Ditch Plastic
Plastics contain phthalates that harm growth, hormones, and brain function. Heat makes them even worse! 

Better choices:

• Drink from glass or stainless steel.
• Store food in glass containers.
• Never EVER heat food in plastic!

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Step 2: Support Daily Pooping

Poop is the body’s trash removal system. If toxins aren’t eliminated, they’re reabsorbed—causing more harm.

💩 Tips for Regular Bowel Movements:

• Create a Toilet Routine: Have kids sit on the toilet 20 minutes after dinner with a book or screen. This helps train their body!  Our bodies naturally want to expel waste 15-30 minutes after we eat–this is called the gastrocolic reflex
• Hydration: Kids should drink half their body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water daily. Add electrolytes (lemon, salt, coconut water) for extra support.
• Increase Fiber: Fiber binds to toxins, feeds our good gut bugs, regulates happy hormones and balances blood sugar. Great sources include chia seeds, flaxseeds, avocado, bananas, and dark chocolate.
• Magnesium: Magnesium (especially citrate or oxide) helps with constipation. Food sources include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and spinach.  Pro tip: Grind up pumpkin seeds and sneak them into your kid’s food!
• Acupressure: Gently press and massage the soft spot between the thumb and index finger (LI4) for constipation relief.  This can be tender if really constipated so follow your child’s lead and aim for 100 circles.  Pro tip: this works for headaches too! 

• Probiotics: Support gut health with fermented foods (kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut) or a quality probiotic supplement.

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Step 3: Encourage Daily Movement

Movement boosts circulation and helps eliminate toxins.

🏃 Ways to Get Kids Moving:

• Outdoor play
• Jumping on a trampoline (great for lymphatic drainage!)
• Stretching or yoga

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Step 4: Prioritize Sleep

Detox happens during deep sleep! The brain’s glymphatic system flushes out toxins, but only if kids get enough rest.

🛏 Recommended Sleep by Age:

• 0-3 months: 16 hours
• 3-18 months: 14 hours
• 1.5-3 years: 12 hours
• 5-12 years: 10 hours
• Teens: 8+ hours

Better Sleep Tips:

• Avoid screens 1 hour before bed.
• Stick to a routine.
• Try an Epsom salt bath (1-2 cups for kids over 1 year, ½ cup for babies). It provides magnesium and supports detoxification.  Pro tip: this helps with constipation too! 

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Step 5: Consider Gentle Detox Support

For kids over 6, castor oil packs can support liver function. However, they aren’t suitable for certain liver conditions, pregnancy, or breastfeeding moms.

Sometimes, chronic illness means a child’s detox pathways need extra support. A pediatric functional medicine practitioner can guide you through safe, effective detox strategies tailored to your child’s needs.

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Need Extra Help?

At Simply Nourished Life, we offer free consultations to explore what’s best for your child.

Moms, you are doing the best you can with the knowledge you have. No guilt, no shame—just learning and growing together!

Together, we can all live Simply Nourished.
💛 Lauren