By now we’ve all jumped aboard the Boobie wagon—or at least we’ve made some progress… or thought about it. Breast exams in the shower, annual visits, fruits and veggies, exercise… check, we’ve got it under control. Or at least, we know what we need to do so, right?

But cancer-risk-factors/how-to-prevent-breast-cancer-47100100?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr">an article about breast cancer risk and kids really grabbed my attention today. It said that preventing breast cancer begins in childhood—and not just while little Jane is in diapers, but when she’s in the womb.

Now I’m way behind! How can I look myself in the mirror knowing that I didn’t think of my daughter’s breast cancer risk while she was an embryo in my uterus? How can I live with myself?

Well, the truth is that it’s never too late to start, and if your baby’s boobs weren’t on your mind during prenatal checkups, you can still do something about them now to help stop breast cancer down the road, such as…

• Get a risk analysis. See your gynecologist or family doctor and determine both your own risk and your daughter’s risk. Find out what things in your lifestyle you can change to help prevent breast cancer.
• Nix the negative chemicals out of your lives. So many have been linked to cancer risk; why take a chance? Skip the smelly-good deodorants and lotions, the bright lead-filled lipsticks, the chemical-rich sunscreens, and go with safe, natural products instead. The same goes for flame retardant products, dangerous chemicals found in school supplies, and even toy additives. Be on the lookout and keep yourself educated to avoid these risks.
• Don’t smoke around your daughter—in fact, don’t smoke period! Even if you smoke outside or in one room of the house, it’s still probably getting to her through the air and your clothing. And it’s putting you both at risk of developing cancer. Is it really worth it?
• Keep your kids—and yourself—away from car exhaust, which has been linked to breast cancer. Never idle your car in the garage, and make sure it has a good functional emissions system.
• Avoid radiation. Don’t get x-rays if you can avoid them.
• Skip bleached diapers and tampons—and any bleached materials—as well as chlorine. Avoid dry cleaning chemicals, pesticides, harmful cleaning supplies and canned foods while you’re at it.
• Skip the bottled water and opt for a filtered tap system instead.