About the Author

Sarah Kovac is a journalist, public speaker and award-winning author from Kansas City. Her memoir, In Capable Arms: Living a Life Embraced by Grace, was published in 2013 and chronicles her journey into adulthood, marriage and motherhood despite a rare and severe disability. 


Find more information about Sarah on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Effects of spanking on kids' brains

Science tells a different story. Researchers say physical punishment actually alters the brain -- not only in an "I'm traumatized" kind of way but also in an "I literally have less gray matter in my brain" kind of way. Harsh corporal punishment in the study was defined as at least one spanking a month for more than three years, frequently done with objects such as a belt or paddle. Researchers found children who were regularly spanked had less gray matter in certain areas of the prefrontal cort

New Autism Dispute: Is Circumcision a Factor?

In the U.S., slightly more than half of boys are circumcised at birth, a much higher percentage than in other industrialized nations. Proponents of circumcision cite lessened risks of sexual disease transmission and penile cancer as well as easier hygiene as the benefits of the practice. But the number of anti-circumcision activists (or “intactivists,” as they’re known) is growing, and their reasons for leaving baby boys uncircumcised range from human rights to sexual pleasure to another hotly-d

5 Scary Chemicals That Are Still On The Market

Chemicals get a bad rap, but they're not all evil. Many are natural and essential for your survival (ever heard of H2O?) and others are synthetic—but that's not really what's most important when it comes it your well-being. Some man-made chemicals, for example, keep your clothes clean, lower your risk of cavities, and treat a throbbing headache (or worse). That said, there are other compounds that appear to be downright toxic, especially if you're exposed to them in large enough quantities. Whi

The Best High Chairs of 2018

Your baby’s high chair has the power to dramatically affect your parenting experience. If you choose one that is difficult to use, clashes with your decor, is uncomfortable for your baby, or is impossible to move to another room, mealtimes can become a hassle. A poorly-designed high chair can be really irritating to deal with, but a great one will get out of the way and allow you to focus on your baby. That’s why after testing 10 of the most popular and beloved high chairs, we concluded the Fis

Best Mattress Toppers

All products and services featured here are chosen for their potential to inspire and enable your wellness. Everyday Health may earn an affiliate commission on items you purchase. If you find yourself tossing and turning a lot at night or waking up with random aches and pains in the morning, your mattress may not be providing the kind of support that you need. If your mattress has been worn in over the years, a good mattress topper can help make worn out comfort layers feel better. It’s importa

How the Bellabeat Leaf Urban Can Help You Manage Stress

As a work-from-home, home-schooling mom of two preparing to move to a new house, life has been just a tad stressful of late. Okay, super stressful. It's mostly the good kind of stress, but my nerves are still shot. Did I get today's lesson planned? When is our next house showing? Was that a deadline I just heard whooshing by? The answer to all of these questions is: I have no idea. In the midst of all this, I tested Bellabeat's new Leaf Urban wearable, which has coincidentally added a stress-pr

Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers

All products and services featured here are chosen for their potential to inspire and enable your wellness. Everyday Health may earn an affiliate commission on items you purchase. If you’re a side sleeper and have ever spent the night on a firm mattress, you know how it feels to toss and turn all night as hip and shoulder pain wakes you over and over. Side sleeping comfortably requires a different kind of support than back or stomach sleeping. So if you’re in the market for a new mattress, you’

8 of the Best Mattresses You Can Buy Right Now

All products and services featured here are chosen for their potential to inspire and enable your wellness. Everyday Health may earn an affiliate commission on items you purchase. Sleeping on the wrong mattress can lead to all sorts of issues that extend far beyond nighttime discomfort. Healthy sleep habits have been shown to lower the risk of many serious medical conditions and even lengthen your lifespan. A good night’s rest starts with having the right mattress for your body type and sleep

Here's how long your favorite foods will last in your freezer

One of the marvels of modern life is our ability to preserve food for long periods of time by freezing. Making meals ahead and freezing can be a huge help when your schedule and budget are tight, but it’s important to be aware of proper handling techniques and how long different foods will last in the freezer without going bad. Here are some favorite freezer foods and how long you can safely keep them frozen. Chili is one of those foods that just beg to be made in double and triple batches. Ove

Best Crib Mattresses of 2018

Finding the right mattress for your baby’s crib is perhaps one of the most important baby gear decisions a new parent makes. A too-soft mattress poses a safety hazard for newborns, while a too-hard mattress can make it difficult to get the baby to sleep at all (and a sleep-deprived parent is a considerable hazard of itself). As a mother of three, I know how tough this decision can be. You want the safest surface for your baby, you want your baby to sleep comfortably, and you want to have a few b

Track Your Baby's Sleep Schedule With Sproutling

So much of parenting babies and toddlers is wondering when their next nap will be, and if it will be long enough for you to accomplish any of those tasks that have been piling up. Some babies find predictable routines early on, but many parents struggle to pinpoint their little one's rhythms. Fisher-Price's Sproutling monitor aims to help parents find those patterns, and, in turn, regain some semblance of sanity in an otherwise unpredictable situation.

This Tracker Helps New Moms Take Care of Themselves

I always dread newborn checkups. I'm expected to answer a deluge of questions when I'm so tired I'm not even sure what day it is or when I last showered. For this reason, I've always been a fan of baby-tracking apps. I can store pertinent info on my phone and be ready with all the numbers our pediatrician will ask for at a moment's notice. Project Nursery's Parent + Baby Smartband is part baby tracker, part fitness tracker. The wristband's touch interface allows you to log baby events (fetal mo

The Best Baby Carriers

The Lillebaby Complete impressed me from the start. Not only is it beautiful and soft, it's an extremely comfortable carrier. The straps are nicely padded and the waistband is supportive. There is a generously-sized lumbar pad in the back which I loved (but don't worry, it can be removed if giant lumbar pads aren't your style). With that pad in place and the waistband tightened around my hips, there was no spot at which I felt the waist strap digging in. There is also a little pad that protects

4moms MamaRoo4

Babies enjoy the comfort of being bounced and swayed—at least all three of mine do—so it's not hard to see where 4moms came up with the idea for the mamaRoo, a bouncing infant seat that mimics the movements you make when you soothe your baby. Its latest version, the mamaRoo4 ($219.99), is nearly identical to the previous model except for some redesigned menu buttons, a slight change in the attached mobile, and the fact that four percent of its sales through the end of 2017 will be donated...
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