Catch up with Hackensack Meridian Children's Health!

Holiday Tips to Keep your Little Ones Safe this Season

With the holiday season here, it’s important to talk about how to keep children safe. Pediatric emergency experts at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center share some important tips:

For gift giving:

Always check the age rating on toys: Toys for older children may contain small parts or require a level of dexterity that younger children do not possess, leading to frustration and potential injury.
Be mindful of choking and swallowing hazards: For children under three, any toy or part of a toy should be larger than the opening of a toilet paper tube to prevent choking. Be especially wary of uninflated balloons and toys with small, detachable parts like eyes or buttons on stuffed animals. Also, button batteries and small, powerful magnets are extremely dangerous if swallowed. They can cause serious internal injuries or even be fatal.
Riding toy safety: For items like scooters and bikes, ensure they are sturdy and appropriate for the child’s size and skill level. Don’t forget to include a helmet and other protective gear as part of the gift.

Ensuring a holiday-safe environment:

Decorations: Keep breakable ornaments and those with small, detachable parts out of reach of small children. Also, be mindful of potentially poisonous holiday plants like mistletoe and holly berries.
Fire Hazards: If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure it is well-watered to prevent it from becoming a fire hazard. Never leave candles unattended and within reach of children.
Visitor’s Belongings: When guests are over, be aware that their purses and bags may contain items that are dangerous for children, such as medications or other small items.
Food Safety: Keep hot foods and drinks away from the edges of tables and counters where they could be pulled down by a curious child. Also, be mindful of small, hard foods that can be choking hazards for young children, such as nuts and hard candies.

For general safety tips to use throughout the year, listen to our Monmouth Moms podcast with K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator Patricia Bonatakis, PT, DPT.

First in Class

Congratulations to Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health, as for a fifth year, K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital and Joseph M. Sanzari’s Children’s Hospital have received a #1 ranking in New Jersey by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-’26.

Monmouth Moms is proud to partner with a children’s network that provides patients and families with expert care in more than 30 areas of expertise, including these nationally ranked specialties in pediatrics: behavioral health, diabetes & endocrinology, nephrology, neurology & neurosurgery, and urology.

Along with this year’s verification of Jersey Shore University Medical Center – home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital – as a Level 1 pediatric trauma center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, these accolades represent the ability of Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health to deliver the highest quality of care to children and support for families across New Jersey.

Check out our recent Monmouth Mom’s visit to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital to learn more about pediatric trauma services featuring Director of Pediatric Trauma Victoriya Staab, MD.

Education Spotlight: Childhood Vaccinations

From understanding vaccination schedules to learning about herd immunity, Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health experts have you covered. Explore our series to learn more about vaccine ingredients, safety testing, side effects, vaccine myths and more.

Speak to your child’s physician to learn more. Find a Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health doctor in your area.

Meet-a-Doc Roundup

Meet-a-Doc: Meet Dr. Staab!

Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health is pleased to spotlight Victoriya Staab, M.D., pediatric surgeon and pediatric trauma medical director at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune, NJ.

Board-certified in Pediatric General Surgery and General Surgery, Dr. Staab brings a wealth of specialized knowledge in minimally invasive surgeries, addressing congenital anomalies in newborns and pediatric surgical oncology. Her scope of practice extends across general, thoracic, gynecological, urological, soft tissue, and trauma surgery.

Beyond her clinical role, Dr. Staab passionately contributes to the education of residents and students while continuously enhancing program quality. She believes in treating every child as if they were her own, fostering meaningful connections with families throughout their child’s surgical journey. Additionally, Dr. Staab is fluent in English and Russian, ensuring she can communicate effectively with diverse families.

Meet-a-Doc: Meet Dr. Kayton!

Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health is proud to highlight Dr. Mark Kayton, chief of pediatric general surgery at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune, NJ. He is board-certified in both pediatric surgery and general surgery.

With over 10 years of advanced training and more than 20 years in practice, he specializes in diagnosing, performing surgery, and managing recovery for children. Dr. Kayton is dedicated to caring for children from birth through adolescence who require surgery.

Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to research in pediatric trauma and clinical trials in pediatric cancer, and he has published advanced research on blood vessel development, a field known as “angiogenesis.”

Read more!