How to avoid toy dangers

A children's book. An Elmo phone. A plastic sleeping mask.

All made the 26th annual "Trouble in Toyland," a report on potentially dangerous toys presented recently by the New Jersey chapter of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

"It's incumbent on all of us as consumers. ... When we buy toys, we make sure they don't present hazards." said Cindy Miller, deputy director at the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs.

Here are things to look for when evaluating a toy, according to the group:

Check for choking risks. Use a toilet paper roll test: If the toy can fit through the tube, it's a hazard. Balloons, small balls, and toys with small component parts also are a danger.

Be aware of lead levels. Despite tightened standards for lead content, some toys still violate the allowable levels. Miller said bright colored plastic toys, "the ones that really scream at you," might signal dangerous lead levels.

Watch for phthalates. Plastic toys also might contain this chemical, which softens plastic and poses a danger to small children.

One problem parents also could face is old toys, hand-me-downs or toys purchased secondhand, which might not have been subject to stringent modern safety standards.

Of course, it's hard to argue with an old-fashioned stuffed animal. Miller brought along her childhood teddy bear, Coco.