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A consumer watchdog group has released its 24th annual Trouble in Toyland report.
The new survey by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group says it found three main toy safety risks to small children -- toxic hazards, noise and choking.
For children under 3, PIRG recommends using a cylinder the size of a tissue roll to test the parts. If they fit through the cylinder, the toy is considered unsafe.
As for noise, PIRG says nearly 15 percent of kids between 6 and 17 show signs of hearing loss. So toys like a play cell phone used close to the ear should not be louder than 10 decibels measured from 10 feet away.
Harmful chemicals found in toys are also a concern. Overall, though, consumer groups and the toy industry say toys are saver than ever.
Joan Lawrence, VP of the Toy Industry Association, said, "There are tens of thousands of toys on store shelves, and they found them to be in compliance with a few exceptions."
This year there have been 38 Consumer Product Safety Commission toy recalls, down from more than 160 last year.
