By: Mireya Garcia

m.garcia@krdo.com

COLORADO SPRINGS- How do you know if a toy is safe for your child? The message from the Trouble in Toyland Report-- Parents beware, too many toys are still toxic or hazardous.

"This fall researchers still found hazardous toys on store shelves," said Huddie Khalsa, an advocate for the CoPIRG.

The Colorado Public Interest Research Group has three major concerns:

         1.Toxic toys containing things like lead and phthalates.

         2. Choking hazards.

         3. Toys that are far too loud (exceeding the 65 decibel limit).

"Two-year-olds are little mobile vacuum cleaners. Everything they see, they grab and stick in their mouths," said Doctor Ken Pippus, Pediatric Trauma Surgeon. Dr. Pippus also outlined several of his experiences from patients have swallowed small toys or even stuffed them into their nasal cavity.  

After 24 years, the Trouble in Toyland Annual survey of Toy Safety has caused more than a hundred toy recalls.

"There have been 130 recalls which equals millions of toys being taken of shelves every year," said Khalsa.

A new step in protecting the littlest consumers is an interactive website. The site can be accessed by mobile phone or on a computer. Khalsa says she hopes parents will use toysafety.mobi during the holiday season or anytime of year to make sure their children are protected.

"We don't expect parents to keep an eye on businesses but we do encourage parents to stay vigilant and use our mobile website."

Another clever tip form CoPIRG, if you have a child three-years-old or younger, is to use a toilet paper roll to check if a toy is a choking hazard. If the toy fits into the toilet paper role, then it's small enough to fit into your little one's throat.

You can get more information, including the updated unsafe toy list for 2009 by logging on to toysafety.mobi .