Every holiday season, child and consumer protection groups offer lists of the year's most unsafe toys, as well as tips for how to shop for safe toys. If you have kids on your shopping list, take a few minutes to review these valuable guides.
Unsafe Toy List 2009 from U.S.PIRG’s 2009 Toy Safety Report, Trouble In Toyland.
2009 "10 Worst Toy" List from W.A.T.C.H. (nonprofit group World Against Toys Causing Harm
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Division's Toy Hazard Recalls
There are three main toy safety hazards: Choking, Noise, and Toxins. For children over 3 focus on Noise and Toxic hazards. For children under 3 also avoid choking hazards from small toys, toy parts and balloons. Here's a handy guide to hazards that you can call up on your mobile phone while shopping: Toy Safety Hazards - you can also report any hazards you encounter in your shopping trips.
Other resources:
Trouble in Toyland (PDF) - PIRG's 59-page 2009 report on toy safety.
Tips for Toy Safety (PDF) - PIRG's printable brochure
Toy Safety Shopping Tips - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Toy Safety - guidelines for toy selection from the National Network for Child Care