WASHINGTON—If the toy fits inside the tube from a toilet roll, it’s too small for tiny tots, consumer advocates warned Tuesday.

U.S. Public Interest Research Group said parents shopping for holiday toys should look out for hazards such as small parts, soft plastics and lead contamination.

Although increased consumer protections were approved this summer, U.S. PIRG warned parents that those rules have not gone into effect.

“Unfortunately, while the product safety bill is a major step forward, many of its protections are not yet fully in effect, so it’s still buyer beware this year,” said Elizabeth Hitchcock, public health advocate for PIRG.

In its 23rd annual “Trouble in Toyland” report on hazardous playthings, the organization focused on three hazards: small parts that can choke children younger than 3, lead-tainted toys and soft plastic toys that contain chemicals called phthalates.

If a toy, or a piece of a toy, fits into a toilet paper cylinder, it is too small for children under 3, Hitchcock said.

In terms of lead contamination, Ed Mierzwinski, PIRG’s consumer program director, said parents should absolutely avoid children’s metal jewelry.

Phthalates, chemicals widely used to make plastic products softer, can cause health problems.

The consumer-safety legislation President Bush signed in August set a standard for plastics containing phthalates. But the Consumer Product Safety Commission says manufacturers can keep selling phthalate-containing toys until the current stock runs out, because the law does not apply retroactively.

“Products containing phthalates are still out there for sale this holiday season,” U.S. PIRG’s Hitchcock said.

She added that since lab testing is the only way to know if a toy contains phthalates, parents should just avoid soft plastic toys this year.

“The agency fully enforces the laws that protect children, and we will continue to do that,” said CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese. “When it comes to safety, the CPSC does not look for loopholes.”

She added that there is “conflicting information” in terms of scientific data on the danger of phthalates.

Of the 14 plastic toys U.S. PIRG tested, two contained phthalates.

The Toy Industry Association responded with a statement saying parents should not be “needlessly” frightened by the report.

“The toy industry works continuously to strengthen our rigorous testing and inspection procedures and ensure safe toys,” the trade group’s statement said. “Protecting children will always be our highest priority.”