If you're a parent, you may not only be looking for those perfect gifts for your brood, but to save a little money while buying them.
But this time of year is a classic case of caveat emptor - let the buyer beware.
There are many counterfeit toys on the market that look genuine but are actually knock-offs of some better known playthings.
And while they may appear to be just as good, experts suggest that in addition to cheating the manufacturer, they could pose a danger to the most important people in your family - your own kids.
"We've seen some of these with toxic chemicals, lead based paint," explains counterfeiting expert Lorne Lipkus. "You have to ask yourself one question: who made it?"
The problem is a lot of the toys resemble the real thing. So how can you tell the genuine from the pretender?
In the case of plush dolls, flip them over. By law, those products must have a tag bearing the name of the company that made it, as well as the words 'all new material.'
Fake copies are usually missing both.
It's sometimes hard to trust specific stores, who can also be taken in by the phonies. In the end, it's all about quality control and your own judgment.
"All the materials, if you compare it to the real, are substandard," Lipkus warns. "Counterfeiters are not honest people ... They're parasites. They're only interested in the buck."
Here's a 'check' list to tell if what you're considering putting under the tree this year should really go there at all.
Check the packaging
It may be your first and best clue. Who makes it and where was it made? Are there spelling mistakes or other irregularities on the box? Is the name of the manufacturer off by a single letter or does it have a similar sounding name to some other toymaker? Is there a name on it at all?
And depending on what it is, is there some sort of symbol showing it meets Canadian safety standards?
Check for a warning label that tells what age is appropriate to use the toy. If it's not there, reconsider.
Also beware of trademarks that aren't quite right. Counterfeiters have become experts at reproducing the logos of big companies even though they had nothing to do with making the product.
Check the safety
Toys for small kids shouldn't come with small parts they can swallow and choke on. Dolls shouldn't have features like eyes attached with sharp objects. And there should always be that age appropriate label on the box or the label.
Some counterfeit toys can also contain lead paint or flammable materials that could pose a real hazard to you and your child.
Check the prices
If everyone else is selling it for a certain amount and you find it half off before Christmas, be suspicious. It may not be what it seems.
Check with the manufacturer
If you're unsure about a product, every major toy maker has a special phone line that fields customer questions. They'll know if what you're buying is the real thing.
Check the origin
Many of the counterfeit products seem to emanate from the Far East. According to the Toy Industry Association, 27 percent all of illegally cloned items found came from Taiwan, 26 percent were made in China and at least four percent originated in Hong Kong.