Wood blocks for Age 1?

[Bella's Mommy]

I am looking for wooden blocks and like HABA, Vilac and the M&D classic wooden blocks in the rolling cart- http://www.melissaanddoug.com/dyn_prod.php?p=1169
http://www.brightoctober.com/product.php?input=v1009
BUT...the recommended age is 2 yrs. Yet when I look at the HABA web site for example, some smaller blocks are listed for 1.5 and 1yr!? I am sooo confused. Are the traditional wooden blocks I cited a chocking hazard for a 1yr old? Any insight is appreciated!

[deannanb]

my 1 year old puts toys and blocks about that size in his mouth all of the time -
no choking problems here - on occasion he might gag on a toy - but probably smaller than those blocks

are you set on the alphabet type blocks or have you thought about unit blocks -
which are larger and might be used longer.
here is a set on sale at amazon http://tinyurl.com/yeqyhqr