When Bella, the 4 month-old daughter of pop art sculptor Daniel Monahan, started teething in 2007, the media was overwhelmed by news of lead, phthalates, and bisphenol-A (BPA) in the very plastics and paints that his daughter wanted to put in her mouth. Urged on by his wife, Daniel started DANO₂™ as a way to ensure that his own daughter would be able to grow up with fun, safe, stylish toys.

DANO₂ manufactures solely in the United States using top-rated medical-grade plastics that are entirely free of lead, phthalates, and BPA. Every product is designed with input from chemists, engineers, and pediatricians prior to undergoing rigorous 3rd-party safety testing.

In addition to DANO₂’s impeccable safety standards, DANO₂’s toy designs are fun, functional, and unique. DANO₂’s Circus Teethers™ have been featured in a variety of media outlets, including Parenting Magazine’s Product Buying Guide’s A-List and HOW Magazine, the “leading creativity, business and technology magazine for graphic designers.” Additionally, DANO₂ has an impressive grassroots blogosphere following.

DANO₂ is a family business consisting of sculptor/entrepreneur Daniel Monahan, his wife, Chelsea, his entrepreneur father, Greg Monahan, his chemist aunt, Diane Meyer, and his pediatrician mother, Carolyn Monahan.