Indiana Day Care Worker Allegedly Gave 17 Kids Melatonin Daily Without Parents’ Permission

iStock

Any parent will tell you that their child’s nap time is sacred. It’s a time to partially switch off that exhausting watchful eye. You get a respite from any tantrums. You might be able to clean up some of the destruction your little one has caused. The minutes are precious.

And my personal favorite, their nap time just might signal a chance for you to get some shut eye as well. Nap time is glorious. But behaving unethically in an effort to get children to sleep is a problem. And it landed one Indiana day care worker behind bars.

The woman wanted the children to sleep during staff break time.

Tonya Voris, a director at the Kids Life Childcare Ministry in Cumberland, Indiana, is accused of consistently giving children in her care melatonin gummies to ensure they slept during staff “break time,” WTHR reports.

Parents were shocked to learn of Voris’ alleged actions. But once they knew, one parent was able to connect it to her children’s odd behavior in the evenings. Abigail Hampton first noticed a change in her children a couple of weeks ago.

Hampton said her kids would pass out at the end of the day.

Her 3-year-old was more disagreeable and her 1-year-old was inexplicably tired. "After school, my 1-year-old would come home and fall on our rug tired, ready to go to bed at 6 o'clock," Hampton said. "Jacket on and everything. She would come in and just lay on the floor, ready to go to bed." Hampton was so concerned, she took her daughter to the doctor.

Later, she got a call that would explain everything. The pastor of the church who operates Kidz Life called Hampton and told her about what Voris had reportedly been doing.

“When I first found out, I was in shock," Hampton said. "It was definitely frustrating, heart-shattering honestly, that somebody that knew better would do that to my kids. We also filled out forms when we started at the day care listing anything that our kids could have and I never listed melatonin."

While melatonin is natural, there can be side effects to using it in supplement form.

Voris wasn’t just administering melatonin to Hampton’s children. Court documents claimed that Voris had given melatonin to 17 children, ages 1 to 4, without permission from their parents.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in our bodies. Still, there are side effects associated with taking it in supplement form. Drowsiness, dizziness, headache, increased bedwetting, irritability, low blood pressure, nausea, and upset stomach are all possible side effects, according to Children’s Health.

Some children did experience side effects.

Authorities say some children had experienced side effects. “Some of these children did have some side effects from what happened," Hancock County Prosecutor, Brent Eaton said. "It allegedly changed the behavior of some of the children. Some children complained of headaches or itching in a time period these things were happening."

Voris is now facing criminal charges.

Voris was terminated immediately. Now, she faces 11 felony counts of neglect and six misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. She pleaded not guilty earlier this week. She was sent to jail on a $15,000 bond.

While the parents of children who attend Kidz Life appreciate how the church handled this situation and subsequent communication, they want Voris held accountable.

“My 3-year-old and 1-year-old don't know any better! That's the frustrating part that she knew better and continued to do it anyways," Hampton said. "I do want to make sure that she never works with kids again. I want to make sure this goes on her record."

If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.