Daycare Staff Dosed Kids With Melatonin Gummy Bears: Police

DES PLAINES, IL — Three teachers have been charged after police said they handed out candies laced with a sleep aid to children at a Des Plaines daycare center last week. Police were called to the Kiddie Junction Daycare Center, 1619 E. Oakton St., Friday afternoon for a report that staff were dosing kids with melatonin without permission from parents.

Management of Kiddie Junction explained that staff had been handing out gummy bears containing the over-the-counter hormone to a class of 2-year-olds. Police were told it was done in order to "calm them down before nap time," according to Des Plaines Police Cmdr. Christopher Mierzswa.

Three teachers admitted giving out the melatonin-laced gummies to the kids, reportedly saying they did not believe it was inappropriate since the substance is sold without a prescription, according to police.

Police contacted the parents or guardians of all the children at the daycare to notify them of the situation.

Prosecutors approved two counts of battery and two counts of endangering the life or health of a child for three employees: 32-year-old Kristen Lauletta of Niles, 19-year-old Jessica Heyse of Des Plaines and 25-year-old Ashley Helfenbein of Chicago. All three are due in court on April 4.

An independent Department of Children and Family Services investigation has been launched, police said.

Police said the management of Kiddie Junction was helpful throughout the investigation, police said.

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a synthetic form of a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates circadian rhythms, controlling the body's sleep cycle.

According to a 2015 study in the Journal of Paediatric Child Health, melatonin is being increasingly prescribed for children with sleep disorders although it has never undergone formal safety testing and has shown "profound effects" on the reproductive, cardiovascular and immune systems of animals.

The study's author, who has spent 40 years studying melatonin, described its use to treat sleep disorders in children as "alarming."

"The word 'safe' is used very freely and loosely with this drug, but there have been no rigorous, long-term safety studies of the use of melatonin to treat sleep disorders in children and adolescents," said University of Adelaide Professor David Kennaway.

The substance's possible effects on human fertility and puberty have not been established, but it is involved in the reproductive function of animals and has been used as a contraceptive in humans.

"Melatonin is also a registered veterinary drug which is used for changing the seasonal patterns of sheep and goats, so they are more productive for industry," Kennaway said. "If doctors told parents that information before prescribing the drug to their children, I'm sure most would think twice about giving it to their child."

In some countries – not the U.S. – melatonin does require a prescription.

And even though melatonin is not regulated by the FDA, doctors recommend consulting a physician before providing it to children.

Kristen M. Lauletta, 32, of Niles:

Jessica Heyse, 19, of Des Plaines:

Ashley Helfenbein, 25, of Chicago:

_{Top photo via Shutterstock}