December 15, 2009 1:34 PM
- Text
Did Daycare Spike Candy to Calm Kids?
Police are investigating allegations that workers at a suburban Cincinnati church daycare slipped children a dietary supplement hidden in candy to help them sleep at nap time.
CBS affiliate WKRC-TV in Cincinnati reports some workers from the Covenant Apostolic Church told police on Sunday that they saw fellow employees give the hormone melatonin to children as young as two months old.
The Mayo Clinic says the over-the-counter melatonin helps control sleep and wake cycles and is not FDA approved or regulated.
Parents of the 30 to 40 children enrolled in the daycare center received a letter Monday alerting them of the allegations and advising them to talk to poison control or their doctor about any concerns.
It's unclear if any of the children were harmed by the melatonin. A mother of one child told WKRC that she suspects her child was also given Benedryl without her permission.
The pastor told WKRC that the church was cooperating with the investigation and has removed workers allegedly involved from their duties at the daycare.
Prosecutors are investigating the claims and may press charges.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. CBS affiliate WKRC-TV in Cincinnati reports some workers from the Covenant Apostolic Church told police on Sunday that they saw fellow employees give the hormone melatonin to children as young as two months old.
The Mayo Clinic says the over-the-counter melatonin helps control sleep and wake cycles and is not FDA approved or regulated.
Parents of the 30 to 40 children enrolled in the daycare center received a letter Monday alerting them of the allegations and advising them to talk to poison control or their doctor about any concerns.
It's unclear if any of the children were harmed by the melatonin. A mother of one child told WKRC that she suspects her child was also given Benedryl without her permission.
The pastor told WKRC that the church was cooperating with the investigation and has removed workers allegedly involved from their duties at the daycare.
Prosecutors are investigating the claims and may press charges.
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