Alabama officials are investigating a daycare center after an employee reportedly gave a child melatonin to help them sleep during naptime. The owner of the Roc Learning Center in Fort Payne self-reported the incident to the Alabama Department of Human Resources and emailed parents that the employee was immediately fired.
A parent of one of the children enrolled at the daycare center told WAAY that while she is concerned about the incident, she believes the employee will be held accountable for their actions.
"Originally deeply disturbed and confused. I mean, these people are supposed to take care of our kids. You're supposed to be able to trust them," Bonnie Walters told the news station. "I do believe that the proper officials will go there and make sure that is is safe for them," said Walters.
A spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Human Resources told WHNT that giving a child medication of any kind without parental consent is a violation of minimum standards and could be extremely dangerous to the child.
"Children can have allergic reactions, can have different kind of reactions to medication that's why it's up to parents to give permission, written permission, to a center before any kind of medication is administered to a child, could be prescribed or over the counter," DHR Public Information Officer Barry Spear said.
The employee has not been identified and local police are investigating the incident as well.
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