A day care center at a Georgia church is accused of giving Benadryl to toddlers to make them sleepy for nap time, leading to three arrests and an order to cease operations.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) issued the child care center at Forsyth Methodist Church in Forsyth, about 60 miles south of Atlanta, an emergency closure order Monday after it said it found violations that put the children in "imminent danger."
The order was issued one week after Kendasja Hughley, a teacher at the day care center, was arrested on charges of reckless conduct. Online jail records show she has also been charged with cruelty to children and simple battery.
The day care's director, Cathy Stevick, and a teacher, Shelby Webb, were arrested Tuesday. Stevick was charged with failure to report child abuse, and Webb was charged with simple battery and a count of cruelty to children, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said.
Attorney information was not available.
A person who answered the phone at the church would not comment because it is an open criminal investigation.
Hughley is alleged to have administered Benadryl to three 2-year-old children before nap time on March 2 and March 5 without parental consent, the order says. A staff member told the day care center's management, but managers did not inform the children’s parents and did not discipline Hughley, according to the order.
Management did instruct Hughley to document the use of Benadryl but did not get the required parental signature on the form. A spokesperson for DECAL said the toddlers were given Children’s Benadryl.
Benadryl, which is primarily used to treat allergy symptoms, can lead to drowsiness. The Mayo Clinic says over-the-counter cough and cold medicine should not be given to children under age 4.
The sheriff's office said Hughley gave the children the medicine to "make them sleepy for nap time." Stevick reported the incident to DECAL only after Facebook posts were made about it, authorities said.
The parents reported that their children were "sluggish" and "not normal" when they picked them up on multiple days, according to the order. DECAL said it was not clear how often the children were given the medicine.
Further investigation found that staff members at the day care center would raise their voices at the children "when redirecting them" and routinely wrestle with the 2-year-old children by picking them up and throwing them onto their mats, the order says.
Hughley also has a disciplinary record of past behaviors, including inappropriate discipline.
The agency says the violations "place the health, safety, or welfare of children in imminent danger." The closure is in effect for 21 days unless the day care center decides to appeal.