A childcare worker has been accused of drugging multiple toddlers under her care, with parents describing the situation as “devastating”.
It’s alleged that Yizel J. Juarez, 23, was giving the children chewable laxatives and telling them they were candy, so they could get sent home because she was “overwhelmed”.
The center, which is located in Illinois, has a policy that a sick child must be sent home and not return back for 24 hours.
A mother from the facility told CBS News that her toddler had been suffering from persistent stomach issues for prolonged periods of time, with no explanation.
“We thought it could have been a virus, and that was negative,” the mother, who wished to remain anonymous, told the news station.
Her 17-month-old had been enrolled at the daycare since the summer of 2025, which was around the same time that Juarez started working there.
For weeks, the parents were desperately seeking answers, with doctors ruling out other illnesses and infections.
They even changed their child’s milk formula, which didn’t help.
Eventually, after “multiple” similar reports from parents, local police were alerted and confirmed any parent’s worst fears.
“My child is still suffering from constipation, which the doctor said was a side effect of coming off of laxatives,” she said.
“Who knows what the long-term effects could be on this?
“It’s disgusting. Get another job.”
Authorities say Juarez later turned herself in to the local police department, and has since been charged with three counts of attempted aggravated battery causing bodily harm to a victim under 13, and three counts of endangering the life or health of a child.
Police identified three victims, all under two years old.
The child’s father described the emotional toll in the same interview.
“I have no words. It’s just thinking that your kid is going to be safe in the daycare, and you come and find surprises like this. It’s sad. It’s devastating,” he said.
Juarez, who was studying early childhood education at Northern Illinois University, has since been fired from The Learning Experience daycare center.
It’s understood she was given a court date and released from custody.
Authorities are now urging anyone with additional information about the case to come forward.
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