The workers held the children's mouths closed and tilted their heads back as they cried at the Little People Learning Center, Downers Grove police said.
Stephanie Radke, 24, of Bolingbrook; Mariah Flemister, 19, of Bolingbrook and Maura Healy, 28, of Franklin Park have each been charged with battery and endangering the life or health of a child.
All three women were fired in January when the allegations surfaced.