What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
babying
Example
Stop babying him! He needs to learn to do things on his own. [babying: verb]
Example
She's always babying her dog, carrying it everywhere and never letting it walk. [babying: gerund or present participle]
coddling
Example
You're coddling him too much. He won't learn to be independent if you keep doing everything for him. [coddling: verb]
Example
The parents have been coddling their child, never allowing them to experience failure or disappointment. [coddling: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Babying is more commonly used than coddling in everyday language. Babying is a term that is often used to describe the act of treating someone with excessive care and attention, while coddling is less commonly used.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between babying and coddling?
Both babying and coddling are informal terms that are typically used in casual conversations or informal writing.
