1. to treat someone as if they were a child, especially by being overprotective or not allowing them to make their own decisions
Usage: third person singular present tense of ‘infantilize’

Examples

• The helicopter parent infantilizes her teenage son by doing all his homework for him.
• This policy infantilizes employees by requiring approval for every minor decision.
• The nursing home staff infantilizes residents by speaking to them in baby talk.
• She feels her boss infantilizes her by explaining basic concepts she already knows.
• The overprotective coach infantilizes his players by not letting them make strategic choices.
• Society often infantilizes people with disabilities by assuming they cannot live independently.