Learn English – light-hearted word or phrase for a hypochondriac parent

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The title may not be entirely correct..

Is there a word or phrase that describes a mother/father who is overly anxious about their baby's health?

Not a word to describe both parents together, a word to describe one parent.

Also, a word that could be used in describing the parent to others as well as directly to them. Something like 'Worrying Wendy, Delirious Dad, Medicine Mad Mummy'. I suppose they must have coined a phrase for this in the medical profession.

Best Answer

A worrywart \ˈwər-ē-ˌwȯrt\ is a term which may describe a parent who worries excessively about their child's health, a person who tends to worry habitually and often needlessly.

Nervous Nelly, is perhaps the most light-hearted expression I am aware of, which describes a very fearful or nervous person . You could call a mother a "nervous Nelly mom", this doesn't necessarily describes a parent who is hypochondriac by proxy but it could include this behaviour.

many new parents are nervous Nellies when it comes to the health of their babies

And a term which I think strikes the right balance between gentle teasing and description accuracy is over-parenting.
Kidspot parent exchange

OK, so we all have days where we are, like, over it, but over-parenting is another thing entirely. It's when you get too into the detail of your role as a parent that you can't see the wood for the trees.

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