cotton wool parents 

Metaphorical term for parents who overprotect their children. Everything is too dangerous for them, their children aren't allowed to participate in active sports or outdoor activities at all.

Camp Manager: You may want to have a word with Mdm. Lee, she checks on her son every 2 hours and that's against camp policy.
Camp Counsellor: Oh him.He's got cotton wool parents. I've had enough of those.
Camp Manager: Short of banning her from the campsite, is there anything else we could do?

cotton wool parents by bbbobbb March 30, 2007