The term "spoon-feed" refers to hand-holding or providing excessive aid or guidance to someone. Some synonyms for the term include pamper, coddle, baby, indulge, and cater. Other synonyms include mollycoddle, cosset, pet, nursemaid, and sissy. These words all describe a behavior that involves over-protection or treating someone as if they are incapable of managing on their own. At times, this type of behavior can limit the growth and development of the individual. Knowing these synonyms can help writers choose the right word to describe an individual who is being spoon-fed or when someone is feeding someone with a long-handled spoon.