Overprotective a little?

The 4 males of our 4 couples group have in some sorts grown up together for 25+ years now. Each couple has 1 child ranging between 1.5-3.5 years.So over time I have seen the various parenting styles. The 3 couples with the eldest children are quite easy going, flexible with their children's needs. We are very much "let them live, explore, learn and grow." We watch from a distance without hanging over our children. All 3 children are doing great emotionally, physically and socially.What us 3 couples notice is that the couple with the youngest kid of the group are very over bearing parents and the mother has admitted to not leaving her 1.5 year olds (call him XX) side EVER. She or daddy has always been within arms reach of the XX. Only when XX has slept, on a few occasions mommy has run out and left XX with the husband for brief periods. Mommy admits she has done this because "OHHH, I just cant leave my little Bubbly Wubbly!" or "What if XX needs me? What is daddy going to do?"Both parents are also the VERY ANNOYING parent types. Examples of annoying actions include: -Asking toddler if he is ok after every slip and tumble (always walking behind him even when he is trying to play); -praising every single action he does; -stopping XX from exploring anything on his own without them around, or having vetted it; -doing everything in their power to not ruin toddlers sleep schedule or have him outside his sleep environment, incl. bailing on 2 birthday parties, 2 dinners, and 1 wedding because it "did not fit with XX anticipated sleep schedule". XX CAN NOT be woken or moved from his sleep EVER; -they NEVER stay anywhere long enough to have to inconvenience the baby. XX's diapers have never been changed outside their home; -EVERYTHING has to be wood, glass or organic for XX. Avoid plastic at all cost!; -ANYTHING that falls on the ground has to be washed before XX can touch again; -use hand sanitizer on EVERYTHING outside the home before he touches or if it falls; -and my favourite - stop XX from attempting to open a door by turning a handle which he can barely reach, which has a child protected handle, and is locked by a deadbolt further up.Some of the things we noticed about XX are: -When he starts to get tired, he is EXTREMELY cranky and moody; will not want to sleep outside his own home environment -Will cry when others are within a foot or 2 of him; -XX must get mommy's approval or show her what he has done before he feels comfortable to move on; -Will cry if others try to hold him even after developing a comfort level;As a couple, wifey and I try to hint at loosening up/altering some of these actions in subtle and indirect manners. We don't feel comfortable directly criticizing parents on how they raise their children, even though he is one of my best friends (marriage changes even those relationships I am finding because your words impact the friends partner also). However, we do want XX to thrive, feel confident and explore his surroundings. It will bring out the best in XX, and will also give the parents a break knowing that XX is in a safe environment.Do we have just cause to raise our concerns with them, or is it none of our business how they raise XX? We want to share our thoughts with them but do feel they, especially mommy, will take it negatively since she can be snobby and high headed with her son in particular. But we do want to point out that loosening the grips can be beneficial to XX.Thanks for listening. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2pQwPnU