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When something, whether a tangible object or an abstract idea, becomes well-defined as a thing distinct from other things, it ought to have a name. Especially at this time of year, infant worship is such a thing, and as far as I know, a word has not been set aside for it. Therefore, I propose that we refer to infant worship as "paidiolatry", thus recognizing it as a distinct thing, and, more importantly, calling attention to the similarity between infant worship and other improper worship, such as Mariolatry and idolatry.
Idolatry comes from the Greek word eidolotria which is a combination of two words, eidolon (meaning "image") and a cognate of latreia (meaning "religious service" or "worship"), and which meant worship of images, and then worship of anything other than the one true God. For example, Colossians 3:5 says that covetousness is idolatry (eidololatria).
Mariolatry is the worship of Mary, which so prevails among Roman Catholics. Church historian, Philip Schaff, observed,
. . . in the innumerable Madonnas of Catholic art, the human mother is the principle figure, and the divine child accessory. The Romish devotions scarcely utter a Pater Noster without an Ave Maria, and turn even more frequently and naturally to the . . . mother for her intercessions, than to the eternal Son of God, thinking that in this indirect way the desired gift is more sure to be obtained.
The one season during which the infant of Catholic art becomes central and the madonna secondary is Christmas. Among non-Catholics also, the infant is adored. Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin brothers sang about "Baby Jesus". So much of the traditional Christmas music is inspired by the birth and infancy of Jesus. Nativity scenes abound. However, in many, yea even most cases, this worship of the infant is an improper worship, and therefore, paidiolatry (from the Greek paidion, meaning "infant", and latreia).
We do not at all mean to raise doubt that deity dwelt in the flesh even when Jesus was an infant, nor that the infant Jesus was worthy of worship. He was (Mt. 2:11). Rather we mean to call attention to the significant point that people who choose not to obey the teaching of the man, Jesus, and who question the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus, and who refuse to submit to the King, Christ Jesus, find so attractive the undemanding, speechless, infant Jesus. He doesn't seem to require much, not nearly so much as he who said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). The infant is a very attractive substitute for the Son of God to those who seek an object of worship, but whose motto for living is "I want to do my own thing, and I don't want to be judged."
Such people are not truly worshipping the one who is truly God. They are instead worshipping an image of an infant created by medieval artists. Just as Mariolatry is in reality a form ofidolatry, so also is the paidiolatry that prevails during the current season.