Eileen Hayes

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Eileen Hayes MBE, born Margaret Eileen Healy in Falkirk, Scotland, was a writer, family counsellor, broadcaster, and mother of four. She studied psychology and health education at the University of Glasgow and King’s College London, then worked in teaching, health promotion and research. Her work focused on helping parents understand babies and young children and how to raise them positively.

For the NSPCC, she helped run major campaigns and wrote many parenting guides, including Baby’s First Year, Handle with Care and Encouraging Better Behaviour. She published books on crying, sleep and tantrums, such as Understanding Your Baby and Crying and Comforting, and appeared on TV and radio to share parenting advice.

Hayes was a regular media contributor on shows like The Wright Stuff and Woman’s Hour, created Practical Parenting tips for the Living Channel, and presented on BBC’s A Family of My Own and Everyone’s Got One. She was Editor-in-Chief of Your Family magazine and website for five years and served as a parenting expert on BBC and other sites.

Her leadership roles included chairing groups for Early Years Champions, serving as Patron and Vice-Chair of Parenting UK, and chairing the Brazelton Centre UK. She helped government groups on early years education and was an Ambassador for Deaf Parenting UK. She received an MBE in 2009 for services to children and families. In 2019, the Brazelton Centre UK started the Eileen Hayes Fund to support training and initiatives for child development and parent–baby relationships.