I used to think gut health was something you worried about after a bad meal or too many antibiotics. Turns out, gut health starts at birth and can affect them their entire life! Their gut microbes in the first 1,000 days of life can lay the foundation for everything—immunity, digestion, even emotional regulation—and they're influenced by choices we make as parents from day one.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Cheryl Sew Hoy, founder and CEO of Tiny Health, to unpack how the gut microbiome influences not just our babies but our entire family. We dive into what happens to a baby's gut at birth, how breastfeeding and first foods set the foundation for lifelong immunity, and why dads' microbes matter more than most of us realize. Cheryl also shares her personal C-section story, the science behind vaginal seeding, and how she built the first gut health test designed specifically for infants, parents, and longevity.

This conversation blew my mind and shifted how I think about my role as a dad—not just as a protector or provider, but as a carrier of microbes that literally shape my child's future.

👇 In this episode, we explore:

• How does gut health affect immunity, mood, and resilience for kids and parents?

• What happens to infants born by C-section, and how can families restore balance?

• Can dads really influence their child's microbiome and immune system?

• How do breastfeeding, first foods, and probiotics shape a healthy gut?

• How can families build lifelong health through regular microbiome testing?

• How exactly does the Tiny Health system work, and why is it so effective?

Get $20 off your first gut health test with code DADICATED → https://www.tinyhealth.com/

About Cheryl Sew Hoy

Cheryl Sew Hoy is a mom of three, serial entrepreneur, and the founder & CEO of Tiny Health. She holds multiple Engineering degrees from Cornell University. Cheryl founded Tiny Health in 2020 after her first child struggled with eczema, sleep troubles, and food sensitivities. Her experience led her to research the gut microbiome and develop tests focusing on a baby's first 1,000 days, a crucial period in microbiome development.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylyeoh/

About Tiny Health

Tiny Health is the first gut health test for moms and babies 0-3 years. They help families detect potential gut imbalances and course-correct early on. They also offer microbiome tests for older children and adults, and vaginal microbiome tests for women over 18. Tiny Health's mission is to improve the health outcomes of future generations and prevent risk of chronic conditions like eczema, allergies, and metabolic health issues that are affecting almost 1 in 2 children in the US.

Website: https://www.tinyhealth.com/

Instagram: @tiny.health http://tiny.health/

Being dadicated isn't about having all the answers.

It's about showing up.

It's about committing to the kind of dad—and man—you want to be, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

Joe Carr is a dad to Della, husband to Serenity, co-founder of Serenity Kids baby food, and the voice behind Dadicated Joe.

Follow Joe Carr on social media

Instagram: @dadicatedjoe

TikTok: @dadicatedjoe

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