Not to worry --constipation is extremely common in babies. Most of the time, it's caused by their diet. Very rarely, it can be a sign of something more serious, like an intestinal problem or hypothyroidism, so if it gets bad enough that there's bleeding, it's a good idea to see the doctor.Assuming your doctor confirms that it's garden-variety constipation, here are some things you can do (no need to do them all):

• Give your baby no more than 32 ounces of formula a day, since it can make constipation worse. If you're breastfeeding, just keep nursing him --breast milk's a lot easier for babies to digest.

• Make sure he drinks four to eight ounces of water a day.

• Avoid other constipating foods, such as bananas and iron-fortified rice cereal, which tend to bind up in the digestive system.

• Give him prune juice. Pediatricians make an exception to the "no juice" rule for constipation. Start out with an ounce or two, but if the taste is too strong for your son, mix it with two ounces of apple juice.

• Pack as much fiber into his diet as possible: Try to offer him fruits and vegetables at every meal and snack, aiming for five a day, along with whole-grain cereals and breads. (Constipation aside, it's good for his overall health, too.)

Claire McCarthy, M.D. is the director of pediatrics at the Martha Eliot Health Center, in Jamaica Plain, MA, and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. She's also busy raising five children.

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