An infant with poor weight gain and pallor is diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. Considering growth-related physiology and iron stores, which intervention and timeline is most appropriate to replenish iron and improve hemoglobin levels?

• A. Begin iron supplementation at pediatrician-recommended therapeutic doses and include iron-rich complementary foods; hematologic improvement is expected within 2–6 weeks, but full restoration of iron stores may take several months.
• B. Delay any iron therapy and rely only on increased fluid intake and sunlight exposure for vitamin D, because iron stores in infants are always sufficient until adolescence and will self-correct without intervention.
• C. Switch to an exclusively plant-based diet immediately and avoid any supplementation, because dietary changes alone are known to correct anemia in infants within days.
• D. Provide very high-dose adult iron supplements to the infant to rapidly correct levels within 24 hours, as rapid restoration is both safe and standard practice in pediatric anemia management.

Answer: (A)