Aims: To compare iron fortified follow-on milk (iron followon), iron fortified partially modified cows’ milk (iron milk), and iron medicine for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in hospitalised infants. Methods: In a randomised controlled trial, infants aged 9-23 months with IDA and who were hospitalised with an acute illness received iron follow-on (12 mg/l ferrous iron), iron milk (1 2.9 mg/l ferrous iron), or iron medicine (ferrous gluconate at 3 mg/kg of elemental iron once daily). All interventions were given for three months. Changes in measures of iron status three months after hospital discharge were determined. Results: A total of 234 infants were randomised. Iron status was measured at follow up in 59 (70% ) iron medicine, 49 (66% ) iron follow-on, and 54 (70% ) iron milk treated infants. There was a significant (mean, 95% Cl) increase in haemoglobin (15 g/l, 13 to 16) and iron saturation (9% , 8 to 10) and decrease in ferritin (-53 μ g/l, -74 to -31) in all three groups. Mean cell volume increased in iron follow-on (2 fl, 1 to 3) and iron milk (1 fl, 0.1 to 3) treated infants, but not in the iron medicine group (1 fl, -1 to 2). The proportion with IDA decreased in all three groups: iron medicine 93% to 7% , iron follow-on 83% to 8% , and iron milk 96% to 30% . Adverse effects, primarily gastrointestinal, occurred in 23% of the iron medicine, 14% of the iron follow-on, and 13% of the iron milk group. Conclusions: Iron fortified follow-on milk, iron fortified partially modified cows’ milk, and iron medicine all effectively treat IDA in infancy. Aims: To compare iron fortified follow-on milk (iron followon), iron fortified partially modified cows’ milk (iron milk), and iron medicine for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in hospitalized infants. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, infants aged 9-23 months with IDA and who were hospitalized with an acute illness received iron follow-on (12 mg / l ferrous iron), iron milk (1 2.9 mg / l ferrous iron), or iron medicine (ferrous gluconate at 3 mg / kg of elemental iron once daily). All interventions were given for three months. Changes in measures of iron status three months after hospital discharge were determined. Results: A total of 234 infants were randomized. Iron status was measured at follow There was a significant (mean, 95% Cl) increase in hemoglobin (15 g / l) , 13 to 16) and iron saturation (9%, 8 to 10) and decrease in ferritin (-53 μg / l, -74 to -31) in all thr Mean cell volume increased in iron follow-on (2 fl, 1 to 3) and iron milk (1 fl, 0.1 to 3) treated infants, but not in the iron medicine group (1 fl, -1 to 2) The proportion with IDA decreased in all three groups: iron medicine 93% to 7%, iron follow-on 83% to 8%, and iron milk 96% to 30%. Adverse effects, primarily gastrointestinal, occurred in 23% of the iron medicine, 14% of the iron follow-on, and 13% of the iron milk group. Conclusions: Iron fortified follow-on milk, iron fortified partially modified cows’ milk, and iron medicine all effectively treat IDA in infancy.