Objective To investigate the nutrition status and correlated factors of growth of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) during the early stage. Methods Clinical data of VLBWI discharged from Jan.1^st,2009 to May.31^th,2011 were collected retrospectively according to certain criteria from department of neonatology.Nutrition support,growth pattern and factors associated with growth were studied. Results Two hundred and twenty-eight VLBWI were included.Infants as small for gestational age showed later time for initial enteral feeding,enteral feeding reached 100 kCal/(kg·d),total energy intake of 120 kCal/(kg·d) and supply of amino acids/lipid emulsions than those as appropriate for gestaional age(P<0.01).Infants as small for gestational age showed higher number ratio of feeding intolerance during hospitalization than those as appropriate for gestaional age(P<0.05).Infants as small for gestational age showed slower growth rate than those as appropriate for gestational age(P<0.05).The proportion of growth restriction was obviously increased at premature infants leaving hospital.The infants as appropriate for gestational age showed obviously lower proportion of extrauterine growth restriction than those as small for gestational age. Conclusions Most VLBWI could not achieve growth rate as desired for normal intrauterine growth rate.More aggressive enteral and parenteral nutrition strategy needs to be considered for improving the early growth of VLBWI.