Abstract: Objective To analyze the short term prognosis of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Methods The clinical data of VLBW infants who were hospitalized from December 2013 to December 2014 and followed up to 6 months of corrected age were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 230 VLBW infants were enrolled. Thirty infants (13.0%) died during hospitalization, 40 infants (17.4%) were given up the treatment, 60 infants (26.1%) were improved at discharge, and 100 infants (43.4%) were cured at discharge. In the 30 cases of death, causes of death were mainly neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (18 cases), pulmonary hemorrhage (5 cases), and sepsis (3 cases). In the 200 survived infants at discharge, at 6 months of corrected age of follow-up, 13 infants (6.5%) were lost to follow-up, and 54 infants (27.0%) died, among whom 40 infants died because of giving up therapeutic intervention due to economic factor or discharges without permission. At 1, 3, 6 month of follow-up, the length and weight of VLBW infants were gradually approaching normal, and, however, at 6 months of corrected age, the length and weight of VLBW infants were still obviously below the children’s growth standard. The length of VLBW infants was more deeply below the growth standard than the weight. In 109 infants who had fundus ophthalmoscope, 21 cases had retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) I, and 7 cases had ROP II. In 98 infants who had the hearing screening test, 5 cases failed in one ear and 11 cases failed in both ears. In 95 infants who had the head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, 10 cases had intracranial hemorrhage and 9 cases had premature brain injury. In 49 infants who completed the neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) at corrected age of 42 weeks, the scores were all lower than 35. In 36 infants who were assessed by Gesell developmental scale at the 3 months of corrected age, 11 cases had mild developmental delay and 2 cases had moderate developmental delay. In 24 infants who were assessed at the 6 months corrected age, only 2 cases had mild developmental delay. VLBW infants had a rapid progress in social contact, social behavior, and gross motor movement. Conclusions Economic, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary hemorrhage, and sepsis are pivotal factors for the survival and quality of life of VLBW infants. The surviving VLBW infants have catch-up growth and development.