Objective Longitudinal follow-up of the physical development of low birth weight infants (LBWI) in Hefei city from 0 to 12 months, scientific evaluation of LBWI growth rate in infancy, clarification of the growth catch-up status after LBWI birth, and provide basis for growth and development monitoring and scientific feeding.Methods We established an LBWI birth cohort. A total of 228 LBWIs entered the follow-up cohort. 161 normal birth weight infants (NBWI) during the same period were selected as the control group in the child care system to monitor the physical development results of infants from 0 to 12 months.Results The weight, length, and head circumference of male and female infants in LBWI were significantly lower than those of the same-sex infants in the NBWI group during infancy. The maximum growth rate of LBWI and NBWI during infancy was within the first 3 months after birth, and male and female infants in the LBWI group were between 1 and 3 months. During the period, the growth rate of physical development indexes was greater than that of the NBWI group. After 3 months of age, the growth rate of each physical index gradually decreased. Among them, the order of weight and head circumference was 1 month old＞2 months old＞3 months old, and the order of body length was 3 months old＞ 1 month old＞ 2 months, LBWI showed catch-up growth in body weight, length and head circumference within 1 year of age, and catching up quickly within 6 months, especially in 4 months. The growth rate of physical development between PLBWI and MLBWI was different. The growth rate of PLBWI was higher than that of MLBWI in 6 months after birth, but the maximum growth rate of male and female infants in both groups appeared in the first three months after birth.Conclusion Low birth weight of infant physical development exists, LBWI male baby infant maximum growth rate have appeared in the first three months after birth, the growth rate is greater than the NBWI physique growth index, and the index of physical development presents the catch-up growth, particularly within 4 months, 6 months after born preterm low birth weight growth rate of body weight, body length is greater than the basic term low birth weight.