Objective To explore the implementation effect of chain-like breast-feeding promotion program for preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods Totally 106 very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) were divided into two groups chronologically, and 52 of whom being admitted to NICU from March 2017 to February 2018 were taken as a control group, who received routine breast-feeding in a baby-friendly hospital, while the other 54 being admitted to NICU from March 2018 to February 2019 were regarded as an experimental group, who received chain-like breast-feeding promotion program, which included setting up a project team to run chain-like breast-feeding program, building and managing human milk bank, regulating human milk collection, transportation and storage, then conducting oral care using colostrum, feeding on mothers′ breast milk and preferable fresh milk feeding, etc. Results The breast-feeding rate in the experimental group was 100% during hospitalization, and the time of starting breast-feeding and reaching full enteral feeding were significantly earlier than those of the control group, the proportion of mothers′ own breast-feeding and breast-feeding rate at 1 month after discharge were significantly higher than those of the control group, while the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and nosocomial infection were significantly lower than those of the control group (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Conclusion Implementing the chain-like breast-feeding promotion program for VLBWI in NICU, could shorten breast-feeding starting time, increase the breast-feeding rate and the proportion of mothers′ own breast-feeding, and effectively reduce the incidence of related complications.