Objective To explore the application effect of developmental care combined with infant driven feeding （IDF） in premature infants with low birth weight （LBW）. Methods A total of 120 LBW preterm infants in the neonatology department were randomized into an experimental group (60 cases enrolled, and 56 completed the study) and a control group (60 cases enrolled, and 53 completed the study).On the basis of developmental care, IDF was used in the experimental group, and practitioner driven feeding was utilized in the control group, the intervention lasted 4 weeks.The indexes of rehabilitation, biochemistry, immunity, growth and development, as well as complications of oral feeding were observed in the two groups. Results After the 4-weeks intervention, when comparing the experimental group with the control group, its days of complete oral feeding, the corrected gestational age when completing oral feeding, the transition time to total oral feeding and length of hospital stay in NICU were significantly shorter, the serum gastrin and prealbumin levels were significantly higher, the levels of neuron specific enolase and CD8+ were lower, the levels of CD3+ and CD4+ were significantly higher, and its increase of head circumference, body length and body weight were significantly higher （all P＜0.05）.While there weren′t significant differences in the incidences of complications in the two group （all P＜0.05）. Conclusion Application of developmental care combined with IDF in premature infants with LBW can regulate infants′ immune function, promote their growth and development, and improve their nutritional status and prognosis.