Objective To describe the clinical characters and risk factors of feeding intolerance in neonates. Methods The data of all neonates hospitalized in the newborn ward from January 2003 to March 2007 were ana- lyzed.Results The incidence of feeding intolerance was 6.99 % in the term infants and 27.63 % in the premature infants,and this increased in low birth weight and small gestational age infants.The symptoms of feeding intoler- ance.such as vomiting,gastric residual,abdominal distension and defecation difficulty presented usually in the first week of enteral feeding.The neonates with smaller gestational age and lower birth weight often presented with gas- tric residual,abdominal distension and defecation difficulty,but the larger ones with vomiting.The incidence of feed- ing intolerance increased in asphyxia aegrotus.Conclusion The birth weight and gestational age are protection fac- tors of feeding intolerance in neonates,the asphyxia are risk factors.More attention should be paid to vomiting,gas- tric residual,abdominal distension and defecation difficulty of neonates,especially,in the first week of enteral feeding.