Objective To observe the safety and efficacy of low-dose propranolol in the treatment of hemangioma in infants and children. Methods Eighty-nine infants aged 1-12 months with hemangioma were observed. The plasma levels of renin, angiotensin II and aldosterone were measured before treatment, and propranolol was administered orally to the infants at 0.75-1 mg/kg/day. Adverse drug reactions were recorded. The mean plasma levels of angiotensin II were higher and renin levels were lower in children with infantile hemangioma than in healthy infants of the same age; compared with previous studies, the plasma levels of aldosterone were higher in children aged 1-3 months and lower in children aged 4-12 months. After 6 months of propranolol treatment, the efficacy was rated as grade IV in 44 cases (49.4%), grade III in 21 cases (23.6%), grade II in 24 cases (27.0%), and grade I in 0 cases; 12 of them had mild adverse effects, including diarrhea, sleep disturbance, nausea, decreased terminal temperature of the limbs, and hypoglycemia, and all cases had mild heart rate and blood pressure reduction. Four (4.5%) children relapsed 4-5 months after discontinuation. Conclusion Low-dose propranolol is safe and effective in the treatment of hemangioma in infants and children.