The invention provides an aldehydic hydrogen-based self-crosslinking polyacrylamide which is prepared through aqueous solution polymerization or emulsion polymerization. The aldehydic hydrogen-based self-crosslinking polyacrylamide has a structural formula as described in the specification; in the formula, R1 is a group containing aldehydic hydrogen, a group with its end group being phenol or CHO and R2 is a group with its end group being phenol, a group containing aldehydic hydrogen or CHO. A preparation method for the aldehydic hydrogen-based self-crosslinking polyacrylamide comprises the following steps: adding acrylamide, N-hydroxymethyl-phenol-carbonyl acrylamide, N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide and deionized water into a reaction kettle, blowing nitrogen gas into the kettle for 25 to 35 minutes, carrying out uniform stirring, adding an initiator, carrying out initiated polymerization at a temperature of 25 to 30 DEG C for 6 to 8 hours, then carrying out a reaction at a temperature of 40 to 60 DEG C for 55 to 65 minutes and carrying out drying and granulation so as to obtain the aldehydic hydrogen-based self-crosslinking polyacrylamide. The aldehydic hydrogen-based self-crosslinking polyacrylamide provided in the invention has the characteristics of a single product, convenient construction, low cost, stable gelation, controllable gelation time, a good profile control effect, capacity of self-crosslinking, safety and convenience in usage, etc., and is widely used in the process of polymer injection in oil exploration.