Nearly one in three children is suffering from sub-optimal feeding practice in Gibe District, Hadiya zone, South Ethiopia.

Sub-optimal infant and young child feeding practices were very high as compared to the WHO infant and child feeding recommendation. The husband being a government employee, lower household income, not attending antenatal care, child age 0-5 months, negative attitude towards infant and young child feeding practices, and the number of children 3-4 were the predictors of the sub-optimal infant and young child feeding practices. Nutritional interventions should emphasize the predictors of sub-optimal infant and young child feeding practices to improve optimal infant and young child feeding practices in Ethiopia.