Background: Even though health care seeking interventions have the potential to substantiallyrnreduce child mortality from easily preventable and treatable diseases, large number of childrenrndie without appropriate treatment and ever reaching the health facility and due to delays inrnseeking care in developing countries including Ethiopia.rnObjective: The objective of this study was to assess mothers/caretakers modern health carernseeking behavior for common childhood illnesses and factors affecting it in Jeldu District.rnMethods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jeldu District of WestrnShewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, from January 2011 to February 2011. A total ofrn433mothers/caretakers with under- five children who experienced diseases within six weeksrnbefore the survey were selected for this study. The study subjects were allocated to the selectedrnkebeles proportionally to their estimated number of households and data were collected by usingrnstructured, pre-tested and interviewer administered questionnaire. The data entry and clearancernwere carried out using Epi Info version 3.5.1 statistical software package, whereas SPSS versionrn16 statistical software package was used for analysis.rnResults: A total of 422 mothers/caretakers were enrolled in the study giving an overall responsernrate of 97.5%. Of the total sick children reported, care was sought from health facilities forrn315(74.6%). Care was sought first from health facilities for only 44%, while 30.6% sought healthrnfacilities after sought care from other sources. Marital status of the mothers (AOR=2.81;rn95%CI: 1.54, 5.13), number of symptoms experienced by the child (AOR=1.98; 95%CI: 1.20,rn3.36) and perceived severity of the illness (AOR=3.75; 95%CI: 2.24, 6.28) were identified asrnindependent predictors of health care seeking practices from health facilities. Lack of moneyrn(40.2%) and perception that the illness was not serious (27.1%) were the main reasons given forrnfailure to seek care from health facilities.rnConclusion: Health care seeking practices of mothers/caretakers for common childhood illnessesrnwere delayed (86.3%) and maternal/caretakers decisions to seek care from health facilities werernwidely influenced by worsening of the illnesses (61.0%). Thus, significant behavioral changerneffort should be taken to enhance the health care seeking behavior of the mothers/caretakers inrnthe locality