Background: Optimal breastfeeding practice is essential for the healthy growth and development ofrnchildren during their early life. It improves the nutritional status and reduces the chances of contractingrninfection. Studies have shown that globally 70.0% of infants are sub-optimally breastfed, which is majorrncontributor to infant mortality.rnObjectives: This study is aimed at assessing and comparing mother's knowledge, practices andrndeterminants on optimal breastfeeding among working and stay-at-home mother's having children 0-23rnmonths of age.rnMethods: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted on 825 mothers aged 17-49 yearsrnhaving children 0-23 months of age residing in Bahir Dar town Amhara Region April, 2010. ModifiedrnEPI cluster sampling technique was applied to select households. Experienced interviewers and qualifiedrnsupervisors were employed and a pre-tested questionnaire was utilized for this purpose.rnFour FGDs among mothers (segregated by working status) complemented the quantitative surveyrnResults: Three hundred seventy one (92.2%) working and two hundred seventy six (65.4%) stay-at-homernmothers had satisfactory knowledge on breastfeeding practice, [AOR: 3.36, (1.94, 5.81)]. Mothers withrnformal education, those attended ANC follow up and gave birth at health institution were more likely tornhave satisfactory knowledge on breastfeeding practices [OR: 2.25, 95%CI :( 1.14, 4.43), (OR: 6.14,rn95%CI: (3.18, 11.85) and (OR: 1.85, 95%CI :( 1.05, 3.26)] respectively compared to their counterparts.rnThe prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding practice was 34%, 95%CI:(31%-37%) for working and 71.3%,rn95%CI : (68.2%-74.4%) for stay-at-home mothers and the working status of the mother was significantlyrnassociated with exclusive breastfeeding practice, that those mothers who were working were less likely tornpractice exclusive breastfeeding than those who were stay-at-home[AdjusteOR:0.30,95%CI:(0.20,0.46)].rnthe median duration of EBF for working children was 4 months and 6 months for stay-at-home .rnConclusions and Recommendations: Overall the study indicates that the maternal knowledge onrnbreastfeeding practice was satisfactory. However, there is inadequacy of optimal breastfeeding practicernespecially exclusive breastfeeding for the first six month of life among working compared to stay-at-homernmother. This would increase the risk of infant morbidity and mortality.rnVIIrnApproximately three in four working and one in three stay at home initiated complementary feeding atrnappropriate time. The findings indicate that both groups of mothers don't have optimal child feedingrnpractices, although the forms of suboptimal behavior are different. Therefore, the government, healthrnworkers and community members should work on strengthening the optimal breastfeeding practice byrnencouraging, supporting mother's to breastfed their children optimally.