Background: Childhood respiratory illnesses are one of the major causes of infant mortality and morbidity worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the determinants of exclusive-breastfeeding practices and also to observe the association between childhood respiratory-infections with those determinants. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by using simple random sampling method among 1226 children in north-24-parganas. Results: Asthma prevalence was significantly higher in non exclusively-breastfed (NEBF) than in exclusively-breastfed (EBF) children. Exclusive-breastfeeding was inversely related to mother's education and household-wealth. Families of EBF children maintain better hygiene habits. Use of proper drinking-water was significantly higher among NEBF children. Lower parity and upholding proper hygienic-practices were shown to significantly minimize the incidence of 'cold&cough' in EBF children; but lower parity, mother's higher educational-attainment and use of clean-separate containers were found to do so in NEBF children. Increased household-affluence, mothers' higher-education, and use of clean-separate containers before feeding have all been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of pneumonia in NEBF children. Asthma prevalence was significantly higher in EBF children who hadn’t used protected drinking-water and in NEBF children having higher parity. Fever prevalence was significantly lower in EBF children of families having good hygienic-practices. EBF children have suffered lower risks of respiratory-infections than NEBF children. The odds-ratio was calculated to assess the risk of respiratory-infections based on socio-demographic and other factors. Conclusion: This study infers that besides exclusive-breastfeeding, maintaining a better lifestyle with proper hygienic-practices may foster a healthy child. Adequate nutrition-education for mothers could be be beneficial.