Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of life is a critical intervention for reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, timely initiation remains suboptimal in many settings. This study aimed to identify maternal and neonatal characteristics associated with early initiation of breastfeeding. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dhaka Medical College Hospital from July 2012 to December 2012. A total of 100 postpartum mothers were enrolled using purposive sampling. Data were collected through direct interviews using a pre-designed data collection sheet and analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Among the 100 mothers, 57% were below 25 years of age, 62% had primary level education, 82% were housewives, 72% were Muslim and 68% resided in rural areas. The majority (58%) belonged to the lower socioeconomic group and 72% were primipara. Regarding neonatal characteristics, 74% of babies were born at term, 58% were male and 62% had low birth weight (< 2.5 kg). Statistically significant associations were observed for gestational age (P = 0.001) and birth weight (P = 0.001), while gender did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.060). Conclusion: Maternal characteristics such as younger age, lower education, primiparity, lower socioeconomic status, along with neonatal factors like preterm gestational age and low birth weight, were prominent among the study population. These findings highlight the need for targeted breastfeeding support and counseling, particularly for vulnerable groups, to promote early initiation and improve neonatal outcomes.