Background Although inappropriate antibiotics prescribing in hospitals is a key factor in accelerating antibiotic resistance, inadequate data are available about antibiotics prescribing rate and appropriateness. Our study aimed to measure antibiotics prescribing rate, indications, appropriateness and predictors. Methods The study was conducted in two public children hospitals (five wards) in Jordan using one-week point prevalence survey to prospectively collect the data. Appropriateness of antibiotics therapy was assessed by a multidisciplinary committee and predictors of inappropriate prescribing were studied through multivariate logistic regression. Key findingsThe overall antibiotics prescribing rate was 75.6% (n = 501/663), where the highest rate of antibiotics prescribing was in the Pediatrics ward (82.2%, n = 222/270). However, the lowest rate was in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (30.0%, 9/30). The most common antibiotics classes prescribed were: Beta-lactams (57.5%, n = 492/