To assess the effect of early mother-infant proximity on later stress and behavior, two studies were made which involved a sample of mother-baby pairs that was larger than samples utilized in previous studies. In Study 1, involving 300 consecutive mother-baby couples at the Maternity Hospital in Plymouth, England clinical medical officers used a questionnaire to probe possible relationships between developmental problems and the provision of either longer or shorter periods of mother-infant contact after birth. Findings indicated that mothers receiving 20 minutes or more of close postbirth contact had significantly less symptoms at a developmental follow-up when the infant was 6-weeks-old than those receiving brief contact. Subjects receiving 10 minutes or less contact exhibited the percentage of problem behavior typical of those separated at birth. In Study 2, midwives completed a Mother/Baby Bonding Chart to evaluate 366 mother-baby pairs, about one-third of which received 20 minutes or more contact. Mother-infant pairs in the extended contact group exhibited fewer signs of distress than did couples receiving shorter contact. In particular, infants who experienced a longer period of contact with their mother cried less. Results are discussed, with specific attention given to the value of physical holding in the therapeutic treatment of infants and toddlers. The Early Infant Contact Study Questionnaire and the Mother/Baby Bonding Chart are appended. (RH)