Travelling with a newborn

[Cyclebump]

I'm due to have DC1 in a few weeks and, as my parents live in France, would like to go over there with baby when he's sill pretty tiny (about 6-8 weeks).

When it comes to getting him a passport are there specific rules about the picture?

And do I need to wait until he's had his jabs before he can travel?

Sorry, am completely clueless about these things.

You could chose to wait until he has had his jabs to travel, I suppose. I can't imagine he's any more likely to pick up diptheria in France than in England though. It wouldn't have occurred to me to worry but I am reckless with my child's health but I place undue faith in breastfeeding.

With the passport, they just have to be in it! DD is asleep with her eyes shut in her passport photo.

We took DD to the Orkney Isles (from London) when she was 9 weeks via train, car & ferry. It was an absolute breeze.

Marvellous, I was thinking it'd be fine. Just the usual 'You must be maaad!' comments from others (mainly without children) got me worried.

DD got her passport when she was 8 days old, she flew from Muscat to Heathrow when she was 24 days old.
they are fabulous to travel with at that age, they can't walk anywhere and sleep for long periods.

My DD1 had her first passport photo taken when she was 10 days and we flew to Turkey when she was 8 weeks. She didn't have her vaccinations before we went. They are pretty easy to travel with at that age!

Took dd3 to New York at 5 weeks, also think we'd been to France before then. She slept and was very portable. Practice Nurse wasn't happy, but readily admitted she's never left the country. Was told dd had to have her eyes open, they laid her on floor of photo shop, waited till she vaguely looked then clicked! She had to put up with that photo till she was 5 - scary really as it looked nothing like her even after a month!!

My DD had to have hers until she was 5 too!

Coolio, am planning to research photo places that do newborn passport pics to ensure we get the right one and will pick up his passport forms when I'm on maternity leave!

Hurray! France here we come!

Our Snappy Snaps did DD's passport photo - they put her down on the floor on a white sheet & took the photo standing over her, v clever I thought.

Have a lovely trip! & hope DC arrives on time & safely.

do it without hesitation.
best time to travel is the smaller the better. if you want to be a tiny bit neurotic you could find out where the nearest hospital is, or have the local doctors number in your phone, but other than emergencies there is no reason at all not to go.
and have spare clothes for you and baby in your hand luggage in case of explosions!